Children Sexual Exploitation
One of the cruelest and most widespread problems for the modern world community is the sexual exploitation of children. According to Sher’s book, children in disadvantaged environments, such as migrants or refugees, are the most vulnerable to such exploitation (Sher, 2013). There are even special markets for the sale of children. A common phenomenon around the world is the sexual abuse of children in closed institutions, in particular, of a religious nature. This is backed up by Keisha Head, who tells her own story and how she got out of it (Darkness to Light, 2014). One of the main theses of the girl is that the place of birth of a child and his growing up really predetermines the risk of sexual abuse. Separately, she notes racial characteristics, which allows us to assert the discriminatory nature of such exploitation (Darkness to Light, 2014). Sher’s book looks at prerequisites for sexual abuse, which are low quality of life, such as poverty or increased consumerism (Sher, 2013). However, it is noteworthy that this is not the only similarity between the two analyzed sources.
Another equally important factor in the problem under consideration is the influence of such a phenomenon on the psyche and character of children. For example, Keisha Head, talking about her own childhood, focuses on her inner changes (Darkness to Light, 2014). In other words, she became more rigid and distrustful, and her worldview was distorted. The latter is particularly expressed in the fact that she treated her own family with contempt. On the one hand, her mother really acted inappropriately and committed ambiguous acts. On the other hand, for children, parents serve as an example and standard, which is practically not condemned at an early age due to the psychology of the child (Sher, 2013). However, in the case of Keisha Head, this has changed, and for the worse, both for herself and for her family (Darkness to Light, 2014). Thus, the woman comes to the conclusion that the sexual exploitation of children has an extremely strong effect on individuals, distorting their worldview as well as marginalizing their lifestyle. Similar considerations are found in Sher’s book, which analyzes the relationship between child exploitation and the psyche of the victims of this phenomenon (Sher, 2013). The book explains that poverty and cruelty take the form of a vicious circle from which it is difficult for society to escape. In other words, the victims are those children who were born into poverty and marginalized environments (Sher, 2013). The situation is aggravated by the fact that as a result of sexual abuse, there is no self-development, and such individuals become poor and cruel. Thus, this problem takes the form of a snowball, where the cause is the effect.
Trafficking
It is important to understand that traditional slavery, as a phenomenon of finding one a person owned by another person, with the development of society, began to gradually lose its relevance. As a result of this process, the term became part of a new, broader concept – modern slavery. According to Enrie, economically or socially disadvantaged groups are at increased risk of being trafficked – and especially irregular migrants (Enrile, 2017). They can be especially vulnerable due to ignorance or poor knowledge of the local language and laws, which quickly move from a legal position to an undocumented one. Rachel Lloyd believes that at risk are women and children, young people from dysfunctional families, without parents, from orphanages, homeless, and neglected (TEDx Talks, 2021). Among adults, those released from places of deprivation of liberty and the homeless, the disabled, and the elderly are vulnerable. The key risk factors for them are lack of money, long-term unemployment, and discrimination.
Separately, it is necessary to note that both sources show that the key reason for the silence or ignorance of the slaves is precisely the ignorance of their rights and the law. Enrie analyzes that one can get into trafficking networks by accepting “high-paying” seasonal jobs abroad or by finding work or studying abroad through unscrupulous firms (Enrile, 2017). Recruitment is often based on complete or partial deception, and the person agreeing to work knows nothing about the true intentions of the recruiter. Lloyd believes, adding that false promises are followed by blackmail, seizure of documents, withholding salaries, and other types of fraud and human rights violations (TEDx Talks, 2021). In her opinion, all these tools allow a person to keep the “slave” under complete control (TEDx Talks, 2021). However, these are not the only causes of human trafficking, and both sources mention another one, namely the increase in demand. According to Lloyd, there is a favorable atmosphere for human trafficking where there is poverty and the feminization of poverty (TEDx Talks, 2021). Enrie continues this thought, revealing that the most common areas are those where people do not have enough opportunities, and there is no alternative – education, employment, or legal migration (Enrile, 2017). However, it is incorrect to interpret the prerequisites for such a phenomenon as purely economic. The fact is that the most important part of trafficking is the mentality, namely the neglect of people and the lack of equality (TEDx Talks, 2021). Thus, the belittling of women or the poor strata of the population generates a consumer attitude toward representatives of these groups. At the same time, users of such services treat people as a commodity, not realizing the inhumanity of such actions (Enrile, 2017). Accordingly, trafficking has a more complex nature, which is not based only on the economic situation in a particular region.
Thus, from the synthesis of the two sources, it is necessary to conclude that the main factor is the demand for cheap forced labor, for sex services, including “specific” ones. This process can be slowed down or even stopped, not so much by the police but by society itself, when it learns to treat human trafficking with zero tolerance. In addition, such a phenomenon is not political and not even economic, but rather social in nature. Accordingly, society needs to eradicate, first of all, the prerequisites noted by the above-mentioned authors.
Women Trading
A separate problem of modern international society is trafficking in women, which exists due to various reasons. However, the most common and inhumane purpose of this phenomenon is the provision of commercial sex. At the same time, Lloyd, in his book, explores that it is not even about prostitution but about the sale of a person to another for sexual slavery (Lloyd, 2011). A similar view is undermined by Erin Aliano, who considers commercial sex to be the main reason for the development of women’s sex trafficking (Aliano). The fundamental difference from prostitution, according to both sources, is that in this mechanism, there is an element of force and coercion (Aliano). This means that in sexual slavery, women are not provided voluntarily but either by blackmail or by deceit and misrepresentation (Lloyd, 2011). In addition, the authors analyze the reasons why women find themselves in this position.
Based on the research, there are two main prerequisites for the relevance of this phenomenon. Lloyd identifies gender discrimination and sexism as one the problems (Lloyd, 2011). The fact is that by persons involved in such a business, the girl is regarded as a second-class person, as an attendant. Aliano complements this point of view, believing that there is an element of the sexualization of women in society (Aliano). Particular attention is paid to the appearance and sexual parameters of a woman, but not to her as a person in general (Aliano). As a second prerequisite for trafficking in women, both authors will reveal the ignorance of individuals about their position and rights. That is why one of the most effective ways to make a girl slave is manipulation and deceit. Moreover, Lloyd reveals that the girls are promised the fulfillment of all their needs, as well as an easy life (Lloyd, 2011). Aliano adds that the girls get the job a models, fame, and are promised attention (Aliano). As a consequence, when the victim realizes that she has been deceived, it is already too late since blackmail and threats are other tools.
As a result of the synthesis of the studies of both authors, it becomes clear that it is the lack of equality and sexualization that are the main sources of such a phenomenon. The fact is that in such strata of society, girls are regarded solely as a subject and as an object of beauty. This is expressed primarily in the sexualization of the actions, appearance, and clothing of women. In addition, enslavement schemes become more intricate and complex in order to mislead the victim and then keep them by force. Thus, such a phenomenon can be regarded as a kind of trap since the lack of awareness of the victims allows the criminals to release their methods.
References
Aliano, E. (n. d.).Introduction to human trafficking [Video]. Zoom.
Darkness to Light. (2014).A survivor story: Keisha Head [Video]. YouTube.
Enrile, A. (2017). Ending human trafficking & modern-day slavery: Freedom’s journey. Sage.
Lloyd, R. (2011). Girls like us: Fighting for a world where girls are not for sale—A memoir. Harper. ISBN-10: 9780061582066
Sher, J. (2013). Somebody’s daughter: The hidden story of America’s prostituted children and the battle to save them. JournalismNet Enterprises, Inc.
TEDx Talks. (2021).Human trafficking: Rachel Lloyd at TEDxUChicago 2012 [Video]. YouTube.