Final Report of the Subcommittee on Domestic Trafficking

willing participants in prostitution. Therefore, a 13-year-old girl who is in a bro<strong>the</strong>l inCalcutta will be described as a “victim <strong>of</strong> child sexual exploitation/trafficking” as will <strong>the</strong>middle class 13-year-old from Boise, Idaho, whereas <strong>the</strong> 13-year-old from <strong>the</strong> projects inBedford-Stuyvesant, New York, will be described as a “teen prostitute” and will becriminalized as such.This dichotomy is fur<strong>the</strong>r confused by well-intentioned advocates and service providerswho, in an effort to bring much-deserved attention to <strong>the</strong> issue, separate victims intopalatable categories for public consumption. Because <strong>of</strong> this distinction, low-incomechildren and youth in <strong>the</strong> U.S. who are sexually exploited and trafficked are criminalized,marginalized, and stigmatized and are not afforded <strong>the</strong> same protections, public supportor sympathy as <strong>the</strong>ir more socio-economically advantaged or foreign counterparts. Inaddition, <strong>the</strong> attribution <strong>of</strong> blame to <strong>the</strong> sexual exploitation victim and <strong>the</strong> punitivemeasures against her conveniently remove <strong>the</strong> need to address <strong>the</strong> larger social, racial andeconomic factors that lead to <strong>the</strong> exploitation and trafficking <strong>of</strong> American children andyouth.In international exploitation and trafficking <strong>the</strong>se men are also viewed as “o<strong>the</strong>r,” bad“foreign” men who prey on children to satisfy <strong>the</strong>ir primitive lusts. In <strong>the</strong> U.S. however,exploiters, and especially customers, who are <strong>the</strong> never-ending demand side to <strong>the</strong>supply, cannot be categorized as such. They are no longer <strong>the</strong> “bogey-men,” Chinesemafia, Thai slave traders, Japanese pedophiles, but ra<strong>the</strong>r men who live and work in ourcommunities: fa<strong>the</strong>rs, bro<strong>the</strong>rs, sons, doctors, mailmen, teachers, lawyers, clergy, andbus-drivers; men who represent all walks <strong>of</strong> life, backgrounds, occupations and socialstatus. To truly address sexual exploitation in <strong>the</strong> U.S., a closer look would need to betaken at <strong>the</strong> exploiters and purchasers (overwhelmingly male) <strong>the</strong>mselves.It is clear that merely addressing <strong>the</strong> issue <strong>of</strong> sexual exploitation in a vacuum will notsuffice; sexual exploitation is intrinsically linked to racism, poverty, gender–basedviolence, and <strong>the</strong> criminalization <strong>of</strong> youth. All <strong>the</strong>se factors must be an integral part <strong>of</strong>any discussion, advocacy work or direct service programming that involves sexualexploitation. To take sexual exploitation out <strong>of</strong> its historical and societal context willonly fur<strong>the</strong>r separate those deemed worthy to be considered victims. Clearly tackling<strong>the</strong>se huge social justice issues is a daunting task, yet imperative.Prevention efforts must focus not only on educating youth about <strong>the</strong> dangers <strong>of</strong> predatorsbut on building safe, productive communities and families. Intervention must not onlytreat <strong>the</strong> victims but create viable educational and vocational opportunities for <strong>the</strong>irfuture. Advocates must not ignore <strong>the</strong> elements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se conversations that may makepeople uncomfortable but must address institutional racism, media bias, and <strong>the</strong> linksbetween poverty and exploitation. Most importantly we ensure that <strong>the</strong> voices andexperiences <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> youth <strong>the</strong>mselves are integral in this work and <strong>the</strong>ir experiences areafforded <strong>the</strong> value that <strong>the</strong>y deserve. <strong>Final</strong>ly we must change our policies and laws thatcriminalize sexually exploited youth and begin <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> social change by treating<strong>the</strong>m, by law, all as victims.60