The STOPLight

Teen’s eyes are opened

I am writing this article to show a different point of view on the subject your newsletter expresses. The point of view is mine—that of a young adult. This is probably one group people don’t get much feedback from and, really, it’s kids’ futures that are mostly affected by this problem. My real awareness of prostitution started when a few classmates and I got together at school to do a project on prostitution. Our teacher introduced us to Al Erickson of S.T.O.P. who was a resource for us in finding out what prostitution is really all about.

Since my research on the subject, I have learned many things I wasn’t even aware of. It really made me wake up to see the many problems of prostitution. I came to realize how much I really didn’t know about this "victimless crime"—just like most people, both kids and adults.

I think the biggest thing that must be done about prostitution is spreading the word about who are the real victims in it. No, not the johns, but the prostitutes themselves. Most people in prostitution are tricked into this dirty way of life.

My study group did a survey on prostitution at our high school and asked: Do you think prostitution is a choice? According to most students, prostitution is a choice and prostitution is not a problem.

But when we interviewed Connie, an advocate from WHISPER, she said that if something is a choice, three things must be present: there must be other reasonable options available ("screw or starve is not a reasonable option"); the person making the choice should be able to change their mind; and the person should be old enough to make an informed choice (the average age for starting in prostitution is 14 years old). This was enough evidence to show us that prostitution isn’t a choice.

During our research and conversations with Al, Connie and others, I heard many different stories of how people got into prostitution. In every case, the people were somehow tricked, forced, or convinced into it. When I say convinced, I mean they were brainwashed into believing that a "slut" was all they were worth, and that there wasn’t any other choice. I’m not an expert on this stuff, and I’m sure there are exceptions, but this must be stopped.

The pimps and johns are the real criminals. Connie also told us that "for every one hundred prostitutes arrested, only one pimp is arrested." After being arrested and released, these ladies usually have nowhere to turn but back to the streets and their pimps. If the law could cut off the supply (pimps) and the demand (johns), there wouldn’t be such a huge problem.

Prostitution also hurts the economy, as taxpayers are paying for throwing the victims in jail and then letting them out without changing the conditions that got them into prostitution in the first place, or that force them to stay in it. We discovered this statistic: "In 1985, it was calculated that each of America’s biggest cities spent $12 million a year fighting prostitution."(The Economist, September 1991)

Al also told me about one man who had been all over the U.S. fighting prostitution, who says that in almost every area troubled by prostitution, there were Minnesota girls showing up. Minnesota is losing some of its finest youth to trickery—in other words, to prostitution. Overall, people must be made aware of prostitution and what can be done against it. People must be confronted with the truth about prostitution.

The myths about prostitution must be exposed so it doesn't become an even bigger problem in the future. Kids, especially girls, must be aware that anyone, at anytime, could be trying to trick them into prostitution. Adults must be there for these kids, and not just call them names and say they deserve it. Laws must be made to stop the pimps and johns, and communities should come together to stop this crime.

I still have much to learn on this subject, but my group has already started forming a presentation to give to middle schools. We want people to be aware that even kids have an opinion on prostitution and are concerned for the future. The truth on prostitution must be revealed, and the real criminals must be stopped.