Human Trafficking

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a discussion about human trafficking and sex slavery hosted by the Gender Studies class. I was one of the last to enter a room full of students attentively watching a video about sex slavery in India and the programs created to combat the widespread issue of human trafficking. In the video we watched, actress America Ferrera traveled from the United States to Asia to meet women whose lives had been impacted by human trafficking. She spoke with women who had been tortured since they were extremely young; people recounted their stories of being sold as sex slaves before they were teenagers, unable to escape the constant abuse their entire lives.

We also talked about prostitution within the United States. Members of the Gender Studies class who hosted the meeting asked everyone about the various factors that lead to human trafficking or bolster a lifestyle of prostitution or pimping. Human trafficking, we realized, is not usually portrayed negatively in American media. Many misconceptions of prostitution that we discussed (like that prostitution or pimping is enviable or that violence against women is not bad) are not refuted, and are even at times supported, by advertisements, music, and movies. We watched the music video for 50 Cent's song "P.I.M.P. (featuring Snoop Dogg and G-Unit)" and noted the ways in which this well-known song and video glamorize prostitution and being a pimp. After watching the music video, we read the song's lyrics, which include numerous references to pimps having expensive clothes, cars, and a nice life. Below is the official music video of the song:

There were a few things that were particularly shocking to me among the topics brought up at this discussion, not the least of which was the manner in which sex slavery transpires in countries like India. Very young children from impoverished families are sold for meager amounts and bound to an awful life of prostitution, without any way to get an education or get a better job instead. Hearing stories of girls younger than me being forced into such a brutal, miserable profession, in addition to organizations that work to help these children have better lives, reminded me of how fortunate I am to be in a position where I can go to school, live comfortably, and choose what I want to do.

Another interesting point that came up in the discussion is how different parts of our culture do little to end global human trafficking, and in fact, often uphold the presence of prostitution. We looked at advertisements implying abuse against women and gang rape, as well as songs like the one above that portray prostitution as truly beneficial and enjoyable to all involved. Since such images and ideas have been ingrained in popular music and advertisements, I hadn't realized how much sex slavery can be subtly (or not so subtly) glamorized by our society. Before going to this discussion, I may have not given much thought to positive portrayals of pimping in the media, but now I will definitely be more attuned, and can understand how deeply flawed and unrealistic they are.

The Big Comfy Couch

Thanksgiving has always been meaningful for me, and not because of the delicious food.

Of course stuffing, mashed potatoes, crescent rolls, and homemade cranberry sauce are great, but I think Thanksgiving would be awesome even without the food most people associate with it. It's the holiday's real theme - being thankful for what you have and the good things in your life - that sets it apart from most other days of the year. Getting Thanksgiving off of school is a great way to get to appreciate things we may not otherwise. A bit of a break from everyday schedules allows people to step back and see great things in life: time with family, a comfortable home, and the importance of good food.

Making plans with relatives for this Thanksgiving got me thinking back to Thanksgivings past and childhood memories of mine. I remembered the days when my cousins and I would sit together watching cartoon movies around the holiday season, which got me thinking about the things I would watch on tv back in the day. One of my favorite shows when I was young was The Big Comfy Couch, a children's show that follows a clown named Loonette and her best friend, a doll named Molly, who often talk and read together on their couch. I recently looked up clips of the show on YouTube and I was surprised at how much I remembered of it. Characters' names, songs, and routine parts of the show all started to come back to me.

I  learned a lot from The Big Comfy Couch as a little kid; seeing videos of the show for the first time in probably ten years reminded me of the ideas it helped instilled in kids like me. Loonette and Molly emphasized being healthy, exercising, playing fairly with friends, and tidying up after you're done playing. And the show was funny, too. The characters' ridiculous clown outfits and at times nonsensical behavior made The Big Comfy Couch fun for me to watch, while picking up life lessons at the same time. Reliving one of my favorite childhood shows underlined what I am thankful for: those who have taught me important things, a happy life growing up, and what has helped me grow into the person I am today.

Here is a video of the show's introductory song: