Forced Labor and Sex Trafficking 

In episode 3 part 1 we obtained a better understanding of ‘human trafficking.' For instance, we learned the definition of ‘human trafficking,' with clarity from The State.gov Policy Issues for Human Trafficking. In other words, modern-day slavery and trafficking in persons are common terms the International Labor Organization, activists, and independent researchers use when referring to both forced labor and sex trafficking. 

Sex Trafficking and the Adult Entertainment Industry

Strip club Photo by Mateuhsz Turbinski on Pexels 

Presently most people just aren't aware of the clear meaning of ‘human trafficking.’ So they have not connected the dots between it and the sex industry. As a result, the misconception is that all adult entertainment workers [in pornographic content, strip clubs, and brothels] are willing participants. The most common belief is that all of the people in porn videos, brothels, and strip clubs are consenting adults who actually choose to work in the sex industry. 

In fact, traffickers use tactics such as coercion, force, or threats of physical violence towards sex workers or their families just to make a profit. The traffickers also use current victims to recruit new unsuspecting targets.

The Pornographic Industry and Human Trafficking Work Hand and Hand

According to the article, The Porn Industry Is Modern-Day Slavery': How Pornography and Sex Trafficking Are Linked by Luke Gibbons, sex trafficking and the pornographic industry are linked. Again, traffickers use different methods to obtain victims.

For example, they present porn as a glamorous career that could make the eager target, rich and famous. The traffickers present the most beautiful women as the face of the adult film industry. The women claim to love what they do and that they get paid well for doing it.  

Unfortunately, that is not true for the majority of porn workers who traffickers forced to pretend they are enjoying the sex acts and that they are doing those acts of their own free will.

In fact, an ex-porn star told CBNNEWS.com, "Women are lured in, coerced and forced to do sex acts they never agreed to do… [and given] drugs and alcohol to help get [them] through hardcore scenes…The porn industry is modern-day slavery."

Why Should Sex Trafficking Concern Us?  

So, you may ask, "Why should I be concerned about sex trafficking; I'm not tangled up in that criminal behavior?" Well, I'm so glad you asked. In episode 3 we also discussed a story from the article, The Porn Industry and Human Trafficking Reinforced Each Other by Marlo Safi. The writer gave an eye-opening example of how the pornographic industry exploits and directly informs what happens to trafficked victims.  

Safi shared an example of just how the pornographic industry indeed exploits victims in the previously mentioned article. Safi reported how editors of a popular porn magazine featured a multi-page lay-out of a young mentally handicapped woman.

Her captors held her prisoner and violently and sexually abused her for seven years. During that seven-year period, the victimizers photographed her performing hardcore sexual acts. Therefore, if people do the following;

Buy porn magazines Watch porn online, and buy videos Go to strip clubs 

whether it is occasionally or on a regular basis, they unknowingly contribute to the demand for more adult content.

People are the commodity of Human Trafficking

In other words,