Beneath the Surface: The Overlooked Connection Between Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking

By Katrina Tamez, Director of Grants

When I was a kid, my Nana loved telling my sister and me about her Alaska cruises. One story she told again and again was about a rare twin-peaked iceberg she had seen. As she showed us the photo, she explained how unusual it was to see two distinct peaks rising from the same iceberg. She always dreamed of taking us to Alaska one day so we could see it for ourselves.

Although she passed before that trip could happen, I still think about her iceberg stories.

Each October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month encourages us to recognize the many forms abuse can take. As I reflected on the connection between New Friends New Life's work and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I found myself thinking about Nana's iceberg. Domestic violence and sex trafficking are often discussed as separate issues, much like two distinct peaks rising above the water. But beneath the surface, they share the same foundation: power, control, coercion, manipulation, isolation, and economic dependence. What appears to be two separate issues above the waterline is often part of the same iceberg below it.

When Abuse Becomes Exploitation

While sex trafficking is often portrayed as a crime perpetrated by strangers, many survivors' experiences tell a different story.

In many trafficking situations, the trafficker is not a stranger at all. They may be a romantic partner, spouse, family member, or someone who initially presents themselves as loving and supportive. What begins as an abusive relationship can escalate into commercial sexual exploitation, with the abuser using force, fraud, or coercion to profit from the survivor.

This reality highlights why the connection between domestic violence and sex trafficking is so important. The same patterns that characterize domestic violence are often present in trafficking situations as well.

Why the Connection Matters

Despite these overlaps, domestic violence and sex trafficking are often addressed separately in public conversations, funding strategies, and support systems. Too often, grantmakers, corporations, and donors organize giving around what is visible above the waterline, overlooking the interconnected realities that exist beneath the surface.

At the federal level and across philanthropy, domestic violence and human trafficking are often funded through separate systems. While those distinctions serve important purposes, they can unintentionally reinforce the perception that these issues require separate solutions, despite significant overlap in survivor experiences.

A woman fleeing an abusive partner may also be experiencing sexual exploitation. A girl who has experienced abuse, neglect, or instability at home can become especially vulnerable to grooming and trafficking. When we separate these issues too strictly, we risk overlooking survivors whose experiences do not fit neatly into a single category.