Failure and success in self-help groups for victims of professional sexual exploitation

Abstract

The recent proliferation of self-help groups is a widespread phenomenon in the United States (Gartner & Reissman, 1984; Powell, 1987). Much of the literature on this subject is in the advocacy genre; it describes the self-help movement in glowing terms. Some of the work deals specifically with the experiences of those who have set up various self-help and support groups and advises others how to do so (e.g., Katz et al., 1992). Another part of the literature describes the relationship between professionals and self-help groups, and focuses on maximizing the benefits of that relationship (e.g., Powell, 1987, 1990). Relatively little of the literature is devoted to an examination of the success or failure of self-help groups. In fact, the terms “success” or “failure” are rarely used. We appear to be reluctant to examine the possibility that self-help groups, which seem so beneficial to the average person, could be less than an unmitigated success. By contrast, this article will examine the meanings of failure and success as they affect a number of self-help groups organized around the problem of professional sexual exploitation.