Today Lesley Eischen is my guest blogger. I introduced you to her last week in a post about human trafficking. Today she writes about prostitution and its effects on women. Make no mistake, this is going on all around you. While on the road to a counseling conference we stopped at several truck stops and I could not help but wonder how much suffering was taking place right under my nose. You can read more of Lesley’s writings here.
“The pimps who are trafficking young women
and girls on the street have a great marketing tool: the media. You can turn on
the TV now and see pimps glamorized in TV shows, music videos, and movies.
Young people use “pimp” in everyday conversation: “my ride is
pimped out,” “your clothes are pimping.” They do not understand
the reality behind the term. “ ~ Tina Frundt, trafficking survivor
and girls on the street have a great marketing tool: the media. You can turn on
the TV now and see pimps glamorized in TV shows, music videos, and movies.
Young people use “pimp” in everyday conversation: “my ride is
pimped out,” “your clothes are pimping.” They do not understand
the reality behind the term. “ ~ Tina Frundt, trafficking survivor
Human trafficking victims are commonly found in
prostitution where they are forced to meet expected quotas by providing sexually
exploitive services.
prostitution where they are forced to meet expected quotas by providing sexually
exploitive services.
If you hear the myth that prostitution is a victimless
crime, consider the source. This
rhetoric is spewed by those who purchase prostitutes or enslave them and their
rationalizations couldn’t be more self serving.
Proponents will tell you prostitutes choose this lifestyle, its two
consenting adults, they find it glamorous and they profit substantially in the
process.
crime, consider the source. This
rhetoric is spewed by those who purchase prostitutes or enslave them and their
rationalizations couldn’t be more self serving.
Proponents will tell you prostitutes choose this lifestyle, its two
consenting adults, they find it glamorous and they profit substantially in the
process.
One has to wonder if these same proponents would stand
firm if the woman in the equation was their mother? Or their sister? When they purchase or enslave a woman for
sexual exploitation she is someone’s daughter, perhaps someone’s mother or sister,
and most definitely a human life and she has a name.
firm if the woman in the equation was their mother? Or their sister? When they purchase or enslave a woman for
sexual exploitation she is someone’s daughter, perhaps someone’s mother or sister,
and most definitely a human life and she has a name.
So whatever you wish that others would do to
you, do also to them,
you, do also to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets. ~
Matthew 7:12
Matthew 7:12
Contrary to the claims of those fueling and supplying the
demand, the facts speak otherwise. The
vast majority of those in prostitution wouldn’t seek that lifestyle and are
desperate to leave it. They don’t want
to be there. They want to escape.
demand, the facts speak otherwise. The
vast majority of those in prostitution wouldn’t seek that lifestyle and are
desperate to leave it. They don’t want
to be there. They want to escape.
Prostitution is fundamentally brutal and damaging to
those involved in it. Prostitutes are
raped, physically assaulted, threatened, and dehumanized. The health implications are devastating. Prostitution leaves physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual annihilation.
those involved in it. Prostitutes are
raped, physically assaulted, threatened, and dehumanized. The health implications are devastating. Prostitution leaves physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual annihilation.
Knowing that prostitution has been coined, ‘the world’s
oldest profession’ there will always be a select few who will maintain that
they voluntarily chose the path of prostitution without force, fraud or
coercion. However, we can significantly
reduce the number of those shackled into prostitution by human
trafficking. Prostitution and all of
the ways in which it manifests, fosters the growth of human trafficking by
providing a shroud for traffickers to operate.
oldest profession’ there will always be a select few who will maintain that
they voluntarily chose the path of prostitution without force, fraud or
coercion. However, we can significantly
reduce the number of those shackled into prostitution by human
trafficking. Prostitution and all of
the ways in which it manifests, fosters the growth of human trafficking by
providing a shroud for traffickers to operate.
Advocates promoting the legalization of prostitution
claim it will diminish trafficking and make a safer environment for those
engaged in prostitution citing state sponsored prostitution in Nevada as an
example. However, legalizing
prostitution in Nevada has not improved anything, specifically for women and
minors, except for lining the pockets of pimps, brothel owners and tax
collectors. The increase in the sex
trade in Nevada has made the state one of the main destinations for victims of
human trafficking. Human trafficking
happens where there is a demand for it and there is impunity to its consumers
and perpetrators. The legalization of
prostitution has not diminished illegal activities but flourished them. It is a breeding ground for the atrocities
and exploitation of others, mainly females.
Whether legal or illegal, prostitution is profoundly noxious to those
involved in it because it’s not the legal status but the prostitution
itself.
claim it will diminish trafficking and make a safer environment for those
engaged in prostitution citing state sponsored prostitution in Nevada as an
example. However, legalizing
prostitution in Nevada has not improved anything, specifically for women and
minors, except for lining the pockets of pimps, brothel owners and tax
collectors. The increase in the sex
trade in Nevada has made the state one of the main destinations for victims of
human trafficking. Human trafficking
happens where there is a demand for it and there is impunity to its consumers
and perpetrators. The legalization of
prostitution has not diminished illegal activities but flourished them. It is a breeding ground for the atrocities
and exploitation of others, mainly females.
Whether legal or illegal, prostitution is profoundly noxious to those
involved in it because it’s not the legal status but the prostitution
itself.
Legalizing prostitution increases child
prostitution. This needs to be a point
of distinction. Children are prostituted
but they are not ‘child prostitutes’.
They are victims of sexual exploitation and federal law defines them as
a victim of trafficking. It is important
to establish this critical difference to be able to facilitate rescuing and
restoring children who are victims of trafficking.
prostitution. This needs to be a point
of distinction. Children are prostituted
but they are not ‘child prostitutes’.
They are victims of sexual exploitation and federal law defines them as
a victim of trafficking. It is important
to establish this critical difference to be able to facilitate rescuing and
restoring children who are victims of trafficking.
Although there is Federal law, each state needs to create
and implement individual laws addressing trafficking. If your state’s laws are not congruent with
Federal law, minor victims may be considered criminals and punished for
breaking the law. The term ‘child
prostitute’ implicates the minor in the criminal activity of prostitution and
denies the minor the legal status of victim.
The term excludes minors from appropriate identification and the ability
to be rescued and restored. If
victimized minors believe they are criminals and will be treated as such by law
enforcement, social services and society, they will seldom reach out for
help. It’s necessary to consistently use
terminology that accurately depicts minors as victims of trafficking –
exploited children.
and implement individual laws addressing trafficking. If your state’s laws are not congruent with
Federal law, minor victims may be considered criminals and punished for
breaking the law. The term ‘child
prostitute’ implicates the minor in the criminal activity of prostitution and
denies the minor the legal status of victim.
The term excludes minors from appropriate identification and the ability
to be rescued and restored. If
victimized minors believe they are criminals and will be treated as such by law
enforcement, social services and society, they will seldom reach out for
help. It’s necessary to consistently use
terminology that accurately depicts minors as victims of trafficking –
exploited children.
“I freed a thousand slaves
I could have freed a thousand more
if
only they knew they were slaves.”
only they knew they were slaves.”
~ Harriet Tubman
Human trafficking thrives because of a society’s
tolerance of the degradation for the inherent dignity of human life. The depths of trafficking plummet deeper
still. Forced abortions are used by
traffickers to hasten a victim’s return to exploitation. For this to happen, organizations and
individuals that provide abortions to trafficking victims are complicit in
furthering the exploitation, specifically of minors, who are not legally able
to consent for an abortion.
tolerance of the degradation for the inherent dignity of human life. The depths of trafficking plummet deeper
still. Forced abortions are used by
traffickers to hasten a victim’s return to exploitation. For this to happen, organizations and
individuals that provide abortions to trafficking victims are complicit in
furthering the exploitation, specifically of minors, who are not legally able
to consent for an abortion.
Those who work with victims of trafficking will attest
that pregnancy often leads a woman to seek rescue and restoration, not
abortion.
that pregnancy often leads a woman to seek rescue and restoration, not
abortion.
Any organization or individual that aids and abets a traffickers
or any criminal ought to be held accountable for cooperating with the predators
in furthering their victimization of the individuals involved. It is appalling to grasp that those who
espouse to be trusted healthcare providers, specifically for women and young
girls, are willing to partner with traffickers to exploit the women and young
girls they claim to protect. Providing
abortions or contraception to a minor who is being sexually exploited is to
sustain that exploitation and provide impunity for the predators. Furthermore,
tax payer dollars are used to fund their depravity. These are the wicked fruits of a culture of
death.
or any criminal ought to be held accountable for cooperating with the predators
in furthering their victimization of the individuals involved. It is appalling to grasp that those who
espouse to be trusted healthcare providers, specifically for women and young
girls, are willing to partner with traffickers to exploit the women and young
girls they claim to protect. Providing
abortions or contraception to a minor who is being sexually exploited is to
sustain that exploitation and provide impunity for the predators. Furthermore,
tax payer dollars are used to fund their depravity. These are the wicked fruits of a culture of
death.
“Evil and violence
are not the final word. They are not capable of creating or ultimately defining
reality. That is only God’s prerogative. However, evil and violence can
pervert, distort, and destroy. They are parasitic on the original good of God’s
creation. In this way, evil serves as the backdrop on the stage where God’s redemption
shines with greater brilliance and pronounced drama. What evil uses to destroy,
God uses to expose, excise, and then heal.” ~ Dr. Justin Holcomb
are not the final word. They are not capable of creating or ultimately defining
reality. That is only God’s prerogative. However, evil and violence can
pervert, distort, and destroy. They are parasitic on the original good of God’s
creation. In this way, evil serves as the backdrop on the stage where God’s redemption
shines with greater brilliance and pronounced drama. What evil uses to destroy,
God uses to expose, excise, and then heal.” ~ Dr. Justin Holcomb
What to do if you suspect someone is
being trafficked:
being trafficked:
If the situation is imminent, call 911.
If there is no immediate threat, call the non-emergency number 311.
National Center’s CyberTipline at 1-800-the-lost or online at www.CyberTipLine.org
For comprehensive
analysis of your state’s existing laws go to: http://www.sharedhope.org/WhatWeDo/BringJustice/PolicyRecommendations/ProtectedInnocenceInitiative.aspx
analysis of your state’s existing laws go to: http://www.sharedhope.org/WhatWeDo/BringJustice/PolicyRecommendations/ProtectedInnocenceInitiative.aspx
If you, or someone you know, needs assistance leaving
prostitution please contact, Partners of Shared Hope International Domestic
Rescue and Restore: 1-866-HER-LIFE
(1-866-437-5433)
prostitution please contact, Partners of Shared Hope International Domestic
Rescue and Restore: 1-866-HER-LIFE
(1-866-437-5433)
We are not a licensed counseling agency, nor are we psychologically or medically trained therapists. We offer ‘pastoral’ counseling intended to bring life change through heart change.
Thank you for sharing that, and for the counsel given. I recently heard a similar thing "God's redemption shines with greater brilliance in comparison to the horrible things going on at a christian counseling in Wheaton Il. Thank you.