What Do You Really Know About Sex Trafficking?

When you graduate high school the first question EVERYONE asks you is, "What's next? College? Job? Marriage?" They are unavoidable questions until you are past college age. Because of this question, and my response, sex trafficking is a common subject amongst people I talk with.

My most recent encounter was with this older gentleman. I was getting up-to-date on all my mandatory shots because I'll be out of the country many times while in school. Because of this fact, which apparently was put into my "chart" at the doctor's office, the first question the older gentleman asked me while giving me my Hep A shot was, "What are you going to school for?"

My response was very robotic because I've been asked the same question a billion times. I simply said, "Social Justice. Such as sex trafficking, child soldiering, etc... mainly with the focus on childhood injustices." I figured that would be where the conversation ended. Honestly, I figured this man was just making small talk to make it less awkward between us. He just wanted to get the shots in my arm so he could be done for the day. I was fine with that though, I felt the exact same way!

To my surprise he kept on asking me questions. His next one, "Where are you planning on going?" This is the typical follow-up question once I've expressed what I'm going to school for. So, I wasn't shocked or blown away by this question, I just answered it as I always did when talking to other people, "Germany actually. That's my first planned spot, though I know plans can change. But I really want to move to Germany for a couple of years to work with sex trafficked girls." I was caught off guard when his jaw practically hit the floor at my response.

I just stared at him, awkwardly, because that's what I do. I really wasn't sure why he was so shocked. It was just Germany, not a super dangerous place or anything like that. Finally, after a long awkward pause, he managed to pick his jaw up off the ground and said, "Sex trafficking goes on in GERMANY?!?!?" Okay, now it's my turn to be shocked. I had to then pick up my jaw off the ground, but once I did I managed to calmly reply, "Yes, Sir. Sex trafficking happens everywhere. Even in this beautiful State we so happily call home." After this, all bets were off. I couldn't stop talking about sex trafficking with this guy. He asked questions and couldn't wait to hear about all the things I was planning on doing with my life and through my studies.

After I left, as happy as could be that I informed someone else of the statistics of sex trafficking, I couldn't help but stop and wonder why everyone was SO shocked about the stats I brought to their attention in regards to this subject. The most common response when I'm telling someone about sex trafficking is, "I didn't know it was THAT bad!" It shocks me every time I hear someone say those words. I then must remember that it's not a common "dinner table" conversation topic. People just simply need to be informed. It's really that plain and simple.

This led me to write this post. When you're faced with someone who doesn't know a thing about sex trafficking, but wants to be further informed, it's really nice to have some good stats under your belt so you can answer their questions accordingly and correctly. Here are some that are my favorites, because they inform people on how bad sex trafficking is, and tend to answer the many questions I've been asked in my past "sex trafficking information" conversations:

-There are approximately 27 million boys and girls that are currently victims of sex trafficking all over the world.
-1 in 5 pornographic photographs on the internet are of a child.
-Between 14,500 and 17,500 girls are trafficked into the U.S. Yearly. That's not including the girls that are trafficked within the U.S. itself.
-The average global cost to buy a sex trafficked girl/boy for a "trick" is $90.
-1.2 million people globally fall into sex trafficking, each year.
-The U.S. is a destination country for thousands of people trafficked from East Asia, Mexico, and Central America for sexual/labor exploitation.
-The U.S. is one of the top 3 countries of destination for sex tourism.
-The average victim involved in sex trafficking can be forced to have sex 20-48 times a day.
-More then 50% of sex trafficking victims are under the age of 18.
-In 2011, 94% of sex trafficking victims were females, 6% males. This is from a case study that the Department of Justice did of 389 cases of sex trafficking involving 460 victims.
-It's reported that in the past 30 years 30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation.
-There are girls as young as 6 and 6, in  the U.S., that are forced to do sexual acts for an economic gain, by pimps.

These are just a FEW facts. You can find many more on our twitter (AMAsexTfacts) or by searching the internet. But, I hope the next time you are faced with questions about sex trafficking these statistics help you to be confident in your answers and in the information you wish to share with those around you.

I also love to be informed on new stats that I don't know. So if you know more or you think we forgot any that should definitely be in this post, please comment, email, or somehow contact Nicole and I and we would love to add your new stats to this post to contribute to the information that others, including myself, might use to confidently inform someone on the subject of sex trafficking.

Sincerely,
Janice and Nicole

Your Answer: Yes or No

A fast heads up about this post. It has similar ideas to a post that was done when this blog first started. The post is called "Hookers Matter Too." If you have read it please keep that in mind and if you haven't read the post, after reading this one, go and check it out! Now, to start!

 Hello wonderful people! I hope that you are all doing good and that you are excited for the weekend. My week was very busy. Part of it is because of a research paper I am doing, yes it is about sex trafficking. But, part of my research has brought me to a question. This question is something I have thought about a lot in the past. And the question is really starting to pop up every where in my research.

Is prostitution a form of sex trafficking?

Now, what is your answer? Lately, as I have been really going into this question I have found that some people say yes, and some say no. I have not asked enough people to truly know the full, well rounded, average answer, but as I am sitting here typing, I think it would be awesome to go around and pull enough people to truly get the idea of what people say for their answer.

Anyway, this topic is something that Janice and I have talked on before and that we both believe is true. Prostitution is a form of sex trafficking.

Do you agree with our statement? Do you disagree with our statement? Or do you agree with our statement but you don't really know how it is a part of sex trafficking? Well, now, don't worry. Janice and I are going to shed some light on the situation and the next time you are asked this question you have more of an informed opinion.

By definition sex trafficking is, "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose...Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to preform such act has not attained 18 years of age. The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery."

Now, in that definition there are several very important terms I would like to draw from. One being peonage, which by Webster's dictionary means, "the use of laborers bound by servitude." I may have slightly added this one in because I didn't know what it meant. And the next word I want to bring in is debt bondage, which in this case means the working of a person to repay a debt owed to another.

So, some of you may see where I am going with this and if you don't, keep reading anyway. You will find out soon enough.

Okay, so, here is what's up.  Prostitution is a hot topic, and here is part of the reason why. Many people believe that a prostitute is someone who chose openly and willingly to start with the sale of his or her body. And, in some cases this is true, I agree with that. But, here is where the definition of sex trafficking makes an appearance. Many girls who enter into prostitution cannot get out, once in. Too often they become the property of a pimp who would rather force her to continue to go out and make him or her money then to let her leave the age old business.

This is where the whole slavery, forced prostitution, peonage and debt bondage come in. The want of money because more of a, "I helped make you who you are in this and I want my money back. And you are going to get me that money." The fear of the pimp is put into the girls and they generally cannot leave.

Now, this is not always the case but it is the case more often then not. But, here is the next part of the issue. A lot of girls who are prostitutes, by definition, are forced from start to finish. And with that, that falls into the definition of sex trafficking.

I have a little analogy for you guys, one that I am pretty proud of, if I do say so myself.

We are going to view sex trafficking as the whole higher education system.

I go to a Christian University. But that is not the only type of universities there are. There are a lot. Then add the fact that there are Christian Colleges as well. Then there is your amazing high up Colleges and Schools, like Harvard, Yale and Oxford. You catch my drift. But don't forget about your normal run of the mill community colleges that will almost always accept any application (please know I am not bashing any form of higher education, I am trying to prove a point rather extravagantly).

Now, look at sex trafficking. We are going to consider prostitution as community colleges. Community colleges are still considered a form of higher education. Though it may not take a lot to get in, their price to attend is not extravagant and they are found almost everywhere. We still consider them a form of higher education.

This is how we also view prostitution as a form of sex trafficking. Though, there are a lot of views on the matter and the fact that there are so many different factors with prostitution, it is still a form of sex trafficking. You wouldn't say that community colleges weren't a higher education source because you cant live on its campus. So, why would you say that prostitution isn't sex trafficking because you are only forming the answer on personal opinion or because there are different factors that play into prostitution?

To stop sex trafficking we cant ignore part of the issue. It would be like trying to cure a person with brain and liver cancer but only attacking the cancer around the liver. The cancer on the brain would cause issues no matter what and not go away on its own.

Lets make sure to attack every form of this cancer called sex trafficking,

Nicole and Janice

Email: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com
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Twitter: @AMASexTFacts
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Mission: Adventure

Picture this with me for a moment.

There was once these two girls who were always together. They were college roommates, friends given the nickname Twins, and they were never apart. These two girls were always together and one fall break they both went home together. After all, staying on campus would be too dull and adventure was a must have. The road trip home was full of loud music, laughter and caffeine. It was perfection.

Once home, the girls were able to eat food that was cooked in a wonderful kitchen, by a loving mother. The thought of nasty school food was no where in mind. The first few days went by with not too much going on. And the thought of adventure was creeping into the minds of the two girls.

One morning they woke up and they wondered into a store. This specific office supply store is known for having paper out for you to write with pens and sharpies, to test them out. The two girls decided that it was time. Time to go to work and stop the sex trade. So, writing in cool colored sharpies the girls got to work and started making people aware!

Here is the story of one of the Twins. So, be inspired and go and do something to get people aware of the sex trade! Take a picture of what you do and send it to us with a story at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com. We would love to share about what you are doing to get people informed on the sex trade and what you are doing to stop the sex trade!

Now, with out any more pause and talk here is Twin with her story!

Hey guys!

So, I am here to share my story about how my roommate and I went into ninja combat last summer in Tokyo, Japan!

Oh wait, this is the office supply store story? Oh, that one is just as good.

I guess this all started when I found out about this blog. You see, this matter wasn't something foreign to me. I knew a little about sex trafficking and human trafficking. But, I never thought I could be someone who could spark a fire of passion in the life of someone else. Many people think because they have "no time," they cannot stop the injustice of a rapidly growing trade of human sex slaves. When, in fact, this is totally not the case.

If it's one thing that I've learned in my short score of years of living on earth, it's this; there is a time and place for everything. That means there is time! So, where am I going with this before I start my very short and seemingly insignificant story? That my very ordinary life can be extraordinarily powerful in any advancement of any giving pressing matter.

So, allow me to get off my soap box for a moment and share the story with you that I was supposed to share in the first place.

I believe it was a chilly Friday and my twin and I were around town running errands. She was looking for paper while I was playing with the computers (DUH, they are so much fun to mess with) and while I looked for her after a while I saw it. Those sharpie stations with all those pretty colors and stinky smells, were the perfect window of opportunity to share what I've been reading about on this blog from time to time. And, so, with a little help from my twin we scribbled and scribed our way into a blowout of epic proportions, like setting fire to gasoline on a car and walking away from an explosion. We left that station accomplished, knowing that every (and any) eye that can read, could read a fact and allow the spark to flicker into another mind. By doing this,

This passionate fire of awareness
Grows and grows
Until the whole world knows
By those who care.
And for those who care,
Receive and run.

I mean this by saying, that I mean for you to make the change you want to see in the world. Because, that is ALL it takes to make a difference.

 

Wasn't that a great post by Twin!

Thank you so much and we hope to be hearing from you again soon!

You heard it from here. Its no longer us just telling you.

Now, go out and do something about the sex trade,

Nicole and Janice

It's Personal

Hello! Long time! And not going to lie, it has been too long, Janice and I will try not to let it happen again! It was wonderful to reunite with my partner in changing the world. Though, it was not for long it was awesome! Now, she is out spending time with her family and I am left here with my roomie and best college bud, hittin up the home front. I cannot lie, I am enjoying my fall break.

 

I am currently sitting in this cute little coffee shop, writing this post. I showed up about 30 minutes early to a meeting so I could have some time on the blog. Boy, can I just say that it was needed! Anyway, I was having a really hard time coming up with a post to do over sex trafficking.

 

I look at my roommate and I start to complain, "I need a post on sex trafficking. Sex trafficking. I can't just do some random old blog post like everyone else. This blog isn't about that. It's about sex trafficking. It isn't personal! Sex trafficking isn't personal?!"

 

And just like that I put my boot wearing, size 9 1/2 foot right in my mouth... How could I be so blind?! So stupid!? So misguided!? Had I, since coming back to Colorado, been living under a mind washing rock?! The answer is no, but here is why I had such an adverse reaction to my, very misguided, question.

 

SEX TRAFFICKING IS PERSONAL!!!!

 

Yup, you heard me right. Sex trafficking is personal. So, here is the part where most would back away shaking your head, maybe even scratching it. If this is you, hold on! I realize what I am saying may seem a little...off kilter perhaps.

 

I know some of you are currently saying, "Nicole, what are you talking about?" Other ones may be totally on key and just cheering on the statement. But for those of you who are questioning what I have just stated, let me take a moment and enlighten you.

 

Let's just take a moment and look at the facts, shall we? For some, these facts may already be known, but in my experience, this is generally not the case. The U.S. is the 3rd top destination country for sex trafficking. Getting around 15,500-17,500 people yearly, that's about an average of 43 people trafficked into the U.S. on a daily bases.

 

Now, next fact, Sex trafficking has been reported in all 50 states and at some point in time, every country in the world.

 

Not totally convinced about sex trafficking being personal yet?

 

Did you know in the U.S. 12 is the average age for a girl to be trafficked into porn and prostitution. Yup, 12, horrid isn't it?

 

Did you know that sex trafficking includes girls, boy, women and men. Yup. You better believe it.

Whether it is something that is installed into our minds right off, or not, sex trafficking is personal. It affects the world we live in, if we are conscious of it or not. So, be aware. Don't be blinded by what you want to pay attention to rather then what you should be paying attention to.

 

Keep your eyes open, injustices are taking place everywhere and either you pay attention an know that the issues are personal or you ignore the issues and keep quite on issues you need to have a voice about.

 

Remember to spread the word,

 

Nicole and Janice

 

P.S. If you ever want to email us our email is askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.
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Say What

Good day friends! We hope that you are having a good day and keep having good days to come! A little too cheesy? Not for me! Another busy week has come and gone and I get to see my partner in stopping the sex trade, Janice, for the first time since starting college! Needless to say we are both pumped!!!! Reunited so soon, and if feels so good!

For today I want to ask you all a question, actually more of a favor. But first, I need to tell you a story. Don't let the past few sentences make your mind wander and all together stop reading. We aren't asking for money, that is NOT what the favor is!

Now, for the story. To keep too much information from being shared, the guy I am talking about in this story, we will call him Henry.

As I have said before I am currently in college. Now in one of the classes that I have taken, it was time for us to do a research/argumentative paper. When the time came to decide the topic I knew at once what I wanted to do my paper on. I wanted to do it on sex trafficking! I was pumped!

After the class was done I was talking to my friend Henry and he told me that I should do my paper on child sex trafficking, because he had heard that there was such a thing as child trafficking.

 If my whole body language at that moment didn't change, I would be totally shocked. Not that his suggestion was a bad one it was just that he had not heard about sex trafficking until recently and that he didn't know much about the issue, so I was shocked. Yet another annoyance with sex trafficking being kept quiet.  After the initial shock was over, and I had picked my jaw up off the ground. We continued talking. Needless to say I did not do my paper on child sex trafficking, I did it on sex trafficking and the church, let me just say, wow! But that is a post for another day.

The key point to my story is Henry's suggestion on what my paper should be over. To me that is totally unacceptable! But before we all hunt down Henry and shout every known fact about child sex trafficking in his face, lets take a moment and think about this, shall we?

I was totally stunned about what Henry had suggested, but looking at it now, he is not totally to blame. The fact that he didn't know the extent of child sex trafficking gave me a huge array of feelings. The main one might have been punching a wall. But then I realized how many people are in the same, clueless boat Henry is in.

I feel like, and this may be somewhat wrong, after all,  I am in college and currently without a t.v. and a news station. But, it seems that when a huge news report comes on about sex trafficking, and they don't come on often, its all a huge shock to the public. But, then there is nothing after that. I mean it is normally about a bust after all, totally giving off the idea that sex trafficking is getting better.

No research is done after that and everything is just left at that. See if we were to look into it, we would see that yes there is some good happening with the sex trade, but there is a lot left to be done. It's an ever growing crime that expands every second of every day. So in reality, though something is being done which is good, it's only a slight dent in this HUGE organization. And having people like Henry, believe that there is child sex trafficking, because he has heard of it,  once.  Isn't a good thing.

So, here is my favor to ask of you guys. Start sharing what you know about sex trafficking with the people around you. No matter who it is. After all if you plant the seed, it may take time to grow, but at least you planted it. And from there it is their choice to do with what you told them however they want. But for them to do nothing, after finding out about the sex trade would be irresponsible. Plus there is always something to do, even if the first step really is just getting people aware! That's a great place to start!

So, this weekend while you are at the cash register checking out, talk to the clerk about sex trafficking, you may be informing the next big activist for a cause! You never know!

Be aware and get others aware,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Have you put up stick any notes lately? Want to share an experience or even some facts? Maybe just a story of your life and how sex trafficking affected it in any way? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com
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Me, Myself and I

Hello! First off as I start this post Janice and I would like to apologize for the decrease in posts this past week to about a week and a half. We have both been extremely busy. Janice with work and preparations for an awesome schooling experience that she will soon be embarking on! For me, I have been super busy with school and with work! Life is busy and yet so much fun! Janice and I always joke about how we can sleep when we are dead...though I am not sure that really will work, but hey! Jokes are fun when they don't hurt!...Right?

Well, off of that little tangent and on to the meat of the post, after all we aren't intending to be a cookies and milk blog. We ain't no bakers, we be butchers! Well, sort of...we are choppin up the sex trade! No more sex slaves! Freedom!

The other day I was in my Humanities class when my professor got on the topic of how my generation is known as the "I" generation. (mid to late teens and early twenties. So, Janice and I.) I started to really think about that for awhile.

Now, the last post that Janice and I did was regarding our generation as well. Don't get ahead of me right now, stuff will be said in this post that will pertain to everyone, so don't check out just yet. In the last post we talked about how our generation has had its voice taken away from it and we are not as able to be freely us. This all came from a guest speaker in chapel I attended.

Then in humanities, as I previously said, the professor started talking about my generation. I have heard other people call my generation the "I" generation. The way it was explained to me was, my generation is so centered on ourselves that we don't care about others.

This at first made me gasp and be like, "No! Have you ever met me?! This cannot be!" Then I realized not everyone is me, and my generation really is the "I" generation. I feel like, because, for so long we were kept from being "us" my generation totally rebelled. Now, not everyone has rebelled and turned in to the "what about me's," but you get my point. You don't have to agree with me on this matter but hang in there please.

Because of everything that has happened  my generation totally has a bad reputation. Sad but true. I went to the store once, and saw an elderly women trying to make her way to the car in the snow and offer to help her. My offer is totally refused with a look of some horror. But, as I walk a way a women in her 60's (approximately) walks up to her, helps her to her car and then makes her way back into the store.

My generation is feared. My generation is hippies. My generation is hipsters. My generation is composed of people who are shy and of people who act out so much, and only care for themselves.
And it seems like there is definitely a lack of faith in my generations, and in the younger generations. But then I have met my generation and I can see where this all comes from.

But now here is the thing, I want my generation to no longer be the "I" generation, but the "you" generation. I want my generation to be so passionate for others that it spills over into the other generations. Then as the domino affect starts and passions spread, change can happen, like the end of the sex trade!

Ding!! Don't worry, we are a blog about sex trafficking, I cant not mention it!

Granted, this is a HUGE dream, and some of you probably think I am a little crazy for it, but hey I am a dreamer. I dream that there will be an end to the sex trade, most people hear that and already think I am a little crazy. So, go really BIG or go home! Actually, don't go home, don't be thinking only of yourself, think of others. Cause you can make a change no matter who you are or where you are from.

Think of others don't just think of yourself.

You can be apart of the "you" generation,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. ever want to get in touch with us. Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com
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A No Nonsense Type of Thing

I can sit down every day and do a new post regarding sex trafficking. The information is there and ready to be found, generally, if you look hard enough. Well, at least the most shocking of facts always seem to be there. I could also sit and complain how different organizations aren't doing enough or what I think they should be doing, or they are doing what I think is an awesome job, but that is all opinionated blub.

 I could write till my fingers bleed and try and get you all to join the fight against sex trafficking. I could post 10 very sad, heart breaking facts, that make your insides twist. Then, I could post a few very tear worthy pictures of young prepubescent girls in brothels and then manipulate my words to make you feel horridly guilty for not joining the fight against sex trafficking. Which, then moves you to write out a small check to donate to the first sex trafficking organization you find under your first google search.

Does this sound familiar? To me it does. That, right there, sounds like the American culture that I live in. Organizations will mess with the publics feelings to twist out a few good checks from the richer public crowd, only to let them continue on with their life till the next sad puppy dog commercial comes on. Don't get me wrong t gets what needs to be done, done; but does it change people? Like truly change them?

Please, let me make it very clear. I am not bashing organizations. Everyone has a passion, and yes, for certain people its not letting beaten and abused animals die in a shelter. That is perfectly okay! It is just, as I sat down to type out this blog post I had no idea what I was going to say, and to be perfectly honest, I am still not sure what I am going to say, but I know something will come.

Lately, I think a lot of our posts seem to bash a lot of things. First, we did a post called Men, then we did a post called Young Girls Do It Too and then lastly we did a post entitled Use Your Voice. Man, did we get around a lot on that note, men, women and the church. I think we must have made some kind of record! But, here is the thing, in today's society it is all too easy to put the blame on someone else, rather then take ownership for the things that we do and that we allow to happen. By not standing up and fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, we pass the blame on to others where we ourselves are to blame.

(Okay so this post may turn out a little more on the bashing, blaming side. Lets see where I am taking this, shall we)

Think about it. The dog commercials? The feed the children commercials? I will be totally honest as I say this. I do not watch television. And when I do it is rare and in between. I live in a dorm with no t.v. and at home I live in a house, where my mother doesn't have cable. But, do you want to know something? When those commercials for the save the something or other come on, I feel bad, and switch the channel.

I mean I don't, currently, have the money to donate, I am just happy to be in college. And I live in a dorm where I cannot have pets and my mom already has a dog and doesn't want another. So, I just keep going. Passing over the issue, thinking that someone else will take care of the sad faced puppies, the victims of homelessness and the needy children.

I am sorry if this makes me a bad person. But here is my question. Have you ever done the same thing that I am admitting to you? Or do you leave the commercial on to hear the soft, sad music that draws a few tears? If you do this, awesome! But then do you pick up the phone right away and donate to the cause? Or rush down to the nearest shelter to add two new animals to your collection of house hold pets? We cannot all do this but there is always something we can do.

Now, currently, I am not sure that my point is coming off clearly, so let me keep trying. I have noticed that people are all too willing to not let the negative bother them. YOLO!!! (you only live once) With this they think someone else will take up there lack of what is needed and it will make up for everything. People want life to be comfortable, God forbid we feel bad and uncomfortable. Well, what if everyone would think this way? That would leave a lot of slack, for the few people doing stuff, to pick up and take care of. And that my friends can get tiring.

Now, I am not saying that we all have to go out and donate to every single organization out there. Being broke is not the goal here, but helping out is.

Did you know that there is actually a lot of stuff that you can do to help fight the sex trade that really only demands a little time? Volunteering with organizations! Writing letters to your congressmen and representatives! Every sign a petition?! What about just looking up the facts and sharing the information you learn with the people around you!?

It is simple and easy stuff that everyone can do! And I mean it! Now, to get you started here are some facts to know and keep handy:

1.    Sex trafficking is the 3rd largest criminal industry in the world.
2. 12 is the average age for a girl in the U.S. to be trafficked into porn and prostitution.
3. 25% of child sex tourists around the world come from the U.S.
4. The United States is the 3rd destination country for trafficking in the world, with 15,500-17,500 trafficked in yearly, that is an active American football team every day.
5.  In 2011 94% of victims were females and 6% are males, while the number of males continues to grow.  
6. More then 50% of victims of sex trafficking are under the age of 18.

Those are just a few facts to help you get started. Now, take some time and do your own research. Look up facts and different organizations. Information and being aware is key.

Just a no nonsense post,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Every want to email or get in contact with us? Feel free to email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We want to hear from you!! 

3...2...1...ACTION

I love movies as much as the next girl. I mean, I get to curl up in a ball with my favorite pink comforter, wearing my yoga pants and t-shirt, while cuddling my teddy bear, Surg, who I  have had ever since I had my appendix out. My favorite is when I get to do one of these movie moments with my friends!

During the summer I was able to watch a movie with Janice and we watched some movies on a popular, legal movie cite. Of course all the movies we watched had to do with sex trafficking. It is who we are, it is what we do. Anyway, this movie was one of the best sex trafficking movies I had ever seen. Like, it was really good. Anyway, time ran out and we were unable to finish the movie.

Now, that I am currently in college, I have more friends who I am always talking about sex trafficking with.  It truly is a good thing, and I cannot lie, I am grateful for all my friends putting up with me!  I am truly blessed. However, with always talking about sex trafficking I had mentioned the movie, that I watched with Janice, to them on multiple occasions.

This week we sat down and watched the movie in full, and I was able to finish it. Boy was it good. Sad, but good. I don't want to explain it and if you want to watch it, it is called "The Whistleblower." It is really a movie that should be watched.

There is something that is said in the movie though that is so true. "It spreads like cancer."

This quote is regarding human trafficking. And it couldn't be more true. Think about it. Like, really take a few seconds and think about it.  Sex trafficking is like cancer...

Sex trafficking is like cancer.

Is that hitting you as hard as it hit me? When I heard this part of the movie for the second time, it was like a punch to the stomach. I actually got up and left the room for a few minutes, repeating that over and over. I don't know what it is about that statement but it really was like I just got hit by a train. Though, that statement is a bit of an exaggeration, it gets my point across.

Here's the thing, sex trafficking is like cancer; and when a person has cancer there is always a fight against the cancer that takes place. For instance, surgery and chemotherapy are generally things that need to be done and is done so that the person with cancer can survive.

So, if sex trafficking is like a cancer, we need to start fighting against it like it is. We need to fight against it aggressively. Plain and simple. We need to stop being our old couch-potato-selves and get to work.

When I say this, I am even talking to myself. I like watching movies with my friends, but what if I gave up one movie a week to actively start fighting the sex trade even more then I am now? What if you did the same? What if we all did this? How many hours would we as people, around the world, be giving to those truly in need? Think of how many hours would go to such a great cause if we were to do this. I don't know about you all, but I know that I am going to start doing this.

Even if it is just volunteering my time or writing letters to my congress men, there is a lot that can be done; and I am not going to sit around on my butt while girls are being raped by men and blunt objects, being drugged and forced to do things that they do not want to do. I am not going to sit around as more and more young boys are being trafficked to fulfill the "needs" of dirty filthy men. I just cant sit around as the bodies of other humans are being defiled by people who have no business doing what they are doing. I just cant. And I hope, I pray that you can't either.

I am going to do some research on what I can do to help stop sex trafficking in my area. Why don't you do the same? Because, do you want to know a secret? You can make a difference. You!!! You. Is that not wonderful?!

Now, get up, get your war paint on and lets kick this cancer in the butt,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. If you ever need to get in touch with us, share a story, share your passion to fight an injustice feel free to comment or email us! We would love to share your passion! askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Use Your Voice

I go to a private college. It's a statement, a fact, about me. It's part of who I am and what makes me, me. Now, this post has to do with a chapel that I recently attended. Before you zone out and think I am going to go off on a theology tangent, decide, and make up your mind, to pay attention to the post. I have something to say, and unlike most of the people in my generation, I am going to use my voice to speak up.

The pastor who came and talked at Chapel was a preacher from the Philippines. I cannot recall his name at this current point in time, but what he talked about was awesome. This pastor talked about my generation and how we have pretty much been silenced by the older generations. For example, the Jesus Movement.

 The Jesus movement was really big in North America and Europe in the 60's and 70's. The movement was awesome and a lot of people came to Christ through it. But there was something that the pastor mentioned, with this movement, there really wasn't a come as you are mentality. The bible says in  James 2:1-4, "My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in after him, and you say to the man in the suit, 'Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!' and either ignore the street person or say, 'Better sit here in the back row,' haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who cant be trusted?" In the NIV version of the bible it says that you have become, "judges with evil thoughts."

Have you ever looked at the church? They want you to cut your hair, guys, so that it isn't long and shaggy. They look at you weird when you have "too many" piercings or tattoos. The church wants to catch a fish that is already gutted and cleaned, but that is not how fishing works. Please note that I am not saying this is true about every church, because it isn't.

I recently went to a church with a friend, it was right after I returned from India. I had ankle bracelets on both ankles, just gotten my nose pierced (one of many piercings I have), I had henna all over my wrists, hands and arms. And on top of that my outfit was not necessarily what you would call a "church outfit." I was wearing bright purple jeggings, a shorter then I ever should have worn baby doll dress that didn't even cover my full bottom, and was a little low on the cleavage section and a little black jacket over it, that I left open.  My exact words as I walked in with my friend was, "they are going to think I am a heathen." I even got mean mugged as I coughed at one point.

Here is what I am saying, the church is supposed to show love, what ever happened to loving the person and hating the sin? What happened to the church accepting the person, not the sin. The church is supposed to be a hospital for the broken, not a museum for the perfect. With the mentality of having to be perfect for church the church has single handedly taken the voice away for the younger generations.

Being original may, in fact, be what causes a movement to start. I stand out and I know it. I have a voice and I know it. But, what about all the others who have been told to fit in for so long and told to be quiet for so long that they forgot they had a voice? I am sure that this has been going on for more then just my generation, but shouldn't it be time that we started telling people that they had a voice and that they should use it?

Look at it this way. If I were to stand on a street corner for a whole day and talk to anyone who walked by about sex trafficking, what do you think would happen? I am sure at least a few people may get a little intrigued and maybe even looked into the matter further. My point? I would have used my voice. One, that I have had my whole life.

I have a voice that I can use to raise awareness of the injustices in this world. You have one too. Are you using your voice? If you aren't, you should. We have been silenced by a mentality for way too long. It is time to speak up! Use your voice! Don't every think someone can take away your voice, because as long as you have your vocal cords and sound coming out of your mouth, you can use your voice to make a change. So, why not do it?

We will be using our voices to disrupt the sex trade.

Never forget you have a voice,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Comments, questions, ideas, thoughts, share your story? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

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Stranger Danger

I'm a Nanny. Which means my job is to watch children. I take the little kiddos I watch to the park and let them work off some energy. They have fun running around and I get the joy of some time out in the sun and watching all the kids play together. And if other mom's or nannies show up it's nice social interaction. I love my job and I completely adore the children I watch. I honestly don't know how you can love a child more then I love them. When I have kids, If it is possible to love them more as I'm told it is, I might just be the most protective, caring, loving, child spoiling mother of all time.

This begs the question then, why do a post on sex trafficking from a nannies point of view? Well, the people who come to the park without children are what this post is mainly about.

I had taken the boy I nanny to the park one day as we so often do. It was a nice day and he and I were both enjoying ourselves. Going up and down the slide over and over. One thing that I have learned from being a nanny is that I must always pay attention to the people who are around. It's not just about me anymore. It's about this child too. His life is in my hands. On this particular day at the park, I noticed an older man just hanging out in a car, looking at the children. He was parked behind the bathrooms and a big tree. The only way he was visible was from the very edge of the park where the swings are located. Mine and the kid I nannies first stop.

Instantly, red flags started going up. Especially since it was just the child I nanny and I at the park for a while. Hopefully this is the case for everyone watching over a child. When people who are very out of place in an environment for children, it is better to be "too safe". Now, yes this is technically profiling but it's important to be safe rather then sorry. I'm not betting the child's life on it, so I'm ok with being known as a "profiler". But a lot of times a recruiter for trafficking can be someone who blends into the surroundings perfectly.

My point is, people who are in charge of children need to be careful. Start keeping your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings. There is no way to truly estimate how many young children who are kidnapped while in their parents or guardians presence are trafficked.  But I can't help but wonder how many "recruiters" scope out children at a simple, fun place like the park. The very place I take the child I nanny all the time.

So parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, nannies, baby-sitters, legal guardians, watch out for your child. Don't stand there and text while your child plays (which I've seen all too much), and maybe ignore a call from someone if needed. If anything is going to distract you from watching the child you're in charge of and possibly put them in danger. It can wait.

Just a thought from an over protective nanny,

Janice and Nicole