“Western” Society Fumbles

Op-Ed Written By: Amy Theriault

 

Slavery: it is something that seems so ancient to such a modern day and age, but in reality it is just as present now as it was before. We seem to  teach students about such terrible slavery that occurred within our country’s history, but lack in bringing knowledge about such tragedies occurring in modern day society. We seem to teach students about terrible things occurring over-seas in impoverished countries, but lack in bringing knowledge about the tragedies occurring right here in our own environment. When child trafficking comes to mind, we as a western society begin to  think of south-east asian countries, but the truth is some of the worst acts of child trafficking and exploitation is occurring right here at home.   

 

The 13th Amendment made slavery unconstitutional in the United States, in 1865, but modern day slavery is still something very present today in 2014. Between 100,000 and 300,000 minors are sold for sex in the United States every single year. These girls and boys are as young as 13 years old and are sold over and over again which makes sex trafficking one of the most profitable and fastest growing crimes. So why is it that as a teenager growing up in North America it took me so long to be educated on such a thing? The media is full of foreign tragedies, celebrity gossip and huge sports events; but hardly reveals the sad truth of things such as child trafficking in the United States.

 

Like previously mentioned before, the media seems to focus on things such as huge sporting events like the Super Bowl, but has it ever been brought to your attention that the Super Bowl, (occurring on the first Sunday of every February) is one of the biggest days for traffickers. Hundreds of thousands of visitors will attend not only to watch the game, but to have sex with a minor. Pimps from all over the world will fly and drive in their trafficking victims to feed this cycle.

 

Now, all sporting events are destinations for traffickers, but girls and boys are exploited every day. Human trafficking is a serious issue...even here in North America. Sex trafficking happens in our communities in plain sight, but most of us don’t recognize it. That’s why it is so important to raise awareness of this horrific crime that entangles boys and girls in a prison they don’t know how to escape. We have to stop thinking of prostitution as a victimless crime; these children are traumatized victims who deserve to be alive, safe and given a chance. Our society cannot tolerate the sale of human beings. Together we can eliminate this shameful epidemic.