Guest post written by Young Patriot Rising!
People ask me which is worse: labor or sex trafficking. Both are equally terrible because they both profit from human suffering. The better question to ask is, “What is the secret behind these two forms of human trafficking success?” The next question is, “How can we fight it?”
Those two questions are what I am here to answer.
WHY WRITE ABOUT SEX TRAFFICKING AND LABOR TRAFFICKING?
I chose to focus on sex trafficking and labor trafficking because these two are the most common forms of human trafficking and the most profitable. Human traffickers earn a global profit of nearly $150 billion dollars. Sex traffickers make an average $99 billion of that $150 billion. Labor traffickers make an average of $43.4 billion (numbers based from 2020). So about 95% of the profits from human trafficking come from commercial sex and forced labor.
WHY THE SUCCESS OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND LABOR TRAFFICKING?
Why are these two forms of human trafficking so successful? It can be summed up in one word: DEMAND. This may appear unusual, but this is the simple secret behind the success of labor and sex trafficking. If the demand wasn’t there, traffickers wouldn’t have ANY business.
AMERICA IS OBSESSED WITH SEX
I was talking with my dad the other day about human trafficking, and I told him we [Americans] have become a sexualized and product-oriented society. Can you name one movie from the 1990s to the present that didn’t have a sex scene or a girl dressed provocatively? It started in the 90s with Madonna dressing in a bikini and Hollywood movies showing girls in crop tops. Now, you basically watch porn in these movies. American society is obsessed with sex. Even if you’re against it, your favorite movie/music video probably has some form of sex or sexual appeal in it.
THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Since the demand for sex is so high, sex trafficking succeeds in making a profit – it supplies the demand. The U.S. is one of the largest consumers of both sex and child pornography.
For labor trafficking, I want you to think about all the products in your home. Your cellphone, laptop, car tires, coffee, rice, and numerous other objects. The majority of these products are made in Eastern or middle-Eastern countries by forced labor or child labor. We, as a society, demand to have the newest items. “I need the latest iPhone.” “I need a new laptop.” “I need those sneakers.” Just as much as we are obsessed with sex, we are obsessed with new items which creates a demand for cheap labor/forced labor.
Traffickers know how to exploit the vulnerable to feed the demand. Nick Canuso wrote in his book, Land of the Free, that “America is known as one of the primary funding nations of global (human) trafficking.” The United States spends more on products or services from labor or sex trafficking victims.
HOW CAN WE FIGHT LABOR TRAFFICKING?
How can we fight human trafficking, since it appears to affect our daily lives? The answer to that is very simple. Become a conscious buyer. When you go grocery shopping or visit your favorite coffee shop, you can figure out where they get their products from. At a grocery store, look for the label that says either “Fair Trade”, “Direct Trade”, or “Organic Certified”.
These three statements allow consumers to know that ethical practices are used by the farmers and major companies (i.e. Starbucks) producing these products. They ensure their products are good quality, don’t cause harm to the workers and their families, and they protect the environment.
Side Note & Fun Fact: October is Fair Trade Month, so take the opportunity to spread awareness on your social media and in conversations with your friends as we make an effort to fight human trafficking in our daily purchases.
HOW TO COMBAT SEX TRAFFICKING
The same doesn’t necessarily go for sex trafficking. People think porn stars are happy with their job and of legal age. You can’t prove either. What you see on camera isn’t always real. To fight sex trafficking, we cannot support pornography or any industry that profits from sex.
The other way to end sex or labor trafficking is by creating awareness. I wore a shirt from FTND a few days ago (see below) which said “Porn fuels the demand for sex trafficking.” I got a few strange looks (one person giving me a pissed-off look), but I don’t care. If it brings awareness to people, then I’m doing something right. You create awareness, traffickers get scared, and it thwarts their business. By becoming a conscious buyer, you put an end to the demand. By bringing awareness and educating others, you help bring an end to human trafficking.
CONCLUSION
More than any other issue, I believe human trafficking (and abortion) are the two issues that deserve the most coverage since they are both a sin in this world. As Christians, we have a God-given responsibility to help the vulnerable and the weak. That is why I choose to be outspoken on human trafficking. Join me in the fight to end the present-day slavery that is so rampant and ignored in America and the world.
About the author: My name is Hannah, and I’m the founder of the conservative blog, Young Patriot Rising. I currently write on political issues from a conservative viewpoint, but I began to focus more on human trafficking in the past year and a half. It’s not an issue that receives enough coverage. When I’m not writing about politics, you can find me reading a good book, listening to country music, watching Bollywood movies/Sylvester Stallone movies/true crime shows, drinking coffee, and playing with my dog and goats. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also sign up for my mailing list by sending an email to young.patriotrising@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!
