Brait, Response 2

Emily Brait

Response paper 2

Prostitution and Trafficking in China

In discussing the livelihood of women, we focused on what many people would not consider to be a livelihood, at least not an appropriate livelihood: prostitution. In our discussion of prostitution, we looked at it from different angles. We discussed prostitution with regard to women who choose to be prostitutes of their own accord, and manage themselves, without a pimp or being in a brothel. I thought that this was an important aspect to look at, because although these women seemingly go into prostitution of their own accord, there are many different factors which lead to this decision. The question must be asked, do these women decide to go into prostitution because they see it as a lucrative business opportunity, or do they go into because society does not allow them to do anything else? Is it truly a choice made freely if women are held back from earning an income because of a male dominated world, leaving them with few other options? Obviously, no one is forcing a woman into prostitution directly by not affording her any other options; however it can be said that they are indirectly forcing her into prostitution. The prostitution industry is one which is not black and white, but is very complex and intricate. Another topic which we covered was the right a woman has to her body. Should a woman be allowed to sell herself for sex? In many countries, like the US, the answer is no. Legally, no one is allowed to sell themselves for sex. I take issue with this decision, because the implications of criminalizing prostitution infringes upon personal freedom. Women who choose freely to sell themselves for sex are making a decision to utilize their body for profit, and to tell someone that they are not allowed to do this puts sanctions on what one can do with their body. Of course, I do agree that prostitution as a means of income does present numerous harms both to the prostitute as well as to the customers, however there are many professions which pose dangers, some arguably are more dangerous than prostitution. Some would argue that applying this perspective to the developing world comes with different considerations, such as desperation for income, lack of accessibility to the formal sector, and the societal status of women. However, these same issues are prevalent in the developed world as well and play into the decision that women make to become prostitutes. There is a fine line on which the focus of prostitution should lie, where not too much consideration to either side of the argument. When discussing prostitution, both the positive aspects and the negative aspects of this type of work must come into play, and assumptions cannot be made either way as to the motivations of women when going into prostitution.

After our discussion on prostitution in this class and my discussion of human trafficking in my Current Affairs class, I have decided to focus my research on human trafficking in China and how the government is taking legal action to prevent it. In my research this week, I looked more into the reasons for trafficking in China. One of the main reasons for trafficking in China is a result of the One Child Policy. Because of the gendercide that is a result of this policy, there has arisen a trafficking network of girls. Families will sell their girls to make room for the possibility of a boy. Because of the policy, there is a deficit of females in China, so men will result to purchasing trafficked women for their wives. The female shortage in China has also caused an increase in prostitution, forced prostitution, and trafficking. China is currently on the Tier 2 of the Watch List for failing to comply with the minimum standards to prevent trafficking. Every year, a minimum of 10,000 to 20,000 women are trafficked within China. Interestingly enough, the One Child Policy is not a national law, but it is enforced throughout the country. People are coerced into complying with the law through education, societal pressure, harsh punishments, and forced abortions and sterilizations. Girls are seen as a financial burden to families because China is a patriarchal society, however within the trafficking industry, selling women can be very lucrative. Purchasing women was criminalized in 1991, however this decision made abduction and sale different offenses. The punishment for trafficking women range from fines to the death penalty in extreme cases. Often, the women who are trafficked face charges and punishment as well for their involvement in prostitution, even though it was not voluntary on their part.