Sex Trafficking in the United States

Danielle Miller

Prof. Sieben

Teaching Writing

Argument Paper

6 December 2011

           

“Ladies of the Night”

(A closer look at the problem of sex trafficking in the United States)

Sex trafficking is a global epidemic that is growing each and every day, however, people living in the United States understand that the problem is just as severe state side, as it is around the world.  According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, sex trafficking is defined as, “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.”  Many of the reports focus on either sex trafficking abroad, or international women being trafficked into the United States; the fact that no reports have been recorded about domestic sex trafficking causes huge problems for trying to put an end, or at least create a solution, to the problem.  

Although not many reports have been done to truly gage how dire the sex trafficking situation is in the United States, some researchers and organizations have begun to gather information to help bring more of a factual based awareness to the issue.  In the report, Human Trafficking Into and Within the United States: A Review of the Literature, researches found that between 244,000 and 325,000 American youth are considered at risk for sexual exploitation, and an estimated 199,000 incidents of sexual exploitation of minors occur each year in the United States.  Based on this report, only the minor’s being trafficked are counted, these figure do not include all the people over eighteen years of age who are trafficked in the United States as well.  In another report, Sex Trafficking of Women in the United States, researchers noted that the United States has been less visible as a site for transnational and domestic trafficking in women because, for one reason, research on sex trafficking in the United States has been limited. 

One of the major problems with the way sex trafficking is handled is that a lot of the time the prostitute is the one charged in the crime when they’re caught in the act.  Many “johns” are not charged when they get caught with a prostitute, but the female is.  In the report, Sex Trafficking of Women in the United States, researchers report that the penalties for human trafficking are far less punitive in most countries than the penalties for drug trafficking.  Somehow, I feel the opposite should be the case.  Trafficking a human being seems far more of a crime to me than the trafficking of illegal drugs.

Much of the public also seems to unaware of just how close to home sex trafficking is hitting.  Street prostitution, escort services, strip clubs, massage parlors, and internet pornography are just a few of the places where innocent women and children are being forced into sexual servitude.    In the report, Sex Trafficking of Women in the United States, researchers report that the Metro New York area, Manhattan specifically, has the highest number of escort service listings in the yellow pages, which falls second to the listing of attorneys.  The sex industry works off of the basic business model of supply and demand; if there wasn’t a demand for women, there would be no need to supply them through trafficking.  In Mickey Goodman’s article, “Super Bowl a magnet for under-age sex trade,” child-rights advocates said, “Pimps will traffic thousands of under-age prostitutes to Texas for Sunday's Super Bowl, hoping to do business with men arriving for the big game with money to burn.”

Part of the problem with addressing the issues of sex trafficking in the United States is that Americans don’t want to accept that “upstanding” American men are taking part in continuing this hideous cycle of abuse.  It’s easy for American’s to sit back and say, “oh that’s a Chinese issue,” or “that only happens in the Middle East,” because than we, as Americans, can blame the “barbaric” nature of the people in those nations for not putting a stop to such a heinous crime.  In Lesile Bennetts article, “The John Next Door,” a victim of sex trafficking, who was forced into the industry at the young age of 10, quoted, “They’re the cops, the schoolteacher—the dignified, respected individuals. They’re everybody.”

Another major flaw with the mindset of the American public is that the women involved in the sex industry, specifically those over the age of eighteen, make the conscience decision to be there, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth.  According to Sex Trafficking of Women in the United States, researchers report that eight-six of U.S, women reported being physically abused by their pimps and traffickers while in the sex industry; one half of those women described frequent, sometimes daily physical assaults.  Many of the beatings take place as a way to control the women.  The pimps instill such fear in them that they couldn’t run away if the door to the brothel was left wide open.

Based on many of the reports out there on sex trafficking, one may feel discouraged that there will ever be a solution to help deal with this issue; however, there are ways to start to help bring attention to the issue.  Two ways are through education and public awareness.  One of the biggest hurdles domestic sex trafficking faces in the United States is the complete disregard that it’s even happening here.  Educating the public is one way to help them see that sex trafficking in the U.S. is a very real and huge problem.  A third way to help address sex trafficking in the U.S. is stricter penalties and consistent law enforcement.  As of late, law enforcement departments have been setting up task forces specially designed to tackle sex trafficking crimes.  Although these few examples are a start, much more needs to be done to help stop these crimes, and save the women and children forced into them.

Works Cited:

Bennetts, Lesile.  “The John Next Door.”  Newsweek Magazine 18 Jul 2011.  The Daily

 Beast online.  Web.  4 Dec 2011.

Clawson, Heather J.  Dutch, Nicole.  Grace, Lisa Goldblatt. Solomon, Amy.  Human Trafficking Into and Within the United States: A Review of the Literature.  ASPE August

 2009.  Web.  4 Dec 2011.

Goodman, Mickey.  “Super Bowl a magnet for under-age sex trade.”  Reuters 2 Feb

            2011.  Reuters online.  Web.  5 Dec 2011.

Hughes, Donna M.  Raymond, Janice G.  Sex Trafficking Of Women In The United

            States.  Coalition Against Trafficking in Women March 2011.  Web. 4 Dec 2011.

how does one really achieve great classroom management skills?

Today while observing, I noticed that the biggest struggle in most classrooms is managing student behavior.  I'm a product of Catholic school, so students misbehaving to the degree I've been witnessing weren’t even a thought in my fellow high school peers minds.  Now, that’s not to say that my high school didn’t have its fair share of kids who would act out, but it was nothing compared to what I've been observing.  In one of the classes I observed today, made up of 3 female students and 21 male students, the level of noise was so great that I couldn’t hear my self think, let alone the teacher verbally give out n assignment.  The teacher was giving the students a journal prompt to write about; she had to repeat the question 4 times, and still students were asking what the question was.  I began to get really frustrated!  This teacher is a veteran teacher, and to be honest I expected her to be able to control her students better than any other teacher, but that wasn’t the case at all.  I'm unsure of why the classroom got so out of control in the first place.  What was causing these students to have such a lack of respect for their teacher?  What was giving the teacher such patience that she didn’t run out of the room and never return?  It made me start thinking about my own future classroom.  What if my future students behave that way?  Do I have a plan of action to deal with a situation like that?  Or better yet, what can I do to prevent a situation like that from happening?  The teacher I observed put on a movie for the rest of the period, and that seemed to settle the students to a certain extent, and could almost swear I saw her raise a little white flag from behind her desk!  Ok, so maybe she didn’t actually raise a little white flag, but she may as well have.  The people I really felt bad for were the students who were actually trying to learn.  I can’t imagine how annoying and distracting it must be to be in a classroom where the majority of the period is based around the teacher telling your peers to pipe down and pay attention. 

Response to Arielle's Post 11/14/11

I really enjoyed Arielle's post about change, or lack thereof in our world.  Her post made me think of a unit I'm working on for another class.  My unit is focused on civic responsibility, which relates well to Arielle's post.  The books my students will be reading all deal with issues of women’s rights in foreign countries, including but not limited to arranged marriage, child sex trade, and many more.  One thing I want my students to walk away with is the notion that no matter how far away a problem may seem, or how big of an issue it may be to tackle, they can help.  I think that most of society thinks unless their completely solving the problem, they can’t make a difference.  However, the smallest action can result in something life changing for the person who's receiving the help.  The final piece to my unit is going to be the students setting up and running a "Women Around the World Awareness Week."  My students will be hanging up posters and flyers of facts they learned through the class, and the books they read.  They will also set up some sort of fundraising project, and all the money raised will go to a foundation that sponsors young girls in third-world countries to go to school.  I want my students, and the school for that matter, to realize that change or making a difference can be as simple as selling a cupcake, no one’s asking them to change the world.  Arielle brought up great points in her blog that really speak to how society looks at change; it seems that change is looked at as something difficult, something that is usually unattainable.  We all need to realize that change is attainable, and that what may seem like the smallest contribution could lead to the biggest reward to the people who need it most. 

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KGXd4TUEMc

If you see something, say something

" if you see something, say something" and no I'm not talking about the MTA. In the midst of the Penn State sex abuse scandal, I started thinking about legendary coach Paterno. Paterno, a celebrity in his own right, is not the accused, however, he seems to be smack in the middle of the whole scandal. This got me to thinking about what we, as teachers, are teaching students about bullying. We teach young people to step in or speak up of they see some sort of wrongdoing going on. The Penn State scandal is a perfect example as to why teaching that lesson to young people is vital. Paterno may not have abused those boys, or even witnessed the abuse taking place, but he was made aware of what was going on and said nothing. Does that make him as guilty as the actual abuser? Perhaps not, but to be aware of that caliber of abuse and not intervene does make him guilty to an extent. For students, it's the same thing. If they see a fellow peer being bullied and just standby and watch it happen, and than that student commits suicide that night, the stander by will feel a certain level of guilt. The Penn State scandal is a good lesson for society in general: we are all held accountable for the wrongdoings we see or are made aware if, and if we don't do anything about it, well then the blood is on our hands too.

creative piece # 2(not sure which i like better)

“The Heights”

By: Danielle Miller

Corona

This was our home.  A place I still cherish to this day.  There was no better place to grow up, in our eyes anyway, than Corona.  Everyday was like Sunday dinner, one big family loving, fighting, and of course eating.  Just driving down Corona Avenue with your car windows open would embed the aroma of “galic” in your seats.  Walking down the streets, you’d hear a million conversations at once, some you’d understand, and some you’d know only the “bad” words your parents had taught you in their native tongue.  Growing up in Corona was like living in a real life gangster movie; you had you “Robert De Niro” types, your “Joe Pesci” types, but we just knew them as a part of our “familia.”  You knew everybody, and everybody knew you.  Your neighbors were your cousins, and local shop owners were your parents “pisan’s” from the mother country. 

            Ya see, my friends and I had all known each other, for the most part, since birth.  All of our parents grew up together too.  My mother, for example, she’s lived on the same street her whole life!  This isn’t something that many people of today’s generation could say.  A lot of the neighborhood people could share similar stories. 

            Driving through the neighborhood now is a completely different world.  The colors of red, white, and green still stand, except now they stand for a different kinda people, people who come from “south of the border.”  Even thought the area has changed almost completely, I can still see every memory in my mind; my first bad scraped knee; my first kiss; the place I smoked my first joint, all of it.  No matter what direction I turn, I see a memory; Anthony and Jimmy jamming out in Mr. Pallino’s garage; Lisa breaking up with her boyfriend for the 15^th time; my uncle stumbling home from the bar.  Things were crazy back than.  There are moments I wish I could recreate, and others I wish I could long forget.            

Not everything is "our" business

I know this blog is going to seem completely ridiculous, but I'm going to write it anyway.  Today, Kim Kardashian announced she was divorcing husband of 72 day, Kris Humphries.  Many of you may stop reading here, but just hear me out.  As I watched TV this morning, many stations had a breaking news alert that Kim was filing for divorce.  Many people would blog about how idiotic that may be, or how idiotic Kim may be in general, but the whole situation left me feeling kind of sorry for her.  Here's a woman who has had her fair share of struggles in life(many of which the public doesn’t know about), and yet people are so quick to criticize her.  Just for a moment, I'd like for you to imagine being in her position, to have most of the world rooting that you fail, hoping that you fall on your face, just so they can say "I told you so."  Kim suffered years of physical abuse from her first husband, the unexpected death of her father, and many publicized breakups, but yet "we" hate her, why, because she marketed herself well and became an overnight millionaire?  The whole situation got me to thinking that as a society, were way too involved in celebrities lives.  If we asked our grandparents, 50 years ago no one was saying much about the escapades of celebrities.  Why is it that people today think its their business to have an inside look into very private matters?  Are we that bored with our own lives?  Or, are we looking to point the finger at how bad someone else's situations are, so we dont have to look at our own?  So what, she got divorced after 72 days, how many people stay unhappily married for 30+ years and regret it!  The way i feel is that Kim wouldn’t have a judgment about my life, so why should i have the option to have one about hers?  We should focus on the things that our important in life, and stop focusing on kicking someone when they’re down. 

start of my short story

            The perfect first date.  We all know what I’m talking about; everything goes perfectly.  He calls, leaving the most incredible voicemail, the kind of voicemail that makes you think of him as being ever wittier than he was to begin with.  He invites you on the perfect date, nothing too stuffy or pressure bearing, just a casual movie and dinner date.  Scratch that, a dinner and movie date, that way just incase the dinner doesn’t go as “perfect” as you’d envision it, the movie is that great escape of sitting in silence for about an hour and half, trying to semi-enjoy what’s happening on the screen as opposed to the horrific way your meal ended.  However, that’s not how my date went.  It was perfect!  The meal was great, the conversation was beyond what I’d ever experienced; everything was perfect, right down to the way he signed his name on the check.  This date was the first of many perfect dates I’d go on with Jude. 

            The next few weeks gave me that feeling in my stomach, you know that feeling of being in middle school again and waiting for a response on the, “do you like me, circle yes or no,” note you passed to your crush during math period.  Date after date, Jude’s perfection only seemed to improve, contrary to the popular statistic of the first few dates only going downhill.  His kiss was perfect, his laugh was impeccable, the way he’d brush my hair behind my ear before he kissed me.  I knew that when it came time to take our intimacy to the next level the moment would be just as perfect.  The moment came, or shall I say rather, the moment came and past.  It was kind of like eating one of those big hot pretzels, but all the salt fell off before you could take the first bite.  There was no flavor, no taste.  Feeling completely baffled, I started to wonder how everything else could be so perfect, so connected, yet, the area we should have been the most “connected” felt more distant than anything. 

            Later the next day, I met with my two “besties”.  As we all know, a situation like mine beckoned to be “lunch talk.”  The advice I received was split.  Tina said, “if the sex was cold, the relationship is doomed to freeze over too.”  Not exactly what I wanted to hear, because everything other than that was all I could have ever imagined.  Jill gave me the advice, which I took, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, and try again.”  I figured if I was into Jude enough, I could melt even the coldest of glaciers. 

            That Friday we went out to a swanky little lounge.  I had more than my fair share of drinks; I thought that maybe I was a bit inhibited the first time, so I drank as much as I could, trying not to cross that fine line of strongly buzzed and hot mess.  The date, once again was flawless.  I had on my best push up bra, my highest heels, and enough perfume on to make a hooker blush.  In my mind, I saw the sexiest, sassiest of nights happening.  We reached my apartment.  The kisses throughout the elevator ride lead me to believe that nothing could ruin this moment, it would be perfect.  Reaching the bed, I began to parade around in what I believed to be a sexy manner.  Jude sat on the edge of my bed, looking at me with semi-glazed eyes.  As I began to do a little “shakin,” those high heels began to work against me; falling over in the middle of a “get your man hot-and –bothered dance” kind of kills the mood.  But hey, I’m a trooper.  I picked myself up, flipped my hair back, pouted my lips and…well he laid there passed out.  I guess we both crossed the line into “hot mess” territory.  So here we were beauty and the sleep.  What was my next move going to be?  Could Jude and I ever figure out how to take the heat from our dates into the bedroom?