A WHOLE NEW KIND OF LABOR:

abessey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:06:50 +0000

One of the most dangerous and fastest growing problems in the USA is human trafficking. In fact, it is estimated that about 50,000 people ( mostly women and children) are trafficked each year into or out of the USA. Globally, there are around 27 million. Human trafficking is a broad statement and covers a variety of “professions”. Often immigrants or even citizens are kidnapped and forced into prostitution, others are sold for physical labor in bars, houses, strip clubs, or sweatshops. It has evolved so greatly that a club owner from anywhere in the USA can “mail-order” girls he needs to work for him. Often times the girls giving out lap dances or serving at the bar not only have trouble speaking English but are also underage. Because of this, it has become one of the leading causes of child labor, mostly within teens. In fact, most of the customers prefer younger workers ranging from ages as young as eleven. Even if there’s pay involved, it’s often minimal and inadequate to the harsh hours of labor. Stories of girls as young as eleven and twelve being taken from their homes have been reported. Most of the time, the victims are immigrants or citizens that can easily be exploited.

This issue can easily be linked to problems in the industrial revolution. During the industrial revolution, kids as well as immigrants were exploited due to the fact they couldn’t defend themselves as virtually had no rights. This is seen within human trafficking today because usually the victims share similar characteristics as the victims from the industrial revolution. In addition, these child/adult labors are treated more like a product then a person. They are put into dangerous work situations and work long hours that result in little pay. Most of the time immigrants are forced to work jobs such as these because they simply don’t have any other options. Sweatshops, bars, and prostitution attract desperate immigrants, adults, teenagers, and even children. Most of the time it’s for the desire of money but in some cases, it’s a form of modern-day slavery. All these qualities reflect the problems that occurred in the industrial revolution, but unfortunately have escalated to a whole new level.

In my opinion, Human trafficking is a horrible problem and needs to be stopped. Using human lives for pleasure and to boost business pathetic and it’s truly sad that our country has once again stooped this low again. Human trafficking, unlike the industrial revolution, has not benefited one party enough to make a difference. It is a sick reality of America today and regardless of its small effect of our economy, it should not be allowed. Although it may help out with business production slightly, it is not to the point where the economy depends of the workers. And even if it did, it is also illegal, which is one of the biggest differences from the industrial revolution and human trafficking today. Human trafficking shouldn’t be happening in the first place because there are laws in place to prevent it. The industrial revolution, although it was equally as bad, was legal.

Today, the government has made small steps towards ending this global problem. Recently congresses has passed a law that doubles the amount of funding that goes to stopping human trafficking. I think that slowly, America is becoming more aware of the problems. And with help from movies like Taken, or student groups like Not For Sale human trafficking has been taken more seriously. After the industrial revolution ended, rights and policies were set in place so that child labor and exploiting immigrants wouldn’t happen again. Although they greatly improved our rights and working conditions, it seems that for too long the USA has shown a blind eye to the problem. But now as it continues to grow everyday within or borders, the USA has no choice but to end this problem. Given all the positive changes the USA has made after being resulted with a problems such as the industrial revolution, I believe that not only will the USA stop this tragic problem but also keep it from occurring.

Abessey's Blog

A WHOLE NEW KIND OF LABOR: