Sex Trafficking In America Essay

The age of majority is the defined age (fluctuates between sixteen and eighteen years old based on the state) an individual can consent to sexual activities. Due to the definition, no individual under the age of majority can consent to prostitution or sex trafficking. This point leads to a series of problems collectively based around the Sex Trafficking of children in the United States. In the past, the U.S. has made many efforts in the attempt to eliminate the issue. Unfortunately, these efforts were not taken to the level necessary to make a significant impact. In 1910 the first law was passed by Congress outlawing sex slavery, this was called the White Slave Traffic Act or the Mann Act. The Mann Act was entirely on the standpoint of how

Approximately 50,000 women and children are trafficked into the country every year to work in the sex trade, with the average age of entry being 12 to 14 years old. Aside from the shockingly young average age of entry, sex trafficking effects its victims in many ways with both permanent physical and emotional damage. To these children it can feel almost impossible to rid themselves of sex trafficking and all that comes along with it such as sexual diseases, loss of their own children, and Stockholm Syndrome. Stockholm Syndrome is when a victim develops feelings of trust or affection towards their captor, this is quite common in sex trafficking of minors because their “pimp” or related figure in many cases took them in when they had no one and gave the children a false sense of security. Even with all of the information that has been gathered about the sex trafficking of children, most cases are never documented or known about because the victims are silenced. They are usually never seen in the public eye as victims, instead as willing prostitutes or kept out of public sight altogether. This is a very good reason why we should use our best efforts to help these children who cannot vocalize their need for help or help