Worth It?

Observe:
                These 30 photos are pictures of prostitutes in Bangladesh. I know its not from India or Nepal but I still thought it might be of interest to people. This is not pornographic nor does it contain any nudity; Don't worry.
Just copy and paste this link into the search engine! --> http://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/30-tragic-beautiful-photos-of-teenage-prostitutes

Heres the skinny. 
           So for some crazy, sick reason, I am really interested in prostitution and the black market behind it, the industry, how it works, pricing rules, time rules, the whole back round information. Im not a bad person, I just find it interesting. The whole reason behind my somewhat morbid curiosity was the seen where Lakshmi is getting the introduction from Mumtaz about her 'debt' that she must pay off (p. 106). As sad as this was, I researched some statistics about prostitution in India. I also researched whether or not it is common to be drugged if you are working in a brothel against your will. What I found wasn't very surprising, but still just as grim. 

          According to Unity of Nobility.com, prostitution rates have dramatically increased in recent years. Most girls are tricked into being sold to "city working" just like Lakshmi. It is evident that the author did a good amount of research on the book's topic before writing.  The difference was that some girls are sold to a single person to be a sex slave for only one man, which is almost even more terrifying. I cant imagine the pain and pure fear that runs through these poor girls when they realize their tragic new occupation. Apparently, the trafficking of people is actually the third largest industry in the world behind drugs and the trade of arms ( I mean guns, not actual arms. Don't worry; I thought so too at first and was like, "What").  A man that agreed to speak about his profession said that he trafficked 150- 200 girls per year, from the ages of about 10- 17. The younger ones sold for more, up to 1000 dollars. A ten year old is a fourth grader. 


         I read a story of a girl on this same website that said she was drugged and kidnapped at fifteen years old. She was forced to work as a prostitute from six the morning until three in the morning. She was rescued when a customer let her use his phone and she called her parents. This upset me because it go me thinking: It could really happen to anyone. It could have been one of my friends, even their little sisters.
              
            The more I research this topic, the more emotional I get about the whole subject. It really is a devastating and disgusting thing that plagues poor countries. I think it is okay for a woman to sell herself if she really wants to. Its her choice to do what she will with her body but when you kidnap and drug a child, you are taking her future. You are taking her happiness and free will, her innocence and childhood. What gives one person the right to sell and use another person?