Commentary

Just An Online Minute... Went To The Working Mother Media Awards Luncheon -- And All I Got Were These Disturbing Human Trafficking Stats

Working Mother Media's  Best Companies For Multicultural Women Luncheon, The Sheraton, New York
July 27, 2010

You may have noticed that some events inspire me to challenge myself to contribute to a better life for others, yet, I haven't made any "hey, look where I helped the issue of rampant duck-billed platypus bullying" now have I?  I have put my money where my mouth is recently, and will soon be participating in a walkathon to help out a family that opened their home to me (for a weekend, not for anything dramatic), and it feels good.  But I'm still not doing enough -- and today reminded me once again how even the smallest drop of time, thought, and action can begin making life less crappy for others.

As I entered the luncheon room, I spotted tables occupied by GE, Wal-Mart, IBM, and Cisco scattered about the immense (and full) room for the 5th annual Best Companies For Multicultural Women awards as well as the bestowing of the Legacy Award on one super-effective woman.

Carol Evans, President, Working Mother Media, kicked it off with that bubbling enthusiasm I remember from last year, spreading her arms wide with her smile even wider, welcoming everyone with a whoop. She thanked "hip sponsors" IBM (probably the first time they ever heard that adjective) for the swank conference bag: "I can wear silver tonight!" she exclaimed, delivering a good-natured jab at the purpled silver "quilted" swag bag.  She then introduced Dedra Dogan VP, people division, Sam's Club, who pelted our brains with some disturbing statistics:  2/3 of the impoverished in America are women, and 3/5 of the illiterate in America are women.  

Not bothered?  Then let me introduce you to Katherine Chon, this year's Legacy Award recipient, and a woman who may not be all that well known because, instead of just talking about changing the world, she's actually doing it --  through the Polaris Project, named after the guiding North Star, and one of the largest anti-trafficking organizations in the U.S and Japan.

Katherine Chon's passion to help women and girls is kept aflame by disturbing, skin-prickling nuggets like:

Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry -- with 27 million people subject to it.  70% of those are women in the commercial sex industry. 

"We are surrounded by it," she said. Those massage parlors advertised in the back of TONY that you giggle about? Yeah, some of those "workers" came to this country with goals and dreams and were tantalized with a job, then forced against their wills to become sex workers. Chon spoke softly, reflecting on asking herself "Who am I?" while unearthing her passion:  "I am Korean-American, I am young, I love flowers, beauty makes me happy...I think about all the parts of myself that make me human," she continued, concluding that "human trafficking is taking away someone's inner humanity."

Need more nuggets? Good, because I have plenty:

There are 5,000 illicit known massage parlours in this country.

Every 15 minutes a man purchases commercial sex from a residential brothel.  Women working in these brothels are forced to have sex with 30 to 45 men a day.  Imagine the trauma that comes from one act of sexual violence.  Now imagine that trauma 45 times a day, every day.  It can be assumed the damage is irreparable.

Average age of girls entering the sex trade?  11- to 12-years-old.  It's frightening.

Parents have called Polaris, missing their children, seeing them posted on Craigslist for prostitution.

The stats, including the amount of abandoned, neglected, and runaway kids, paired with a steady stream of immigrants, can be overwhelming. But, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't have hope," assured Chon, who said her "who am I?" question changed to "Who am I to go on Capital Hill and change policy?"  Her passion was like her +1 -- we could see it.  Chon is one of those people who doesn't have to repeat to others how passionate she is to convince them, you simply have to hear her speak. Her knowledge and determination are enough to convince you.

And really, there is hope.  Chon announced that Polaris has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security to include information on human trafficking as well as the Polaris hotline for anyone who comes to this country.

Chon closed her speech with a challenge to guests and to herself.  She wanted each of us to take out a business card and write down one action that we would be willing to take to help Polaris. "I want to walk out of here with 600 business cards and 600 action items," Chon declared.  She upped it to 1,200 contacts, hoping that each guest would include the contact of a friend that could help as well.

Carol Evans took the stage again and promised to include the Polaris hotline number on the Working Mother website by tomorrow.

I left just as the Best Companies For Multicultural Women were awarded.  Now, I'm going to think about what I can do to help stop or at least bring more awareness to the disgusting activity of human trafficking.

2 comments about "Just An Online Minute... Went To The Working Mother Media Awards Luncheon -- And All I Got Were These Disturbing Human Trafficking Stats".
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  1. Kate Lafrance from Hartford Woman Online Magazine, July 27, 2010 at 7:44 p.m.

    VERY well written. Unfortunate reality that needs to be addressed. Thank you.

  2. Pooky Amsterdam from PookyMedia, July 28, 2010 at 10:47 a.m.

    Thank you Kelly for this article, which is full of passion in itself as well.
    We all get very tunneled in our vision, working hard at every turn.
    These figures are shocking, and we can through collective action do something about them.
    This isn't "just an Online Minute"
    It's an online challenge and I am thinking now about what I can do to help.

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