A 18 year old Vietnamese American girl is at college party when an attractive young man buys her drink. She is already far from sober and well immersed in the euphoric atmosphere of the fraternity party, so she unknowingly sips on the drug laced alcohol while listening to the charming man compliment her. He begins to grow fuzzy in her eyes, and all the raging noise at the party diminishes into nothing. She wakes up dazed, with a splitting headache and pain in her side, barely being able to make out her surroundings; she is in a small concrete room with a barred door surrounded by whimpering girls- much younger than her, some younger than 10 years old- with one cracked open, rusted window in the corner. All the other girls are of Asian descent and are wearing nothing but thin, silk slips adorned with Japanese styled flowers. She again feels the stinging in her side and looks down her slip to find a number branded on her hi; She has no name anymore. She sees through the barred door the charming man talking to another more intimidating women wearing an Ao Dai; the women speaks in Vietnamese and hands the man a stack of cash, and he walks away, never glancing back to look at the huddle of caged prisoners behind the barred door. The other side of the barred door has Vietnamese decor that is familiar to her, as well as a long menu of prices next to words she can't make out through her still blurred vision. She slowly pieces the bits of her scenario together and comes to a horrific realization- human trafficking. She has heard stories about girls kidnapped and trafficked as sex slaves to foreign countries. She infers she must be in an Asian country, due to the ethnicity of all the other girls and the intimidating women as well as the decorations on the other side of the barred door. She stands up and walks toward the window; she expects to smell Bánh Cuốn or Goi Khon; She expects to see crowded fish markets bustling with fisherman; She expects to see rickshaws and stalls filled with young girls selling homemade pottery and other goods. Instead, she sees a Starbucks a a few blocks down; She smells the familiar mix of gasoline and industrial factories spewing out smog; She sees an American flag resting on top of one of many towering buildings. This isn't in a hidden town in a developing country, this is in America. This is an all too familiar situation; human trafficking in the United States. Take the story of Eden- a women kidnapped and sold to men for sex slavery in Utah ; Or Shandra Wowuruntu, who was trafficked for 10 years in Chicago. Many don't even realize where it could be happening: in a hotel, a small house, or even a 'business' store in a strip mall. It’s an issue with which law-enforcement agencies in the U.S. continually struggle because of how appealing it can be to pimps or drug dealers. Why? Contraband can only be sold once, humans on the other hand can be sold hundreds and hundreds of times, providing a greater profit. Many women and girls are leered in by fake job proposals, charming men who promise them of a better life, kidnapped, or come from a poor background and are forced to turn to prostitution as a source of money- which can lead to sex slavery. Traffickers may also trick sex slaves into thinking that they are offenders, threatening to call the police and report them for prostitution if they don't comply with demands. This makes sex trafficking particularly challenging because victims might be fearful of going to law enforcement and being charged with a crime. And the ending isn't pretty for many sex slaves; murder, death, or suicide is all too common in the world of human trafficking. This isn't a foreign problem; this can be happening to your next door neighbor. Do your part and learn the signs on how to identify trafficked victims. Visit: http://aplus.com/a/ways-to-recognize-sex-trafficking-victim for more
12 Comments
Jonah Aglubat
8/21/2016 03:29:13 pm
it is truly remarkable that sex trafficking and sex slavery can be found in the most unlikely places and how we are so unaware of this issue taking place so close to home. When we hear about sex trafficking we automatically assume it is in some far off land and doesnt affect us. we must take action and stop just feeling bad for victims of sexual slavery. Thank you for posting something so eye opening
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Katrina Paske
8/21/2016 03:59:02 pm
Very heartbreaking story. Human trafficking might not be discussed on a daily basis, but this crime is having an impact in the communities we live in. We should ensure that the public be educated to prevent the risk of trafficking and exploitation.
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Again bringing a hidden crime that's common in America to light. It's absolutely appalling to think that slavery still exists underneath the frills and fancies of modern America. I guess we haven't strayed so far from our roots of this dehumanizing system after all.
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Rachel De Guzman
8/25/2016 08:02:00 pm
Sex trafficking is prevalent and present even in a country such as ours where we value economic, social, and individual freedom. We should be cognizant of what is going on in our country and even in our local communities because this issue can affect anyone anywhere.
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Robby Bruza
8/26/2016 10:57:59 am
Thank you for this piece. I have read similar stories before, but it certainly does not make this horrific crime against humanity any less devastating. I have heard that the Superbowl has a larger presence of sex trafficking than any other event in the United States. Upon more research, apparently this statement is somewhat contested--mostly on the grounds that we have incomplete/inaccurate data and that the media/law enforcement hyperbolize sex trafficking and the Superbowl in order to create a gripping media story as well as make it look like law enforcement is actually making a dent in the crime. Then we can all go back to business as usual while the problem still courses through America throughout the rest of the year. I don't doubt this. But I also do not doubt that an event that is hyper-masculine, capitalist, and patriarchal brings in an audience that would be capable of taking advantage of sex-trafficking/prostitution. Just look at the outfits that NFL cheerleaders where... obviously to the "benefit" of the masculine gaze.
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From Their First Breaths
8/26/2016 11:45:18 am
Thank you for the feedback. We totally agree with your last statement regarding Hollywood's portrayal of the film, "Eden"; It was laced with unnecessary suspense that was used to draw the reader in rather than paint a more accurate depiction of what actually happens in human trafficking- however, it is one one of the very few films that admittedly calls attention to sexual slavery in the United States rather than in a developing country. We give it 2/5 stars for that.
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intense. let's bring this even closer to home. a quick search of Santa Clarita and massage brings you to a website called rubmaps, whose motto is "Where Fantasy Meets Reality". it specializes in reviewing "erotic massage parlors". here is the real rub: these massage parlors are, more often than not, staffed with women who have just come from China and are often paying off their flights and living expenses. literally, just down the street from GPA, one will find a spa that currently has 63 erotic reviews. this is real. present. and right down the street. Mithara reminds us that this is not only a global issue but also a local issue.
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Adira Kruayatidee
8/26/2016 04:36:48 pm
It is extremely tragic that sex trafficking is plaguing the global community, yet people are still either choosing to disregard the issue or are unaware. Even in America sex trafficking is present but because many have implanted the idea in their heads that it is a more developed country, these "poverty country" issues are non existent.
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Karina Leon
8/26/2016 04:39:57 pm
Its truly devastating how a fun night out can turn into our worst nightmare. We often think were immune to danger and that situations like this one never happen in America. Often times we trust the wrong people-- the ones that seem harmless but it is imperative to stay alert and aware of our surroundings at all times. Always go out with a few friends and never take a drink from a stranger no matter how cool or cute he or she is.
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Jake Gomez
8/31/2016 09:06:53 pm
So infuriating that we worry about such trivial things in our day to day lives: what clothes to wear, what things to do. This is going on within OUR country???? Women are being dehumanized and murdered within our own boarders and all we do is scroll up and down our Twitter feeds and do nothing about these problems. My mind is a complete state of disarray thinking about all these issues affecting the woman of America. It is time to take action.
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9/2/2016 04:28:41 pm
Sex trafficking is a terrible and widely ignored issue. Many people do not realize how close to home this issue is. Thank you for writing such a raw and powerful blog post. Lots of love -Isabelle
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10/23/2017 11:48:06 am
I just got to this amazing site not long ago. I was actually captured with the piece of resources you have got here. Big thumbs up for making such wonderful blog page!
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