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You are here: Home / Life / 10 Things Men and Boys Can Do to Stop Human Trafficking

10 Things Men and Boys Can Do to Stop Human Trafficking

August 4, 2010 by Jewel Woods · 93 Comments

Human trafficking is modern day slavery. It is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel
another person to provide labor or commercial sex against their will, and it is one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world.

The Renaissance Male Project believes that men are complicit in this crime when they purchase sex because they create the demand by allowing others
to exploit women and children for profit. Men must play a role in ending this form of modern-day slavery, a vicious industry that exploits and
perpetuates the suffering of hundreds of thousands of women and children in the United States and around the world.

Based on a list of statistics that The Polaris Project compiled:

27 million are enslaved globally.

14,500–17,500 individuals are brought into the U.S. as human trafficking victims each year.
1 million children enter the global commercial sex trade every year.

There are specific actions that men and boys can take to end these atrocities:

1. Challenge the glamorization of pimps in our culture

Mainstream culture has popularized the image of a pimp to the point that some men and boys look up to them as if they represent legitimate male role
models, and they view “pimping” as a normal expression of masculinity. As Carrie Baker reflects in “Jailing Girls for Men’s Crimes” in the Summer
Ms. issue, the glorification of prostitution is often rewarded, not punished, in pop culture:

Reebok awarded a multi-million-dollar contract for two shoe lines to rapper 50 Cent, whose album “Get Rich or Die Tryin” (with the hit
single “P.I.M.P.”) went platinum. Rapper Snoop Dogg, who showed up at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards with two women on dog
leashes and who was described in the December 2006 cover of Rolling Stone as “America’s Most Lovable Pimp,” has received
endorsement deals from Orbit gum and Chrysler.

In reality, pimps play a central role in human trafficking and routinely rape, beat and terrorize women and girls to keep them locked in prostitution. Men
can take a stand against pimps and pimping by renouncing the pimp culture and the music that glorifies it.

2. Confront the belief that prostitution is a “victimless crime”

Many men view prostitution as a “victimless crime.” But it is not. For example, American women who are involved in prostitution are at a greater risk to
be murdered than women in the general population. Research also shows that women involved in prostitution suffer tremendous physical and mental
trauma associated with their work. Viewing prostitution as a victimless crime or something that women “choose” allows men to ignore the fact that the
average age of entry into prostitution in the U.S. is 12 to 14 and that the vast majority of women engaged in prostitution would like to get out but feel
trapped. Men should stop viewing prostitution as a victimless crime and acknowledge the tremendous harm and suffering their participation in
prostitution causes.

3. Stop patronizing strip clubs

When men think of human trafficking, they often think of brothels in countries outside of the U.S. However, strip clubs in this country as well as abroad
may be a place where human trafficking victims go unnoticed or unidentified. Strip clubs are also places of manufactured pleasure where strippers are
routinely sexually harassed and assaulted by owners, patrons and security personnel. Men rarely consider whether women working in strip clubs are
coerced into that line of work, because to do so would conflict with the pleasure of participating in commercialized sex venues. Men can combat
human trafficking by no longer patronizing strip clubs and by encouraging their friends and co-workers to do the same.

4. Don’t consume pornography

Pornography has the power to manipulate male sexuality, popularize unhealthy attitudes towards sex and sexuality and eroticize violence against
women. Pornography leads men and boys to believe that certain sexual acts are normal, when in fact sexual acts that are non-consensual, offensive and
coupled with violent intent result in the pain, suffering and humiliation of women and children. In addition, a disproportionate amount of mainstream
pornography sexualizes younger women with such titles as “teens,” “barely 18,” “cheerleaders,” etc. Targeting younger women socializes men to
develop appetites for younger and younger women and creates a pedophiliac culture among men. Victims of human trafficking have also been forced
into pornography. Men can stop the voyeurism of sex and sex acts that fuel human trafficking by refusing to consume pornography and encourage
others to do the same.

5. Tackle male chauvinism and sexism online

Contrary to the myth that men do not gossip, men spend a significant amount of time online discussing their sexual exploits. The Internet provides many
men with the ability to mask their identities while indulging in racist, sexist and violent diatribes against women and girls. Choosing to be a critical voice
online is an extremely important way to educate and inform men and boys about their choices. Men can change this culture by starting threads in online
forums that cause men to talk about their attitudes towards women and how these attitudes and behaviors are linked to human trafficking.

6. End sex tourism

Men in the U.S. and other “first world” nations routinely travel overseas and have sex with women in developing countries. When men engage in these
practices, they do not acknowledge the fact that many trafficked women and children come from developing countries—even in countries where
prostitution is “legal.” Traveling overseas grants men a great deal of anonymity. As men, we have a responsibility to confront the men that go overseas
and participate in sex tourism.

7. Talk to men and boys about men’s issues in male spaces

The only way to change men is by engaging spaces where men and boys talk and develop their ideas and attitudes towards sex and sexuality. Males
spaces such as barbershops, locker rooms, fraternities and union halls are the real classrooms where boys learn to become men and where men develop
most of their ideas about how to interact with women. If men do not feel comfortable talking about these issues in male spaces, they can drop off
informational brochures and make themselves available to talk with other men and boys when they have questions or concerns. As men, we need to turn
male spaces into circles of accountability where men learn about non-violence, social justice and ending violence against women.

8. Support anti-human-trafficking policies

President Obama declared January 2010 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. However, more substantive legislation is
required to end human trafficking. Men can educate themselves about the issues by visiting anti-trafficking organizations and by asking their elected
officials what they have done to support or sponsor anti-human trafficking legislation. One of the most important acts men can do to stop human
trafficking is to support anti-trafficking legislation at the local, state or federal level.

9. Support creation of “John Schools”

There would be no human trafficking if there were was no demand for it. Strategies aimed at ending human trafficking must focus on eliminating the
demand. “John Schools” are education programs designed to educate customers apprehended by law enforcement who attempted to purchase sex. By
teaching the legal and health effects of buying sex and the realities of prostitution, such schools impart knowledge that can reduce demand, making men
conscious of how their actions can spur on human trafficking. Learn whether or not your local community has a John School. If not, encourage your
local prosecutor’s office or city counsel to start one.

10. Raise sons and mentor boys to challenge oppression

No boy is destined to be a “john,” a pimp, or a human trafficker. Raising young men in circles of accountability to be respectful and protective of all
women and children is one of the most important things men can do to stop human trafficking. Talk about human trafficking as a modern form of
slavery to help convince men and boys to become allies in the fight to end this form of oppression.

Editors’ note: What do you think of these suggestions? Please comment and discuss!

This blog post is based on the Renaissance Male Project’s informational brocure; if interested, contact the author through his contact webpage

Above: A sculpture in Vigeland Park in Oslo, Norway of a man holding a child. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Quistnix! // CC 2.0.

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Filed under Life, Men · Tagged with Child Prostitution, John Schools, Men, Pimps, Pornography, Prostitution, Sex Tourism, Sexism, Trafficking

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Comments (93)
Sort by: Date Rating Last Activity

Suzie Blue · 9 weeks ago +1

I was a little insulted at the gendered nature of these comments. I'm a female and a lesbian. But this applies to straight women too. It's especially
important for women of all sexual orientations to pay attention to these additions to your points:
1) Men *and* women participate in glorifying pimps in today's culture. (Think Kim Kardashian.)
3) Women also patronize strip clubs. (I've only been once, because the women that looked like they were 15 made me profoundly
uncomfortable.)
4) Women also watch porn. Granted, not *many* women I know watch porn, because even the *lesbian* porn out there is designed and filmed by
straight men. Porn, however, is not inherently the problem. Pro-women porn exists and can be exciting while being safe. Check out
http://www.tinynibbles.com/smartporn.
6) Oh my God. This one irks me. Do you know how many women participate in sex tourism? I lived in Senegal, as a white woman and they
assumed I was there for sex. I found it offensive until I realized that about half the other white women I met were there for just that. Many African
and Caribbean countries have this problem and the fact that no one talks about it makes it worse.
10) And girls and daughters!

Also, everything MOVIE, REVIEWED and Jana said.

Reply 1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago Report

pierce · 9 weeks ago 0

well, just be brave, be confident, and be you... that's all you need, you win some and you lose some but that's just life. you can't please everybody.
the moon doesn't shine on its own.. meaning you can draw your light/ strength from other person but you have to shine on your own.
male stripper charlotte

Reply Report

samuel welsh · 21 weeks ago +1

we should encourage more loving and connected families

thhis will greatly kill this problem

Reply Report

James · 32 weeks ago 0

For decades, our culture has decried sexism. Most people nowadays accept this and view sexism as bad, but sexism has not gone away.

1) A small portion of men are still VERY sexist. The most sexist guys are the ones with good looks, money and/or power. ie. the popular guys
who develop huge egos and machismo to match. Somehow being sexist doesn't stop women from flocking to these men. Tucker Max comes to
mind, but also phenomenon like Girls Gone Wild. These type of guys enjoy degrading and humiliating women, and they are rewarded in our
culture with money, fame, and women.

2) The double standard of slut/stud is also alive and well, and perhaps worse now. Decades of feminism has not made it go away. On the contrary,
women seem to be voting with their feet for "stud" types. There's also this trend of young men reading books on how to become "players". Real
gentlemen are apparently "wimps" and "losers" in today's culture. Will they eventually cease to exist?
3) There's also this trend of women trying to "turn the tables" and put down men. It's popular in tv, movies, etc. to make fun of men in a way that
would be called sexism if it were done to women. This reverse sexism is apparently okay since it is pay back for past sexism, and men have big
egos so it's okay to deflate their egos a little. The only problem is that the form of this 'sexism' is usually to belittle men for not being manly or
"studly" enough (eg. height, muscularity, penis size, status). But women aren't getting back at the sexist type men, they are usually getting back
at the least sexist men. If the worth of a man is deemed to be his macho-ness, then this only reinforces the status of the macho type sexist men.

Ok, I'm exaggerating and oversimplifying a little. But my question is that if women don't like sexism, and machismo is at its core fundamentally
sexist, why do some women 1) like sexist macho types 2) put down men for not being macho enough? I'm not trying to blame women for some
men's bad behavior -- obviously these people are accountable for their own behavior -- but just trying to understand why there's this
contradiction between people's supposed values and their actual behavior/actions. It's so strange that decades of feminism has apparently resulted
in a more extreme form of machismo and "hypermasculinity".

Reply Report

reneg28 · 32 weeks ago +1

All very good points, but like any good proposals, when it relates to sex and the almighty dollar, it's not going to happen and you can take that
to the bank.

Reply Report

Jana · 34 weeks ago +5

About #4: What about queer porn? What about porn that wins feminist awards? The "Crash Pad Series" by director Shine Louise Houston (a queer
woman of color) features people from across the gender spectrum engaging in safe sex (using dental dams, rubber gloves etc.). The fact that this
series is directed by a woman, features people of color, gender minorities, queer sexuality, and safe sex all add nuances that make pornography a
category worthy of being more thoroughly analyzed, especially by this article. Yes, mainstream porn is inauthentic, and lesbian mainstream porn
doesn't feature queer people who actually enjoy the acts they are performing. But what about the possibility of creating alternative, erotic
expressive spaces that aren't exploitative? The "Crash Pad Series" is a queer expressive space and it warrants further analysis before it's written off
as just another manifestation of mainstream oppression.

Reply 1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago Report

Christian C. · 34 weeks ago -1

Greatly beneficial article---so needed to revive our culture's standards of decency and safety. I know the focus of this article is toward actions that
can be taken by everyday men and boys. NOW you need to do a follow-up article on actions that WOMEN can take to reduce the sex slave trade.
Just like men can turn away from these pimp-rap 'role models,' women can make a turn back toward decent expression of themselves where they
dress and deport themselves in classy ways rather than sensual, skanky ways. The latter so fuels denigrating thoughts about women. Thanks
again, Jewel, for spotlighting this critical issue of our day. ~C

Reply Report

big picture view · 34 weeks ago +5

it seems to me that saying "men don't use pornography" is a bit simplistic. men resort to pornography if they are lonely, isolated, feeling unloved,
and/or lack intimacy skills. to simply say "no! don't do that" without addressing the underlying factors is arguably, cruel. it certainly sets them up
for failure.

Reply 2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago Report

MOVIE, REVIEWED · 34 weeks ago +7

This political platform has serious flaws:

1) it demands that heterosexual cisgendered men renounce heterosexuality and replace their sexual desires with a eunuch-like celibacy

2) perpetuates the myth that sex work is always bad and wrong, and that all sex workers (in particular, cisgendered female sex workers) are
helpless victims

3) invisiblizes sex workers who are cisgendered gay males or transgender women (because they don't fit into the "fallen woman" narrative the way
cisgendered women do).

4) promotes the idea that sexual images, sexual fetishes and roleplay are wrong and evil.

5) basically promotes a patriarchal world view where sex should be limited to those in monogamous relationships - essentially the same
worldview on sex that the Taliban and the Christian Fundamentalists have.

Reply 4 replies · active 34 weeks ago Report

Hey Now! · 34 weeks ago 0

Don't watch Porn and don't go to strip clubs are highly unrealistic propositions. It's right up there with prohibitions against alcohol and drugs.
Now highly regulating both industries... good idea.

Reply Report

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