7.8.10 Does Anyone See Her?

"Does Anyone See Her?"

does anyone see her?
does anyone even care?
she walks,
alone but under watchful eyes.
she works,
until she can't stand.
he takes
everything, no tears.
no crying allowed.
wipe your face,
fix your hair
you're not done yet.
the endless stream of cars
offer a break from his eyes.

eyes that always watch
ears that always listen
hands that always take.
she'll never be free
never laugh, never dance,
never sing a song of love.
she'll work until he's happy
she'll work until she's dead.
does anyone see her?
does anyone even care?

~Ashley Beth 2010

Human Trafficking is something I feel very strongly about, an epidemic in America that isn't going away anytime soon. I'm focusing mainly on street prostitutes under the control of a pimp. These girls- and I use the word "girls" with emphasis- are usually around 14 years old (some are reported as young as 11) when they're first seduced by a pimp, promising a lifetime of happiness, security, and love. These girls often come from broken families and abusive homes and are blind-sighted by a man promising to love them and keep them safe from harm.

This is how it looks:

The pimp showers his girl with presents and expensive dates for sometimes months until he's sure the girl is hooked. Many times, this is when the girl will move in with him. She'll think she's hit the jackpot; a rich man who loves her and gives her everything she could ever want. And then comes the price. The pimp will say something along the lines of, "Baby, we're broke, we don't have any money left. I don't think we're gonna have rent this month." The girl, blinded by love, says, "Are you sure? How did that happen?" And then comes the guilt. "Well, baby, where do you think all those presents came from? What about all those dinners? I spent my money on you, and now we don't have enough left to live..." The girl will be shocked for a minute and then come back with, "What do we do?" That is the only opening the pimp needs. Suddenly, he has a plan. He hates to say it, but there's really only one option. It's just one time, with one of his "friends". They'll have the money they need and never have to do it again. The girl feels guilty about taking all the money and is convinced it's the only way. She agrees and the "date" is set up. Afterwards, expecting love and reassurance, she is shunned and treated like a whore. He says no one will ever love her because of what she's done, she's disgusting, used up. He convinces her she can never go home, they wouldn't take her back. He breaks her down completely until she's guilted into doing it again. By the time, if ever, she realizes what he's done to her, it's usually too late.

This is the most common version of what happens to girls "seduced by the life". Other, more violent, versions include getting the girl hooked on drugs so she's dependent on him, or even kidnapping a girl straight off the street and brainwashing her. These girls are used until they can't function anymore, either from disease or exhaustion, and then they are discarded like trash. It's sick and it's not getting any better.

"The worlds oldest profession" is one of the most cruel. It's only through awareness that this problem will ever be addressed the way it needs to be. These girls need to be saved, but to be saved, they need to be seen. Do you see them?