This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and it is a vitally important month for our society. Many of us have seen signs posted in public restrooms, in airports, and even in movie theaters to report sexual trafficking if you see it. But what is sexual trafficking? For those of you who aren’t sure, here is primer on what sexual trafficking is and why it is so detrimental to our society.
Sexual trafficking is a form of sexual slavery wherein victims are forced to participate in sexual acts against their own will. Often, young, uneducated, and/or impoverished women are recruited with promises of money and a better life, and are convinced they should perform sexual acts for money to meet those goals. Those who lead sexual trafficking organizations recruit the women, harbor or house them, transport them to and from where sexual acts are to be performed, and are involved of the solicitation of patrons.
Sexual trafficking organizations aren’t always easy to recognize. Perhaps females who work in the entertainment industry as dancers are coerced by club owners or managers to participate in sexual acts with patrons off premises — this is a form of sexual trafficking. Perhaps non-native English speakers are given jobs during the day doing manual labor and then coerced into performing sexual acts for money in the evening hours — this is a form of sexual trafficking. In many cases, the women who participate in these trafficking schemes are innocents who wanted to work legally to make their lives better and were coerced or conned into prostitution.
This is not acceptable, it is a volatile form of sexual assault, and cannot be tolerated by our society. Just because women are the fairer sex, meaning they are smaller, lighter, and have less muscles, does not mean that they can be forced into performing sexual acts against their will. Feeding off of some women’s lower societal status to convince them to participate in prostitution cannot be tolerated. We as a society need to recognize this happens and say no to it.
At Anapol Weiss, we are dedicated to representing women, and have a team of experienced attorneys ready to assist any woman who was the victim of sexual assault. Sexual assault can take many forms, and we are prepared to deal with it.
