This page connects individuals with confidential resources, practical information, and organizations that can help in a variety of situations.
The word exploitation can be confusing and difficult to identify in our own experiences. In simple terms, it means being taken advantage of by someone else. If anyone has pressured, manipulated, tricked, or forced you to work or trade sex when you did not want to, you may have experienced exploitation. Many people describe these situations as feeling unfair, uncomfortable, or like someone has used them for their own benefit.
Exploitation is the unfair use of a person's time, labor, body, or circumstances for someone else's benefit or profit. In some cases, exploitation may qualify as human trafficking under state and federal law.
Exploitation can be difficult to identify, especially when it happens gradually or involves someone you know and trust. Many people do not recognize they are being exploited until much later. Some signs that you may be experiencing, or may have experienced, exploitation include:
