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[–] 29 points 6 days ago* (14 children)

Oh god...
Is this...true? Statistically likely? I'm not doubting you, I'm just actually unpleasantly surprised

I fear

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  • [–] 34 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (13 children)

    Yes. Much more likely than cis women, but numbers wise less than cis women. The proportion of trans women that are trafficked is much higher.

    For an anecdote, all of the sex trafficking victims I know happen to be trans, (but given that I too, am a trans woman and know way more trans people than the average person the sampling is biased).

    I also fear it's where I'll end up, because I'm too trans, too neurodivergent, and too mentally ill to hold a normal job.

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  • [–] 11 points 6 days ago (2 children)

    Jesus. With all the trans people currently desperate to get out of red states...

    There must be an epidemic right now. "You a 19 year old living in Oklahoma, come live with us out West. We'll put you up for awhile while you get on your feet. Can even help you find work..." There are of course plenty of activist groups and individuals doing this kind of thing out of genuine kindness and doing it with good faith. But...what an opportunity for human traffickers...

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  • [–] 4 points 5 days ago (8 children)

    You won't end up like that, you'll be ok

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  • [–] 5 points 5 days ago (7 children)

    How often do you think they've heard "you'll be okay" and had it turn out false?

    The fact that you're willing to say things will be okay when you have no information to base that on makes you unreliable, and unsafe to be around when there is danger.

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  • [–] 6 points 5 days ago (6 children)

    I'm saying it as an attempt to comfort, I'm sorry that it didn't come off that way.

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  • [–] 6 points 5 days ago (1 child)

    I'm not OP but FWIW as someone who hasn't necessarily had the most pleasant life and is ND I can try and add a little more context as to why that might not be comforting. Especially for someone that may be neurodivergent.

    In short platitudes like that are basically just a secular statement of "thoughts and prayers". It often seems like it is more for the speakers benefit so that that they don't have to actually engage with the lived reality of the person they are talking to. I can't speak for all neurodivergent people, but my mind works based on probabilities and evidence.

    When someone says to me that they know I'll find success after I open up about something that I have been struggling with for ten or twenty years, my immediate response (if I decide to ignore the social script) is to interrogate that statement. Where will I find success? When? Who do I need to talk to? Obviously they don't actually know and telling me that is ultimately being dismissive of my experience. If they have genuine help they can offer there is rarely nothing more that I want, but it's even more rare that anyone actually has either the ability or the willingness to help. In that situation I just want them to recognize and acknowledge my existence and to sit with and share that discomfort.

    TL;DR If you can't actually help, just witness them.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 days ago

    It's the only thing that calms me down when I think about it and get into spirals. I was pretty severely neglected as a child and my husband is the other kind of neurodivergent, not great at comforting and support. My stupid stunted attempts at comfort are from that. I feel terrible that I made that person upset. I really need to remember that I'm not good at this before I try to comfort people.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago* (3 children)

    You're good, you were just worried about me. I get it.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago (2 children)

    I'm in the same boat, too ND to work, plus I have one more disability. I'm only spared that fate because my husband saved me and takes care of me. I'm one bad day away from those kind of choices. Telling myself I'll be ok is the only way I can calm down, I had hoped to do the same for you :(

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago* (1 child)

    I have diabetes too. Type 1. I have an insulin pump and I have to monitor all the carbs I eat.

    Unfortunately, I don't think there's anyone who will help me. I've gotta keep going anyway with zero social support if I'm gonna survive.

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  • [–] 5 points 6 days ago

    Jeez...that's actually horrible. Had no idea it was that bad.

    I unfortunately understand your fear. To be honest, I fear the same thing for myself. I'm very dependent on other people, very obviously trans, I'm fetishizable, I'm fairly young and inexperienced and I've been told I have some good qualities about me. Add me being naive and my mental state on top of that and I feel like it's practically just a matter of time and meeting the wrong people for me. And just like you, I can't hold a job to save my life, I've never been employed once in my life so stuff like sex work is basically the only thing I can do.

    This is scary. And it's depressing. Combined with what's happening all over the world right now, I'm really scared. Not that much for my own safety, but for all my trans brothers and sisters. This is fucked up...

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