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<\/a>The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12 to 14; boys and transgender youth enter into prostitution between the ages of 11 and 13 on average.<\/p><\/div>\n
So why don’t the people being trafficked just quit? There are many, many reasons (far too many for a simple blog post). They may not understand that they are being trafficked. They might think they are helping out: By sleeping with their partner’s “friends,” their partner doesn’t have to resort to stealing or worse to get the bills paid. Plus, remember, being in a relationship is better than being single (the whole world says so). The trafficked person is likely threatened or removed from all support systems that could help them escape. Our systems are also set up to penalize the trafficked victims. A\u00a0sixteen-year-old who goes to a police station and says he\/she is being prostituted out by another person is more likely to be arrested for prostitution than offered help in escaping (there has been a big push to change this, but it is happening slowly).<\/p>\n
Plus there are all of society’s perceptions: A teenage girl with a significantly older man? Oh sure, she knows what she’s doing. Just look at the short skirts she’s wearing or the cleavage-showing shirt (the only clothes fashion houses are marking for her). She can’t be 100% innocent in the situation. These days teenagers know all about sex and how to wield that power…<\/p>\n
Bullshit.<\/p>\n
The average age of victims of trafficking\/prostitution<\/a> is twelve to fourteen for girls and eleven to thirteen for boys and transgender youth.\u00a0Federal law says that coercing\/inducing anyone under the age of eighteen to engage in sex is trafficking, but state laws vary on the age, with many being around sixteen. So even if a fifteen-year-old “knows what he\/she is doing,” it’s still against the law (and I have yet to meet a teenager who understands the full ramifications of a sexual relationship…hell, I haven’t met many 40-year-olds who understand it either).<\/p>\n I know, I know. My soapbox just burst into flames. I told you,\u00a0I have a serious issue with human trafficking — and it’s not so much with the act of trafficking (because I think we can all agree that it is wrong), but with how we are dealing (or not!) with trafficking. Ignoring the problem, dismissing it as something that happens “over there,” penalizing the victims, and blaming the victims won’t stop the\u00a0millions of people from being trafficked in the world. Education and awareness are the first step.<\/p>\n This blog post was inspired by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch<\/a>, who challenged writers to create “a story in 99 words (no more, no less) that expresses a strong concern, something to give a crap about. Something that brings out the feeling to stand up.”<\/p>\n Hidden<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The officer pressed her thumb against the cardstock. \u201cFourteen and a prostitute.\u201d He shook his head and inked her other fingers.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n She gave him a practiced bored look.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cMy little girl dreams of having babies with Prince Charming in a pink castle.\u201d He flicked a sidelong glance at her. \u201cWho wants damaged goods?\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cA whole lotta men wanted me last week.\u201d She snatched his only offering, a moistened towelette. The black ink smeared, creating shadows on her fingertips.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBet your parents are proud.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n She snorted. She\u2019d endured so much worse than shame. \u201cThey\u2019re pissed they didn\u2019t sell me sooner.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Resources for more information:<\/p>\n Blue Campaign<\/a><\/p>\n