Never Had A Chance: Forced Into Sex Trafficking

by Angelica Cooper, 10C

(Source: Laura Augustin)

Soon the pain becomes familiar and the faces come and go. Can you still maintain pride within yourself if your self-worth has been tarnished? That is the question that many young women ask themselves everyday, and most of them say no. Why is that? That is because these young women are victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking is the trade of people through forced labor and most commonly through sexual labor. Now, even though as a student in New York City I may not be an exact example of human trafficking, I do know that it is a growing problem that affects girls just like me.

Now, I bet you’re asking how can I truly know the effects if I have never been a victim? Well, the answer is that I know from the knowledge that I have acquired through the non-fiction writing titled “Half The Sky” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn and from my research. I have found that in many places around the world human trafficking is shown in the form of prostitution.

The women who are either forced into slavery or willingly go into the system, are not seen as a priority by the higher authority that is present within places where sex slavery is at its peak.

According to one of the Indian officers of the border shack, they are not really looking out for these poor girls but are focused on other things such as smugglers or those who try and pirate goods, “ Oh, a lot. But we don’t worry about them. There’s nothing you can do about them.” (Kristof, WuDunn, 23) This Indian officer is one of the many people who reflect the perceptions of these women. He makes it seem as if they’re helpless and have nothing left to provide for the community, and therefore should not be assisted in the way that other civilians would. If people within these societies would not turn a blind eye, then these girls wouldn't have to deal with such ordeals.

Due to the constant negative backlash on the lives of these innocent women, they see themselves as nothing more than a prostitute or a victim of sexual abuse. They have been forced into sacrificing their bodies which in turn caused them to sacrifice their being entirely. These women are intelligent and have aspirations, but all of that has been shattered by every single man who has ever walked into a brothel. Why is it that women are seen as the derogatory names that have been given to them rather than who they really are? Why is it that some men and communities in various parts of the world assume that women are valued for money and are only for pleasure?

Why is it that these false images of who a woman is are constantly displayed but never changed? It is simply because in places like Nepali, the Congo, and even Cambodia, women are not supposed to have a voice. They are to do as they are told and keep the business moving. However, I think it is time that the single story of what a woman is supposed to do and how one is supposed to act should be erased completely.

Yes, I know that the common thought is, “How can we do something if we live halfway across the world?” Well the answer is by applying some type of effort. One little step by the smallest of people can actually lead to a major change. Whether it is getting the attention of the international community, or getting the media’s attention in hopes of broadcasting this issue throughout the world, it is possible to make it so these young women have an opportunity. An opportunity for a better life where they can have a say in what they want,where they can actually prove to be more than just a body.

Think about it this way, whether it may be your daughter, your niece, your sister, or even your cousin, how would you feel if they were in a life where they had options? Where their only goal in life was to grow up to be a prostitute starting from an age as young as 6? This problem is relatable in more ways than we think and even with the opinions in which state that, “Given the nature of the trafficking business, so few convictions will have little effect. Convicting a local recruiter or transporter has no significant impact on the overall scale of trafficking. If the incentives are right, he or she is instantly replaced, and the flow of people is hardly interrupted,” it is better to try and punish these men and businesses who have devoted their time to destroying the lives of women than sitting back and letting the problem get to a point where we can’t intervene.

Just like how the UN has in the past tried to step up and make a change with, “A law passed in 2009 strengthened the state’s sex-trafficking laws by increasing penalties and categorizing trafficking as a ‘crime of violence’,” we can make a difference too. Young women who are close to my age should be able to grow up and have a chance to do something greater and not have to be forced into a life of pain and violence. As a young woman myself I feel that our first step is to recognize women for who they really are and give them the respect that they deserve. After that, there are multiple ways as I said before to change this situation. Forming your own organization or teaming up with an organization such as the Safe Horizon Anti-Trafficking Program, which assists survivors of human trafficking and promotes against it, is a perfect way to do your part and put a stop to this crime. Those types of actions can potentially make human trafficking an issue that is present to the world and break the silence of its victims.

Everyone should get a chance. A chance to prove their worth and to value who they are. Slavery will not be completely abolished until these women are set free once and for all. Until these women finally get their chance to live a life better than a life of selling themselves for sex.