Don't Be A Victim: Your Self-Esteem is Your Strongest Weapon

As uncomfortable as it is to think about, 1.2 million children are trafficked every year around the world, and that's only the number that is reported. Countless other children and teens are either targeted for or already victims of trafficking and traffickers. With numbers that high, there's a very good chance you could find yourself a target; adult or not. Sex traffickers, generally referred to as pimps, look for able-bodied young people to make them money. Whether or not they're nice to you doesn't matter; if you're underage and you're performing sexual acts to make someone else money, you're a victim.

So, how did this happen? Why does no one see the danger that is definitely out there? Well, part of it is the language we use. I'm 17 years old myself, and I see jokes about someone being a pimp or someone else needing a sugar daddy all over the social media I have. The thing is, it's not all bad to have a dark sense of humor. Sugar daddy jokes are made for a good laugh. I appreciate that; usually, they're funny. The idea of having a boyfriend who can pay for everything you want and not be restrictive on what you do with your life other than escorting them to dinner sounds awesome. In some cases, it can be a job if you're over 18 and all parties consent. However, in most cases, the girls targeted for these situations are under 18.

Let's write a little story, which is in this particular case fictional, but which is a reality for thousands of girls across the U.S. A 15 year old girl has just shifted from being the big 8th grader to being the small nerdy freshman at her highschool, and she's scared. She has acne, she's gaining weight in places she wishes she wouldn't, and her social anxiety is at an all-time high. Then, all of a sudden, she meets a senior. He's smooth, casual, and appears to be very rich based on the fact that he always has hundreds in his wallet when they're hanging out at school. One day the boy tells her that he makes his money running a modeling page on Facebook which features advertisements. All she has to do is take pictures of herself in different outfits and send them to him to upload to the page, and he'll pay her a percentage of what he makes on ad revenue.

She's confused. She's not pretty; definitely not modeling material. How could she possibly make him any money, and in turn, make herself any money? He offers here a ride home, and she takes it. On the way, he explains to her that he think's she's gorgeous. She's truly the most beautiful girl he's ever seen, and he thinks she'll make the most money of all the models on his page. He "confesses" to her that she's the first girl he's ever offered this to that he actually liked, and didn't just find pretty. After that day, they start dating. They begin to hang out together outside of school all the time. Sometimes, they skip school and do photo shoots in his house.

One of the days she's skipped school to be at his house taking photos, another, slightly older boy enters. While her boyfriend is 18, this older boy looks to be around 23. He says he's going to a party and that they should come, too. The girl's boyfriend tells her that he'd really love it if she could come; that he wants to introduce his beautiful girlfriend to all his best friends. Excited and a little nervous, she follows.

But they never make it to the party.

Instead, as soon as she gets into the back seat, a cloth bag is pulled over her head and her boyfriend is holding her to the floor of the car. She tries to scream, but he tells her just to play it cool, that this is part of the anonymity of getting into the party. She lays still even as they drive for miles, hours, across the border of the state, and eventually, to a building. The building is a brothel.

So, how can you avoid being caught in this trap?

• Be aware. It's easy to think, "My boyfriend would never do that to me. He loves me." This new person in your life could very well be trustworthy, but look out for signs that he may be alienating you from your friends on purpose. Also look out for signs of him making money illegally, or trying to lure you to secluded places far away from home. Another sign is if no one takes your relationship seriously but you. Sex Traffickers don't have one girl that they sleep with regularly; they sleep with the same girls they sell. Don't let yourself be one of them.
• Gender doesn't matter. Although victims are often seen as female and traffickers as male, gender really doesn't play a part. Young boys should be just as wary, especially boys under the age of 13. If an older person appears to only hang out with you or other younger people, stay away from them. They probably don't have good intentions if they're choosing not to have any friends their age. 
• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. These people will tell you you can make lots of money doing the job they've set up for you. They'll tell you you don't even have to get naked; all you have to do is model. They may try to get you to go to strip clubs with them or meet other girls that "work" for them. Do more investigation before blindly taking a job that you presume will make you wealthy.

This happens too often to ignore. If you're in a situation that seems sketchy, consider how an extremely confident person would react. Consider how to fight back and avoid dangerous situations, and know when to ask for help. Your family and friends exist to keep you safe.