“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

Proverbs 18:21[line]
Pimp. John. Prostitute.
 
What comes to mind when you hear these terms? What assumptions do you make?
 
Are those beliefs accurate? A few years ago, I hadn’t thoughtfully considered their meanings. I associated “pimps” with farcical Halloween costumes. “Prostitutes” were women largely defined by their poor choices. Since burrowing into the world of sex trafficking, I’m consistently disappointed in myself as I discover how wrong I truly was. 
God created our mouths to be “fountain[s] of life” (Proverbs 10:11). When we use incorrect and disrespectful vernaculars, we perpetuate careless perceptions. In the rush to help people understand sex trafficking, individuals (myself included) and anti-trafficking organizations are unintentionally guilty of this. However, passion does not equal accuracy.

 

[content_band style=”padding-left:25px; padding-right:25px; padding-top:25px; color:#333;” bg_color=”#F5F5F5″ border=”all” inner_container=”true”][custom_headline level=”h6″]Language and Perceptions about Domestic Sex Trafficking, Pt. 1[/custom_headline]Ecclesiastes 5:2 advises, “do not be rash with your mouth.” Just making some small changes to your vocabulary can change societal misconceptions about those affected by sex trafficking:

Use “prostituted individual” instead of “prostitute”.[icon_list] [icon_list_item]• This delineates the difference between the individual and what has happened to them.[/icon_list_item] [icon_list_item]• “Prostitute” indicates that the situation is victimless and that it is the individual’s shameful choice.This isn’t the case.[/icon_list_item][/icon_list]

Use “trafficked minor” instead of “child prostitute” or “adolescent sex worker”.[icon_list] [icon_list_item]• Under international law, all youth under 18 engaging in commercial sex acts are being sex trafficked. Children cannot prostitute themselves; they are exploited.[/icon_list_item][/icon_list]

Use “buyers” vs. “johns” (“johns” are those who buy sex).[icon_list] [icon_list_item]• “Johns” comes from “John Doe”, a  term promoting anonymity. “Johns” are an enormous part of the demand fueling sex trafficking, and should be viewed as such.[/icon_list_item] [icon_list_item]• “Buyer” and “trafficker” delineate the different roles in trafficking, and both are culpable. Buyers make sex trafficking so alluringly profitable that pimps continue to provide the supply.[/icon_list_item][/icon_list][/content_band]

As “sex trafficking” has become a social buzzword, we are called to consider what we really think about those who are affected by it. Pause today and examine your thoughts and perceptions. In them lies an opportunity to emphasize dignity and value in others.

Laura | Partnership Coordinator

Check back next week for Part 2, “Responsible Thinking”  in our 3-part series on Language and Perceptions about Sex Trafficking.