When thinking about human trafficking, people typically envision young girls being snatched away from their families to be sold in a dark, scary, foreign place. While this is a terrifying reality of human trafficking, it is not the only way trafficking occurs. Human trafficking also looks like a pimp who “manages” several girls on street corners. It can also look like massage parlors that act as a front for other, more exploitative services. Finally, it looks like an expensive escort service for the rich and powerful. Each of these examples differ when it comes to location, the amount of money made, and potential risk. However, they all share one common trend - the exploitation of human beings. In this blog post we will discuss the differences between “outdoor” and “indoor” trafficking.

“Outdoor” prostitution is the most common example because it can be seen. Solicitation, agreements, and sometimes even the services themselves occur in public places and can be easily recognized by the general public. This is also the most dangerous form of human trafficking. Between potentially violent clients and demanding pimps, the women who work as prostitutes on the street are constantly at risk of abuse. Issues like drug addiction or runaway minors are also common in outdoor prostitution. Minors who have run away from home sometimes turn to selling themselves as a means of survival, commonly referred to as “survival sex.” Drug abuse itself brings a whole different level of risk to outdoor prostitution as addiction wrecks havoc on the body, mind, and soul.

“Indoor” sex work, on the other hand, is often considered to be “safer”. This kind of work includes escort services, businesses such as massage places that offer “special” services, and brothels. While it is true that these forms of prostitution are not as risky as working on the streets, they still serve as places where one human being can easily buy, use, and abuse another human being. Although this is not true for every indoor sex worker, some argue that indoor sex work is better because the workers are there willingly. While that may be true for some, it is absolutely not true for all. No matter how they ended up there, the universal truth is that sex workers are being used as objects instead of being loved as people.

From those who are kidnapped and brutally thrown into sex slavery, to the highest-paid escort, human trafficking promises nothing but abuse, transactional love, and the perpetuation of the objectification of women and men. Of course, each type of prostitution comes with its own stereotypes, vices, dangers, and opinions. 

Let’s take action. Take some time this week to think about what beliefs you might hold regarding the people involved in each type, and share what you’re thinking down in the comments.