It's really sad the ugly scene that was shown that is happening all over America (and not just here but world wide) that young girls who feel so alone or just want to feel special fall victim to sex trafficking.
I've always stood against prostitution....I'm a germ-a-phobe I couldn't and can't understand how someone would pay money to have sex with someone who just had sex with who knows how many guys before you? It's a quick way to catch an STD if you ask me.
After watching the Nightline special and looking at some other stats and pages I really feel bad for these girls. They are picked up young at a vulnerable age when they are trying to escape their abuse, foster care, are homeless, or just looking for attention. They are promised things that they want. Last year at TBTN they talked about girls getting picked up because the "pimps" would pose as a boyfriend buying the girl pretty things and then slowly after having the girl feel like they were in love then they would turn the tables and the relationship would change to one of abuse, and how the guy needed money so the he'd find ways for the girl to earn money for him.
You can find a lot of info in the links below but I'd like to highlight a few facts for you.
The average age girls are corrupted into sex trafficking is between 12-14
Women are forced to sleep with anywhere between 20-40 different people per day
Victims of sex trafficking are the same as victims of sexual abuse (most have a history of abuse in some form) and don't think of themselves as victims, lack trust and don't seek help. (For more about this check Myths & Misconceptions)
The pimps picking up these girls are smooth talkers who know what to say and promise the girls to make them go with them.
Young girls and women are NOT the only ones who are picked up and used, young boys can be as well. Let us not forget this.
As a mother myself I'm terrified of losing my girls, I'm very protective of them. I don't want them to go through what I did and I don't want them to run away and fall victim to this ugly scene of sex trafficking.
Here are some links for you to watch, read, and learn more info about sex trafficking.
(again) the episode of Nightline with Diane Swayer
A Path Appears
Enslaved in America: Sex Trafficking in the United States An Essay By Tina Frundt
What Modern Day Slavery Looks like in America by Business Insider
Sex Trafficking Statistics from the Covering House
The FBI website about Human Trafficking
National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Now with all those scary stats and stories and info in our face...I first want to thank everyone who shared their story and took a stand, and to everyone who is working to bring light to this and shove it in the public's faces. It takes a lot of courage to share your story and start life over again, and it takes a lot of people knowing about something to put an end to it.
With that it then brings up the question of how to end this? I think the documentary A Path Appears is on the right path, that there is a solution to all these huge problems that they discuss we as the public as a nation just have to care enough to stand up and figure it out.
Personally (again I'm no expert) but what I think....we have to prevent these girls from falling victim. They said most come from broken homes or foster care....I don't know how to end that....but we somehow have to make sure young women know that they can become anything that they are loved, to love themselves first, and that there is a good future ahead if you work hard towards it.
Love is a powerful tool. The promise of love can make someone do crazy things....what if they already know love before they feel the need to go out and find it? I Love You. Three simple words, every parent should tell their kids, let them know that no matter what they do you will always love them.
I think this is a good start.
I also think that men should wake up and stop buying sex. Really guys do you not worry about STDs? Are you not grossed out by the thought of how many other guys have been there before? Are you not disgusted with yourself for paying for sex?
Just like in every other aspect of sales it's supply and demand....the demand is what drives everything. If there is no demand then there is no sale....what if men stop the demand? Then there will be no need for prostitution.
What if there was an ad on a billboard or TV that showed a picture of a girl at age 5, then again at 13 then again at 25 and the caption read, "she's your little girl how would you feel if she was taken and sold for sex?" would guys be so quick to buy it then?
I really don't like that I sound like a man hater here...I am not. I love my husband and I know that not all men are like this...but there is enough men buying sex that prostitution is still going on today. I also know that men can be victims of abuse as well...I'm not here to attack anyone I just want to raise awareness and end all forms of abuse....and sex trafficking is abuse.
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