Stuffed animals are one of the earliest gifts given to a child; a gift that evolves into a source of comfort outside of their parent’s touch and love. It’s the nature of a child to seek comfort and safety. Most children go to sleep with a stuffed animal in their arms, within sight or reach. Through the need for something soft, cuddly, and soothing, a stuffed animal is the perfect friend to help the child settle down especially in a time of crisis. 

 

Traffickers, predictors, or anyone wishing to cause children harm understand the deep connection children have with stuffed animals. Expert manipulators and masters of deception with adults, one can only image the power they might have over a child, especially when these cuddly toys are used as a weapon in different ways. 

 

First, as an alluring tool to help make the victim feel safe. It’s a grooming tool that lulls the child into a false sense of security. Then, the abuse takes place. The second part takes place when the abuser uses that same stuffed toy to comfort the child emotionally after the abuse has taken place. The child grips onto the stuffed animal with their lives leaving them vulnerable In every capacity possible until the moment of abuse.

 

In this display, each stuffed animal represents the stage of a child’s emotional and physically transformation before and after the abuse. Not all trafficked victims survive; for those who live through the experience, the emotional abuse can leave as much of a permanent, destructive scar as the physical one. 

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During the research, I had a conversation with the victim when she shared a picture of herself as an adult. A white rabbit stuffed animal in the photograph sparked me to ask about it. She then shared her past abusive experienced as a child and mentioned a white rabbit. In my thoughts, I made the connection between the two and a knot formed in my stomach because I didn't come across this information in the research. I discovered it first hand.