POV #2
Furthermore, there are controversial arguments that those involved in sexual slavery and trafficking are involved willingly. As mentioned before, families sell their children because they need money to survive. Other times, families do not do that because the children will sell themselves. It has been said that some children go into slavery because they are used to violence, and abuse. However, the volunteering of these children by their families stem from the lack of opportunities and lack of democracy that governments offer. For example, "the economic and legal vulnerability of undocumented immigrant women in the United States is exploited in prostitution/pornography. For example, the 8th Street Latinas website advertises, ‘See hot, young & brown Latinas that will do absolutely anything to get their citizenship!' "(Farley 2006). This volunteering makes it arguable that no action is needed to take place, because children are abused willingly. Some children also develop Stockholm syndrome, where they become attached to their abuser, because abuse is what they have gotten used to. Like Melissa Farley states, "in the absence of other emotional attachments, women appear to choose their relationships with pimps and may be psychologically at home with men who exercise coercive control over them" (Farley, 2006). Therefore, governments are not pushed to legislate laws against trafficking and exploitation since it can be assumed that those involved are not in harm and are not being coerced into doing things. On the other hand, it is also argued that those who go into prostitution by choice do not consent to the violence that they experience (Farley, 2006). This brings it back to needing victims as leaders to stand up and speak about their experiences. This type of leadership will only make arguments stronger. Many organizations express the idea of false generosity, which means that
organizations try to do good while not actually addressing the problem since the people running the organization are not actual victims of the problem they are trying to address. By having trafficking and sexual exploitation victims lead organizations, there might be a greater chance of the actual causes of child trafficking being addressed.
organizations try to do good while not actually addressing the problem since the people running the organization are not actual victims of the problem they are trying to address. By having trafficking and sexual exploitation victims lead organizations, there might be a greater chance of the actual causes of child trafficking being addressed.