Modern Day Slavery: Sex Trafficking In America

Tragedy and survival
Thousands of women are currently held captive in America today. In 2006, it is estimated that over 300 thousand children are held in the sex trafficking business. Particularly, girls under the age of eighteen are forced into the sex trafficking trade. Sex trafficking is known as modern- day slavery. An estimate of 30 to 46 percent of juveniles in the trade attempt suicide. “Potterat et al., 2004 reports that women involved in prostitution have mortality rates 200 times higher than the national average) and are 18 times more likely to be murdered than their non-trafficked counterparts”, Cecchet (2014). Many girls will become abducted from their homes, schools, neighborhoods, and local shopping centers. Some of these young

women look for a “pimp”. They seek out pimps, because they feel life would be better on the streets, getting paid. They can live as they want, with someone who will protect them and provide security for them. A survivor named Ruth was only 12 years old when she ran away from home. She lived in New York City, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. After this horror, she turned to the streets and was “picked up” by a pimp Equality now, (2013). She stayed with him, because she was only 12 years old and he made her feel safe. Lowyal, was only 13 years old when she ran away from home. She says that she is bullied every day at school. Her mother didn’t seem to care too much, so she ran away. Equality now, (2013). After running away, Lowyal started hanging out with the wrong crowd. This crowd soon introduced her to a pimp. In modern days there is less of a nuclear family, meaning one mother and one father.
Children have immediate access to media, at their fingertips. (Halbertam, p.23) Children who run away are often upset youth, or are taken by a close relative, such as the non-custodial parent. Because of immediate access to the internet, youth seems to think they have a solid grasp on society. They seem to think that stranger danger is not a real threat. While youth might have a sense that there is no real threat to them, they also seem to think they are invincible. Then one day a stranger comes along and adducts them, because they have their heads in their phones. Another risk to children are the friendly couples who seem all too sincere to be of danger. Some men convince other women to work with them for the trade. These couples will approach young girls and try to convince them that they have a look. These girls are convinced these couples will provide better life’s for them, in the modeling industry.
Sex is a billion dollar industry. Marcus, (2016) “Human trafficking is identified as the second or third most profitable illicit business on the planet.” Wheaton, (2010) “As people become vulnerable to exploitation and businesses continually seek the lowest-cost labor sources, trafficking human beings generates profit and a market for human trafficking is created”. Because the demand is high, sex traffickers will continue to force girls into the trade. Some men and even women have an insatiable need for the taboo. Men and women might wish to engage children, so they can look on the deep web for them. “Even if we assume that child rapists are typically repeat customers, averaging one assault per week that would still mean nearly 8 million Americans have a robust and ongoing child rape habit, in addition to the alleged millions who pay for sex with adults” Reason, (2015). Of course, this number might only be an estimate as there is no real way to know. Only counting the reported, although not every incident is reported. In the United States, every victim who becomes involved with prostitution is considered a sex trafficking victim. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, in a two year period between 2008 and 2010, federally funded agency’s investigated over two thousand cases of trafficking.
Not all children are completely lost to the trade. Dunjen, (2014) Police working on a week-long operation conducted a sting, to liberate teenage girls who are trapped in the trade. The three girls rescued were ages 15, 16, and 17 years old. Dunjen, (2014).During the week long sting, a married couple was charged with procuring and promoting prostitution. Ruth, who is 12- years old is forced into the trade by her pimp. After some time of being with him she managed to escape. She is now a poet who writes story’s, detailing her painful past. In one of Ruth’s poems she states that she ran away, because her family and home felt like “hell”. She says that if she had a better life she wouldn’t have had to run away. From helping another victim escape, she too escaped, Equality now, (2013). “Today, Lowyal is back at school—a self-proclaimed “nerd.” She wants to be a nurse or a doctor.” She says, “Now I put my family first.” Equality now, (2013).
Atlanta, Georgia is particularly a significant hub for sex trafficking in America.

Davis, (2014) “Atlanta is the sex-trafficking capital of the United States, with more than $290 million spent in the metro area in 2007 alone”. Pimps can stand to make nearly $34 thousand dollars on a single girl in one year alone. Much of this income comes from promoting girls online. In 2007, The US Department of Justice estimated that nearly 55 percent of cases involved black children. With black girls being the majority, white girls are called swans who catch the highest price Davis, (2014). The Hartsfield Jackson Airport is an international multi terminal airport, with flights around the states including the world. We have one of the world’s busiest airports, so travel in and out of Atlanta is fast and easy. Travel in and out of Atlanta is so easy a major problem exists with trafficking around the metro Atlanta, Georgia area. Atlanta, Georgia is also an international hub for drug import and exports. Often times, sex trafficking and drugs go hand in hand. Drugs are used to obtain new “victims”, to exploit them, and to maximize their exploitation Shelley (2012).Addictive drugs such as cocaine and heroin, are used to entice the girls into sex acts so they can support their drug habit. It is also be used to keep the girls in an altered state so they are more willing to do as the pimp wishes. “Beggars, placed on drugs, will work long hours under difficult conditions to bring back their earnings to those who control them” Shelley (2012). The traffickers use the victim’s addiction as a tool to keep girls in submission. Often time’s traffickers will move the victims from town to town so the girls have no family or friendships. Moving the girls around ensures the victim will stay with the trafficker. Some victims become dependent on their trafficker just for the drug aspect. Gangs are also a problem of the smuggling issue. About 55 percent of Latin Americans identified as gang members

participate in the drug trade and prostitution. The members are able to force the victims across the borders while carrying the drugs. The statistics say, many of the women who are forced into the trade, or voluntarily participate in the trade experience a significant mental trauma.
Yet somehow some of them manage to escape due to their bravery and resilience. Some of the victims who escape, are determined to share their story’s to help other victims. In the United States, several hotlines and shelters exist for this very reason. Women or girls can call at any time to share their story and be “rescued”. In a survey conducted by Cecchet (2014) a survivor tells her personal story of horror.
“He would punish me. I would get slapped almost every day for something . . . . My name was “bitch.” He would beat me up really bad. Or hit me with a pimp stick. It’s a wire hanger knotted up, and then they beat you with that. I had welts and bruises on my backside all the time . . . . He did a lot of humiliating us. He would make us take off all of our clothes and just sit there and then he would beat us up in front of everyone.”