I wouldn't look at this woman any differently than I do anybody else. I figured there was a reason she had to tell her story and I would be accepting of that. Everybody has something. Good for her for being brave. She is a true survivor.

no. we don't all do it. but too many do. people in power do it, too. it's being done right now to dr. blasey-ford, who, by the way, if she was just plain broken, would not have achieved what she has achieved.

g

Hell of a poignant post! And I see that there ate those who have responded here in an intellectually cautious way that would result in doing exactly what your hair dresser did: Blame the victim. We need to all learn that we all do judge because judgement is decision and decision about what is right for one determines the quality of one's right. So by all means judge the person For WhoSheOrHe is, not for what they could not control in their lives.

I don't disagree, but TBH, relationships are a lot of work even with a partner who has their shit together. It is possible that someone who was sex trafficked as a child would be very together, but there's a larger possibility that they have deep and entrenched "issues". I would not be automatically "put off" but I'd be VERY cautious. I'd want to see a lot of years of gainful employment in legal enterprises, lots of good quality friends, and extremely mature behavior and then I'd still be careful.

Also ... there was a time when I would have actually been attracted to that sort of thing because I had a Jesus complex a mile wide. I wanted someone to save. That's explains my first marriage, which also cured me of that problem.

Today such a person would have to conclusively demonstrate that they'd already saved themselves, as no one can do it for them.

Agreed possum

I would like to think that I would at least listen to her story, if she wanted to tell it. Once one gets past about 40 they have baggage, all of us have baggage. I would like to think honesty, forthcoming, truth, would count for something. With the political situation the way it is one has to survive, many of us may have to come to grips with situations they have no control over. May we all be able to deal successfully with them.

people like quick fixes and easy answers. Of course you can get over it, doesnt make it any less horrible, but dismissing it will. Giving a sound bite answer is definitely less than useful

Well let's just admit it that the human race is horribly flawed

I think my reaction to a story like that would have been one of sympathy and compassion. She was a victim. I do agree that these experiences potentially have a life-long impact, but wouldn't say they were "broken." Kind of a dumb thing to say IMHO.

I think that they many are very near broken and will stay that way if they never seek out counseling or report it to law enforcement specializing in trafficking.

My late younger sister was abused by her father (my step dad) and she never sought counseling or reported it and she had all of the emotional and psychological problems that come with it; multiple failed relationships, substance abuse, hyper promiscuity, anger issues, offspring estrangement are the ones I know of.

To properly heal from a traumatic event of any kind, victims need help. They can't do it alone. They are not permanently broken but they will never be whole like the person they were before the trauma. The best that they can hope for is to be repaired and the quality of that repair is based on the counselor and the effort by the victim. But it's never the fault of the victim.