Escort and Massage Parlors with Happy Endings

Blog Post #6



amNewYork, a free tabloid owned by Cablevision and Newsday, has an advertising section called “Feeling and Looking Good.” Many of the ads show pictures of Asian women and various services they offer, such as facials and body scrubs.

It is hard to tell which ads are legitimate massage businesses and which ads are disguised sex services (Lee, 2008). And although there are some legitimate massage ads, there are some that direct readers to therapeutic services also listed on Craigslist. According to Jennifer Lee, one phone number listed in amNewYork as “Asaka Spa" came up in the erotic services section of Craigslist. And an Internet search of a phone number listed in amNewYork as "Zuki," leads to Utopia Guide, which is a guide for adult entertainment. “In one review, a man discussed in graphic detail how he was serviced by a Korean lady named ‘Miki (Lee, 2008).’”

Ads with vague locations are usually places that offer sex services because they want readers to call rather than visit. “For example, the ad for "Zuki" gives an address only as ‘30th Street in Manhattan between Fifth Avenue and Broadway (Lee, 2008).’”

Lee interviewed the publisher of amNewYork, Terry Jimenez, and he said that they don’t accept ads for strip clubs or prostitution, only ads for spas and massage therapy services, and rejects anything that may be inappropriate. “Asked how amNewYork determines that, he said, ‘We visit (Lee, 2008).’”

Women who work in massage parlors that offer more than just massages may seem like they want to earn extra cash. However, some are brought here and forced to perform sex services, which is a form of human trafficking. And with the recent news about women selling themselves on Craiglist, I believe it makes it even harder for law enforcement to detect human traffickers and the victims. These types of ads on Craigslist, various magazines and internet sites should be taken down, and serious penalties should be imposed if they are not. To ensure these spas and massage parlors are legit, they should be checked by law enforcement regularly. If they are not legit, they need to be shut down.

Lee, Jennifer 8. 2008. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/escort-and-massage-ads-rankle-womens-advocates/?scp=9&sq=human%20trafficking%20living%20conditions&st=cse

Photo of ads by Jennifer 8. Lee: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/escort-and-massage-ads-rankle-womens-advocates/?scp=9&sq=human%20trafficking%20living%20conditions&st=cse

Photo: http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2006/10/06/mn_trafficking_07.jpg

Blog Post 4

Long Pross was kidnapped from her village in Cambodia when she was thirteen years old. She was trafficked to Pinam Pin and forced into years of prostitution and torture.

She told Nicholas D. Kristof, a columnist for New York Times, that when she resisted, the brothel owner would bring her to the dungeon and electrocute her. And when Long Pross would argue too much, she got electrocuted two times. They would wet her shirt, tie her up and put a live wire inside of her. Kristof heard of the dungeons under the brothel before, but never thought they were real, so Cina Van, an ex victim, brought him to a brothel that had been torn down.

Long Pross’s virginity was sold four times and you’re probably thinking, “I thought we’re only virgins once!?” Imagine this, she was stitched THREE TIMES! These victims are NOT PAID, are NOT allowed to ask for condoms and forced to get abortions. Long Pross got pregnant twice and did not get her second abortion till she was four months. She was in so much pain that she broke the code and begged for time to rest. The brothel owner got mad and stabbed her left eye with a metal piece and discarded her because she was of no value anymore.

This interview took place on January 4, 2009, which shows how recent and real human trafficking is. Human traffickers have no sympathy and feel no shame in torturing these young girls. How can human beings be so cruel and gouge someone’s eye out? It was painful for Long Pross to think back, but shared her story hoping it would awaken others. The Somaly Mam Foundation took her in and is trying to help her get a glass eye. She is doing well now –taking classes and hoping to become a seamstress.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/01/03/opinion/1194837193498/the-face-of-slavery.html

Girls for Sale in Poipet

Blog Post 3

Nicholas D. Kristof is a columnist for New York Times and has written several articles about human trafficking. I found “Girls for Sale” rather interesting because it was not just an article about sex slavery, but an undercover interview with two girls from Poipet.

Poipet, located in northwestern Cambodia, is known as one the wildest places where girls are bought and sold. Many of the alleys are lined with brothels, where girls grab at any man walking by (Kristof, 2004). Since Kristof would not be able to have a conversation with any of the girls, he had to act like a customer. It was $8-a-night at Phnom Pich Guest House, where a female pimp brought Srey Neth to his room.

Srey Neth said that she was 18 years old (but appeared to look younger) and was not controlled to work at the guesthouse. But she soon told him she was sold by one of her female cousins. When asked if she thought about escaping, she said that girls get beat up for trying. And when Kristof asked her why not ask the police for help, she told him that they get bribes from the brothel owners and sometimes even have sex with the girls.

After he interviewed her, he was walking down the street when another girl, Srey Mom, grabbed at him. He paid $8 for a room and $2.50 to have her for the evening, whereas Srey Neth was $10 because of her lighter complexion.

To free the girls, someone would have to pay off their debts and the price of the girl. Srey Neth was worth $150.

No one should be bought and sold, nor should they have to do things against their will. It’s alarming that a girl can be free for $150, yet she cannot make enough to buy her own freedom. And to have sex with a girl can be as low as $2.50 –which is disturbing! Many of these girls die from AIDs by the time they reach their 20s. With this knowledge, it's time to do something about these brothels. I applaud Kristof for doing what he did to write this article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/17/opinion/girls-for-sale.html

Picture of Nicholas D. Kristof:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/nicholasdkristof/index.html

Sex Slavery

Blog Post 2

Sex trade or sex slavery is another form of human trafficking. Countless numbers of children and women are kidnapped or lied to about a potential job…just like the picture to the left.

“A man offered Maria a job as a waitress in Johannesburg. Eager to earn some money, she agreed to travel with him from her home country to South Africa. But when Maria arrived in Johannesburg, there was no waitressing job. Instead the man beat her and forced her to work as a prostitute.”

In UK, Operation Pentameter (UK’s first national campaign to target sex trafficking) found victims in brothels, saunas and massage parlors across the county. According to Operation Pentameter, 515 properties were raided, 84 victims were recovered, 232 arrests were made and 134 charges were brought. The victims were from Africa, Malaysia, Thailand and eastern Europe, and the youngest victim was 14 years old.

One victim said that she was forced to see 10 to 25 customers every day. She also said, “Even if you had to see people you didn’t want to see, even if it was painful, even if you had to let people touch you, you just had to think the main important thing was to remain alive (George, 2006).”

It is hard to believe that through all the pain and torture, the victim stayed strong to remain alive. I know many would rather be dead. The number of properties raided, victims and arrests are surprising! If there are more organizations like Operation Pentameter, the number of victims would decrease.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/5383386.stm

Photos from: www.flickr.com/photos/mvcorks/148239165/ www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=103148 http://in.hallmarkchannel.tv/images/programmes/210220/HumanTraffic_Wide.jpg