Human Exploitation: The Unseen Billion-Dollar Industry

The first most profitable criminal enterprise in the world is cross border organized crime. This is an estimated $2.1 trillion dollar a year industry. Perhaps surprising, the second most profitable criminal enterprise in the world is human exploitation (Roman 2). This is an estimated $32-$115 billion dollar a year industry. In layman’s terms, human exploitation is simply slavery. Slavery is a huge problem in the world currently, but it is not a new one. It has been around since Biblical times. People from all over the world can be shipped into the United States, even right into the ports of Wilmington, North Carolina. Not only can women be shipped here, but women from our community can be trafficked as well. The community does not realize how

Trafficking is recognized as a major health problem and tragic transnational crime (Muftic). Most people think the physical abuse from trafficking is the worst part about it. What most people do not know, is the mental abuse can be just as horrifying if not more. The women who are trafficked have poorer health outcomes, and more intense and prolonged psychological reactions to abuse than women who are not trafficked (Muftic). When a woman's sexuality is violently used or abused, it is far more damaging to her than words, fists, or any other abuse that could be heaped on her. It is an invasion of the essence of who they are. Women were reported having suicidal thoughts/attempts, feelings of anger/rage, depression, inability to feel, difficulty sleeping, self-blame/guilt, and loss of appetite (Muftic). These poor women have no idea what the trafficking life can hold for them, not just while being there but also after they have left that life. Casey Roman noticed a coping mechanism for some of the women. They will laugh off information or past memories, telling their brains that what is or was happening to them is not as bad as it really is (Roman 2). Most of these women in the life have actual disorders. In 2008, the United States Department of Health and Human Services identified the serious and complex mental health problems of sex trafficking victims. The disorders included, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and mood disorders, dissociative disorders, and substance related disorder (Muftic). The women might not even realize they have a disorder until they are out of the sex trafficking life and living in the normal world. It is evident that the mental effects take a negative toll on the women in sex