Altruism is often central to survivors’ healing and to the broader survivor advocacy movement, but it carries real risks that demand attention. As a four-person survivor researcher team, the researchers conducted 30 in-depth interviews with 15 survivors of sex trafficking, speaking with each participant twice to understand the benefits, challenges, and risks of helping others, as well as their recommendations for safer, more effective engagement. Using thematic analysis, they found that altruism can be a powerful pathway to increased agency and wellbeing. Survivors described how helping others actively challenged the harmful messages imposed by abusers and society. It fostered a renewed sense of meaning and purpose, strengthened social and professional skills, and generated positive emotions, spiritual growth, and deeper social connections. It also created opportunities to explore new roles, ideas, and futures. At the same time, participants emphasized that these benefits can come at a cost. Risks were significant and, in some cases, severe, ranging from re-exploitation and burnout to worsening mental health. Survivors identified both internal and external dangers, including exploitative organizations or individuals, unexpected emotional triggers, performance pressure, neglect of self-care, physical safety concerns, and spiritual abuse. These findings underscore a critical truth: altruism must be approached with intention and safeguards. Participants consistently called for greater awareness of the risks and not just the benefits, clearer boundaries, and systems that prioritize their wellbeing. The presentation concludes with survivors’ recommendations, grounded in their lived experience, for strategies and interventions that promote safe, sustainable, and wellbeing-centered altruism.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Logan Knight is an assistant professor at the School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas. As a survivor-researcher-advocate, she is committed to socially just, inclusive and equitable research with survivors. Her research focuses on resilience and renewing discourses in order to center the dignity and strengths of survivors of all kinds of trafficking, including ritual abuse.
Anchal Jain is an independent advocate, survivor leader, and researcher focused on anti-trafficking, public safety, policy making, and social justice. Drawing on lived experience and practice, she examines emotional labor and sustainable self-care in advocacy spaces. Her work integrates creative expression and community-informed approaches to support resilience and survivor-centered systems change initiatives.