Sex trafficking is a form of contemporary slavery that induces and forces people into a commercial sex trade against their will. Many factors contribute to the sex trade and the exploitation occurs mostly to women and children. Through the age, gender, class, and race many are trapped in a never-ending cycle of coercion and abuse in order to survive in the corrupt society around them. One of the largest targets for sex traffickers is a child. Since children are considered vulnerable they are easily coerced or kidnapped and made to perform sexual acts for others and live in debt to their owner or pimp. “Sex traffickers frequently target vulnerable people with histories of abuse and then use violence, threats, lies, false promises, debt bondage, …show more content…
Females are targeted more than males due to their vulnerability, position as being lower than men, and the sexual preferences of society. Many cultures view woman as a possession used for sex and they do not have sexual rights to her own body. “Exploitative employers prefer to use trafficked women—traditionally seen as submissive, cheap, and pliable—for simple and repetitive tasks in agriculture, food processing, labor-intensive manufacturing, and domestic servitude” (US Department of State). Since women are more likely to depend on their husbands for support, often times they are forced into the migrant work of the sex trade if the husband is unable to provide or they become widowed. “As commercial sex is illegal in most countries, traffickers use the resulting illegal status of migrant women that have been trafficked into commercial sex to threaten or coerce them against leaving” (U.S. Department of State). Although women are targeted at much higher rates than men, Anti-trafficking programs and institutions do not focus their efforts directly on …show more content…
Department of Health and Human Services). Although many claim race to no longer be an issue in America, it is apparent through the treatment and abuse of racial minorities that race does play a factor in human trafficking and those being sexually exploited. Sex trafficking is a world wide epidemic. It targets unknowing victims such as women and children enslaving them and exploiting their innocence. Human trafficking is becoming one of the biggest money making organized crimes in the world. The sex trade is one of the most profitable of all current slave trades. Through the age, gender, class, and race many are trapped in a never-ending cycle of coercion and abuse in order to survive in the corrupt society around them. In order to stop this monstrosity in the world, we need to start at the root of the problem. We must bridge the barriers between gender, class, and race in order to respect one another and live in harmony
As victim count continues to rise, its difficult to see how such great numbers of men, women and children are bought and sold every year. Trafficking can be found in many forms, including: prostitution, slavery, or forced labor (Harf and Lombardi, 2014). It wasn’t until the 1980’s that international human trafficking became globally noticed. With the lack of government intervention and control in several nations, and the free trade market, slavery once again became a profitable industry (Harf and Lombardi, 2014). As previously mentioned, easier movement across nations borders is one of the outcomes of globalization. It is also what makes human trafficking so easy today. It is estimated that about 20.9 million people are victims across the entire globe (United Nations Publications, 2012); trafficking accounts for 32 billion dollars in generated profit globally (Brewer, n.d). 58 percent of all human trafficking was for the purpose of sexual exploitation, and of this 55-60 percent are women (United Nations Publications,
Sex trafficking is when women, young girls, and young boys are held in slavery and forced into prostitution for the financial gain of others in brothels in the United States, Europe, and other developing countries such as Thailand and the Philippines (Sexual Slavery). It’s happened to many women and children throughout many years in many of these countries for money and more power. Often purchased or kidnapped off the street, women, girls, and boys are trafficked across international
Sexual exploitation exploits women and provides a vehicle for racism in a “first world” country like America, where victimization rates are disproportionately higher with “third world” women (O'Connor & Healy, 2007). Goodson is an anti-trafficking activist, is director of international programs for Shared Hope International which is an organization who works with victims of sex trafficking. From her experience, many victims are poor and are sexually abused children and young adults who are swayed by the promises of a better life. Once they reach the United States, the victims are psychologically and physically abused. In the United States, victims of international sex trafficking come primarily from South and Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Africa through states such as Florida, California and New York (Goodson, 2006). The U.S. Department of State estimates that about 600,000 to 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked across national borders annually. Furthermore, it is estimated that 17,500 to 20,000 victims are trafficked into the U.S. annually, with Florida receiving a high percentage of those victims. Although the people who enter the United States are often not legally permitted to enter the United States, Lagon asserts that it is important to note the difference between human
... middle of paper ... ... Underprivileged and depressed children are victims that are usually targeted and because of that, governments and human rights organizations have created laws that protect victims and prosecute traffickers. The act of luring victims into sex trafficking takes a form where the trafficker has to find ways to please the target and get victims to rely on them. Physical and psychological pain are inflicted on victims in order for them to stay in the Life which causes later effects felt by the victims when freed.
Trafficking women and children for both sexual exploitation and labor is the fastest growing sex trade all around the world. The global sex trade is a multi-billion dollar business industry in which women’s bodies become the targets in order for the trade to run successfully. Although sex trafficking is a human rights violation, criminals are still selling women and girls as victims worldwide. The crime occurs when a trafficker uses acts of force, fraud, or other means of coercion to take control over another individual. This is for the purpose of forcing them to engage in commercial sex acts or other labor services. The overall percentage of women and girls being oppressed among trafficking is extremely incredible. “Women and girls make up
What is human trafficking? Human trafficking, according the dictionary.com’s definition, is the illegal movement of people, typically for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. However there are many different forms of human trafficking and one that has caught my eye is the form called sex trafficking. This is very important because many young teenage girls around my age are affected by it the most and they grow up being a sex slave. Although majority of the victims are young girls, human trafficking affects everyone: male, female, young, and old. There are very few people out here hearing their cry. We are very blind to this topic in the United States because its not very well-known and also because it’s such a big
Sex trafficking is essentially systemic rape for profit. Force, fraud and coercion are used to control the victim’s behavior which may secure the appearance of consent to please the buyer (or john). Behind every transaction is violence or the threat of violence (Axtell par. 4). Just a decade ago, only a third of the countries studied by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had legislation against human trafficking. (Darker Side, par.1) Women, children, and even men are taken from their homes, and off of the streets and are brought into a life that is almost impossible to get out of. This life is not one of choice, it is in most times by force. UNODC estimates that the total international human trafficking is a $32-billion-per-year business, and that 79% of this activity comprises sexual exploitation. As many as 2 million children a year are victims of commercial sexual exploitation, according the the U.S. State Department.-- Cynthia G. Wagner. (Darker Side, par. 4) The words prostitute, pimp, escort, and stripper tend to be way too common in the American everyday vocabulary. People use these words in a joking manner, but sex trafficking is far from a joke. Everyday, from all different countries, people are bought and sold either by force or false promises. Some are kidnapped and others come to America with dreams of a dream life and job. The buyers involved in the trade will do anything to purchase an innocent life just to sell for their own selfish profit. Many people wouldn’t think of a human body to be something you can buy in the back room of a business or even online. But those plus the streets are where people are sold most often. There are many reasons and causes for sex trafficking. The factors behind sex traffic...
In the world we live in today, many of our young children and adolescent teens are faced with sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is also one of many negative experiences that parents strive to keep their children,family and friends far away from. Human Trafficking is an illegal industry designed to kidnap innocent people and sell them for purposes of sex and/or forced labor. Unfortunately, human trafficking happens more often that one would like to imagine. Human trafficking is also an activity that affects our nation in ways we have no clue about until it happens.
It is the world’s fastest growing global crime. It is also the world’s second largest source of illegal income after drug trafficking. According to the United Nations Office on drugs and crime (2012),”Women account for 55-60 per cent of all trafficking victims detected globally; women and girls together account for about 75% and as many as 161 countries are affected by human trafficking.” It is also believed that the victims arguably come from the poorest countries in the world. One of the main causes of human trafficking is vulnerability. For example, children are more vulnerable to trafficking because of their lack of understanding and experience. Additionally, in certain societies, women are less empowered than men thus resulting in gender inequality both at home and in the workplace. Gender inequality then leads to easy exploitation through the use of force or
Trafficking in humans is a massive underground industry throughout the United States as well as close to home, mainly Chicago and it’s suburbs. “Human Trafficking is the recruiting, harboring,moving or obtaining a person by force, fraud or coercion, for the purposes of involuntary servitude, debt bondage or sexual exploitation( Human Trafficking in Illinois ).” Human Trafficking is one of the largest and is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Annually, 9.5 billion dollars of profits are generated from trafficking humans worldwide. “Persons do not have to have been transported internationally to be considered victims of trafficking” (Facts about Human Trafficking).
Women all around the world are being bought, abused, then sold again for their body. In the United States doctors: Donna H. Hughes, Carol J. Gomez, and Janice G. Raymond have launched a program to try and put an end to sex trafficking. Annually, almost 50,000 women and children are imported to or from Asia, Latin America, and the Soviet Union for sexual purposes (Alvarez, Larry). Women are forced into being sexually active for money that they do not keep themselves. They are not even seen as women, they are thought of property that can be played with. Sex trafficking is a growing industry and is a disgrace to all women involved.
Examining the several statistics specified above, a person soon believe that slavery that was once abolished and deemed as a legal system, has been masked by a newer name, human sex trafficking. The sex trafficking industry is predominantly filled with women and children of color, while the majority of White people are classified as wealthier or the upper class of prominent countries. Domestically, race is an important concept that is often diminished. People of color are often stricken with poverty, diseases, judicial penalties, or death. Human sex trafficking furthers the dehumanization and degrading of people of color. It forces them to subject to slavery like mentalities and not having self-agency. The United States has to start recognizing
Have you ever thought about how many young females are sex trafficked in the world? How is it the fastest growing criminalized industry, yet if you asked others what they would do about it, they would often take no action? What is sex trafficking? Sex trafficking is a method used by organizations/individuals such as violence, threat, fear, and intimidation to explicitly force adults or children into sex slaves, ultimately with the goal of increasing profits for the organization/individual. Imagine being an innocent child living in a peaceful life and having goals of attaining a brighter future by going to school. However, your family lives in poverty and desperately needs money to survive. You are left with no choice but to accept any job
Human Trafficking has been a huge problem in society that has been going on for many years. It is the second fastest increasing criminal industry coming in after illegal-drug trade. “The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking globally, including 5.5 million children. 55% are women and girls.” (Polaris.org) Human trafficking began in the 1400’s when forms of slavery existed. It is a problem because it is a huge violation of people’s rights and affects men, women, and children. Even though human trafficking is illegal, it still happening because there are many
Many victims become romantically involved with someone who then forces or manipulate him or her into prostitution. ). Girls are abducted or lured by traffickers and then routinely raped, beaten into submission, and sometimes even branded. When the girls try to run away, their trafficker’s torture and or gang rape them (Think Progress). They are the lost girls, standing around bus stops, hanging out by runaway youth shelters, or advertised online. At the Motel 8, at McDonalds or the clubs (Think Process). Others are lured in with false promises of a job, such as modeling or dancing. Some are forced to sell sex by their parents or other family members. They may be involved in a trafficking situation for a few days or weeks, or may remain in the same trafficking situation for years. Victims of sex trafficking are randomly picked. It’s a lot of human sex trafficking cases that are undetected or unreported (The Atlantic monthly group). In 2012 the number of estimated sex trafficking victims was over 20 million people, only 4,000 people were reported. Many women get pulled into commercial sex by gangs, pimps, delivery services, prostitution and neiborhoods (Priscilla