It happens here in America.
By Halogen TV | July 15, 2011 at 5:27 am
My name is Ryen Thomas and I’m one of the producers for “Tainted Love.”
In Producer Richard Clark’s blog post about the show, he reminded me of the importance of letting everyone know the details of injustice that’s still happening in the world today, and if you haven’t read it yet, you need to check it out. Unlike Rich, I haven’t traveled out side of the country for the show, but I have had meetings with former trafficking survivors here in the U.S., and there were a couple of unfortunate tidbits that I learned from interviewing Tina Frundt, the founder and director of Courtney’s House in Washington, D.C.
Tina Frundt
It happens here in America.
The FBI estimates that well over 100,000 children and young women are trafficked in America and that many victims are no longer just runaways, or abandoned kids but people who may come from a family with a good standing within their community. I was disgusted after meeting a survivor whose elderly grandmother forced her into the Game. The Game is a code name for the subculture of prostitution, and I plan to write about that and other code words used by the trafficking community, in a later entry.
Recruiting a victim is like picking up a date.
According to a pamphlet provided by the nonprofit organization Shared Hope International describes how a pimp recruits:
- A pimp targets those who project a low self-esteem, or who are experiencing trouble in the home, or who have run away and are vulnerable on the street.
- The pimp will introduce him or herself and slowly get to know the potential victim. He/she may shower their prey with gifts and compliments.
- Other times he/she will provide the potential victim with food and a place to sleep at night.
- However, the pimp establishes him/herself as the juvenile’s “lover” creating a sense of protection and security. This period can last anywhere from a few days to a month.”
A pimp’s intent is to gain their potential victim’s trust and become a listening ear. Once the victim becomes dependent upon the pimp – bang – he/she is under the pimp’s control! The pimp pulls the victim further into the game by eliminating any outside distractions like the victim’s friends or family, continually saying, “I know best and what’s good for you!”
Reenactment from Season 1
Prostitution vs. human trafficking of minors
Many folks do not know or understand the difference between prostitution and sex trafficking.
Prostitution is the act or practice of engaging in promiscuous sexual relation for money and may be legal in few areas of the country.
Human Trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. Victims of human trafficking can be an underage, male or female and subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation and/or forced labor. Note that I said, male or female because many folks assume that only girls fall prey to trafficking predators.
It’s the blurry line between prostitution and the sex trade of minors that hampers laws, allows buyers to get away from the crime and promotes ignorance in the public.
I may be one of the guys working behind the scenes of the show, but I still have tons of info to learn on the subject and guess what, you can learn more too.
So check out our show and feel free to provide questions here in the comment section of this post … because together we can find ways to stop this tragedy from occurring.
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