Sex trafficking isn't what you think it is | Meghan Sobel | TEDxMileHighWomen

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  • Опубліковано 22 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,7 тис.

  • @brodieowens8307
    @brodieowens8307 7 років тому +11499

    As a sex trafficking victim who is often told that what I experienced "isn't trafficking" because it happened in my home, thank you for speaking out. Thank you so, so much.

    • @KayMaxoxo
      @KayMaxoxo 7 років тому +518

      Brodie Owens I'm so sorry that happened to you.

    • @louise-yo7kz
      @louise-yo7kz 7 років тому +312

      Brodie Owens Sad to hear. I pray for your healing

    • @whitenoise3447
      @whitenoise3447 7 років тому +241

    • @gracielovesyou1470
      @gracielovesyou1470 7 років тому +150

      Oh god. I'm so sorry. :(

    • @harpfully
      @harpfully 7 років тому +158

      *hugs*.. Unfortunately not uncommon.

  • @FreakyBo0o
    @FreakyBo0o 7 років тому +5442

    Wow, this woman went hard! She shook people out of their comfort zone. That was a brave and extremely sharp speech. Truly important.

    • @chickensandwich8808
      @chickensandwich8808 6 років тому +80

      she spoke about attacking the economic factors that allow this kind of thing to continue rather than charging in like the cavalry in a short sighted attempt at "rescue." I don't see how that was difficult to pick up on. As for leaving out "Husbands" yeah she did, but I also don't think she needed it to drive the point home any further.

    • @tiarezavaleta8850
      @tiarezavaleta8850 6 років тому +11

      or fathers

    • @KingVargan
      @KingVargan 5 років тому +48

      Te Fu wanting to make a change isn’t a savior complex.

    • @woswasdenni1914
      @woswasdenni1914 5 років тому +4

      @@KingVargan well its very very close. see hard truth is a healthy human gives not many shits about others he dont know.
      were a selfish species just like any other, the only thing most mamals have in common that were willing to sacrifice our own for our children but thats about it. thats why it took so long to establish what we know today as a modern society, and it takes a lot of force, weapons, institutions and systems to keep it civlised and kind of stable.

    • @Raven_shifter
      @Raven_shifter 5 років тому +5

      Anne Grow We’re living in an interesting time in which more people are waking up. Also, Epstein didn’t kill himself.

  • @michellel.7947
    @michellel.7947 7 років тому +3899

    This is an important talk. The demand is what's the most sick, the fact that people BUY this stuff.

    • @billyrose100
      @billyrose100 6 років тому +25

      Yes there are too little views in this. (love seeing a fellow ARMY btw)

    • @mothersandfuckersofthejury
      @mothersandfuckersofthejury 6 років тому +12

      I agree, this must be discussed more. Also, nice, BTS❤️

    • @mezzykaur1374
      @mezzykaur1374 5 років тому +22

      Honestly it is really didgusting how people find this as a satisfaction

    • @iceeirony
      @iceeirony 5 років тому

      Agree 100%

    • @erwinhun
      @erwinhun 5 років тому +11

      I agree. Yet the issue of demand is also complicated. With fewer customers some would lose another way to feed themselves, forcing them to turn to even worse alternatives, while others now compete for the remaining customers who are more likely to be the worst ones. Having said that, I would still not be friends with someone who I knew had taken advantage of someone else's desperate situation like that. The solution seems to be a preassure for political change, Foreign Direct Investments (not the least in infrastructure), and NGOs providing the right support.

  • @justmeagain7
    @justmeagain7 7 років тому +3939

    It's incredible that the clients don't go to prison when they are discovered. They are the ones who should go to prison!

    • @user-bj7hq2tw8e
      @user-bj7hq2tw8e 7 років тому +168

      the clients would typically have a buttload of cash and the people of thailand are sometimes not as well off as people from other countries. the policemen sometimes will accept a bribe to let someone off free and throw the innocent into jail because they are less affluent. this is a sad reality in many parts of the less developed world and will probably continue that way for a long while :(

    • @jennaglitz6045
      @jennaglitz6045 6 років тому +179

      even in America, cops typically go after the prostitutes rather than the pimps or the customers. They set up stings specifically for prostitutes and no one else involved

    • @canovwrms2684
      @canovwrms2684 6 років тому +5

      Always wondered about that

    • @clementboutaric3952
      @clementboutaric3952 5 років тому +10

      Is it illegal in Thailand ? If it isn't, then there is no reason for them to get arrested.

    • @johnseb5856
      @johnseb5856 5 років тому +1

      Why? Product creates clients not demand! No product, no clients. They got it right

  • @sugarplumfairy20101
    @sugarplumfairy20101 7 років тому +4912

    "As long as there is a demand there will be a supply", applies for everything! drugs, sex, pornography, organ trafficking.

    • @madeinhisimage3447
      @madeinhisimage3447 5 років тому +53

      sugarplumfairy20101 the human heart and condition is what needs to be addressed!

    • @norapeace6526
      @norapeace6526 5 років тому +24

      Yeah how do you stop the demand for that kind of thing??

    • @madeinhisimage3447
      @madeinhisimage3447 5 років тому +40

      Nora Peace the human heart would have to undergo a serious change. I don’t see that happening. If anything at all the rise in Narcissism/Sociopathy/Psychopathy/Anti social is in a extreme rise! Depravity runs DNA deep in the human heart.

    • @norapeace6526
      @norapeace6526 5 років тому +10

      Christina Cataldi I agree 100% .. and that is so sad because narcissism, sociopathy, & psychopathy are no joke!!I’m afraid these things get any worse than they already are

    • @hangukhiphop
      @hangukhiphop 5 років тому +7

      @@madeinhisimage3447 I think you might be contradicting yourself... Is it a rise of these negative traits or depravity in our DNA. Those two seems like different extremes. Either one paints a pretty pessimistic picture of humanity--even worse if both.

  • @kanokwans7624
    @kanokwans7624 7 років тому +2807

    What kind of jerk thumbs this down? Probably exactly the people she describes as driving the demand. Thank you for your passion, professor.

    • @bingbong5053
      @bingbong5053 7 років тому +164

      Some people don't understand what the thumbs down button is for. They probably thumbs down because they thought that if they pressed that button, they thought that sex trafficking is a bad thing and they agree with the speaker.

    • @chloe2258
      @chloe2258 7 років тому +11

      Once you jimIN you can't jimOUT or you don't want stuff like this in your feed

    • @fruitygarlic3601
      @fruitygarlic3601 6 років тому +12

      @@chloe2258 I'm not exactly sure when this feature was implemented, but you can choose not to have something pop up in your feed.

    • @colleennewholy9026
      @colleennewholy9026 5 років тому +16

      @Abradolf Lincler yes you are trafficked if you are physically free. Yes, you have the "choice" of walking. But sometimes people are "marked" or outed by clients or the owners of their establishments.
      Or the income is lost, and things become worse. It truly is a complex issue, as mental chains can be just as strong as physical ones.

    • @joyfuljaj
      @joyfuljaj 5 років тому +13

      @Firecracker CT I am curious more of your perspective. I cannot figure out what I think of her talk. It is a lot of talk and not much conclusion. She also did not address the large amount of trafficking in the U.S., which most of us would be more apt to be able to affect.

  • @kj5246
    @kj5246 7 років тому +2403

    This really opened my eyes and made me emotional. I'm glad Oi is doing well now, and helping others.

    • @alexia5811
      @alexia5811 6 років тому +29

      John Narayan
      Who hurt you?

    • @user-pj6fj3wf2l
      @user-pj6fj3wf2l 5 років тому +2

      oi oi

    • @lonelysextourist996
      @lonelysextourist996 5 років тому

      The goal of an awareness campaign like this is to use your emotional response.

    • @julirodas9761
      @julirodas9761 4 роки тому +11

      @@lonelysextourist996 and that's... a bad thing...?

  • @danielledorchester9739
    @danielledorchester9739 6 років тому +301

    A friend of mine was actually kidnapped in Thailand, he was a male model there and a woman on tinder claimed to be a "scout" and then drugged him and drove him out into the middle of Thailand to make a trade/drop. He played along like they were going on vacation together and eventually got a hold of her cell phone to call for help. It's incredible.

    • @nathalia6379
      @nathalia6379 4 роки тому +20

      wow, i hope everything is okay!

    • @linaa.608
      @linaa.608 Рік тому +1

      That's incredible. Sorry that your friend has experienced this. Is he Thai or a foreigner?

  • @jamesgant2650
    @jamesgant2650 7 років тому +349

    This woman is so raw. She served up that dish ice cold! Respect!

  • @amandap4029
    @amandap4029 7 років тому +4529

    Question: Why the hell doesn't this video have more views?

    • @jamoecw
      @jamoecw 7 років тому +8

      doesn't live up to the title.

    • @jamoecw
      @jamoecw 7 років тому +34

      @Jesus Mind - “When I first started studying sex trafficking in 2008, I thought it mean girls were kidnapped and chained to beds,” this says it all. some person (well a professor) had allusions about the sex industry, assuming that the whole thing was sex trafficking. she did a study on what is supposed to be sex trafficking and found it was sex industry, not trafficking. instead of realizing that their is a lot of mislabeling she instead blamed it on wealth levels. people in poverty have bad options to choose from, which is a tragedy, but when someone has the option of sexwork they tend to jump at it due to the high pay and low risk. there is definitely issues with sex work, which she didn't go into, she didn't go into what would most likely happen if there wasn't sex work, she didn't talk about trafficking, and she didn't say anything that wasn't known to anyone that knows anything about third world poverty.
      that is why it sucked, that is why it doesn't live up to the title. it has nothing to do with our comfort levels, our apathy on the subject, or race.

    • @Pumpkin0_0
      @Pumpkin0_0 7 років тому +39

      It's funny how a couple comments say that it either doesn't live up to the title or it sucked, but for you to come to that conclusion, you have to actually watch the video. Logic has been thrown out the window...

    • @jamoecw
      @jamoecw 7 років тому +6

      it has to do with linking the video in future posts/videos. doing so would boost traffic (for more viewers), if you think it sucks then it gets rated down, and people don't come back to it to reference it for any reason (for more watched minutes).
      there might also be weighted ratings so that the thumbs up and down aren't all equal despite the number of them (one's thumb's up is worth more than another due to less thumb's up, or down as the case might be). who rates it up and down might alter the breadth of its appeal (someone who is watching it at random tends to rate it down, while someone who looks for this video rates it up, thus it would be viewed as having a narrow appeal).

    • @Kevorama0205
      @Kevorama0205 7 років тому +23

      jamoecw "when someone has the option of sexwork" And that's the assumption that this talk is trying to challenge. If there is no other employment opportunity that pays enough to support your family and your family can't leave, the only choice is between sexwork or starvation. I wouldn't consider the sexwork a free choice in that situation.
      "what would most likely happen if there wasn't sex work" She doesn't want to eliminate sex work, she made that clear. Just underage sex work. There's a significant difference there, since its hard to conceive of any bad effects of doing that that negatively affects people besides those engaging in sex with minors, which I would not really consider as "bad".
      I think a lot of people aren't really aware of how NGOs handle "voluntary" sex workers. I certainly wasn't.

  • @faithstrachan7299
    @faithstrachan7299 7 років тому +1916

    I feel like people forget that what a choice looks like in a 1st world country is very different in a 3rd world country. Yes, YOU have a choice. Prostitution is a choice for YOU because YOU can go back to your comfy home but express some empathy and realize that it isn't for others. They are doing it to survive.

    • @opheliabloom8321
      @opheliabloom8321 7 років тому +103

      What you say is true, but it applies to any form of work that people in the 3rd world do to survive. There is always a difference between a person living in poverty who is kidnapped and forced into sex work (i.e. sexually abused) and a poor person who enters sex work because they need the money, and to ignore this difference is irresponsible.

    • @Butterflybabexoxo
      @Butterflybabexoxo 7 років тому +175

      That is a real oversimplification and not her point. There are girls that are trafficked in the US who have been coerced, threatened and manipulated. They are psychologically not free.

    • @ziggystardust6418
      @ziggystardust6418 7 років тому +29

      Faith Strachan She is emphasising the same thing. You are not getting the point, are you?

    • @diamondlove9519
      @diamondlove9519 7 років тому +12

      butterflybabexoxo not only in the U.S ,it around the world. U.S is not the only country in the world.

    • @LizzyDeeAgape
      @LizzyDeeAgape 7 років тому +19

      yes it's about forced work and no choice because it's literally the only work they CAN do as far as they know or are able at that point.

  • @kpena21
    @kpena21 6 років тому +334

    This topic hits you more when you think about what you were doing at there age, ex: when I was 12 years old I finished 6th grade and was excited to start middle school. I was glued to my video games and having sleep overs with friends. Imagine all those happy moments of your life just vanishing into nothing, like it didn't even happen...This and so much more was robbed from them. Thank you for this video and shedding light on the subject.

  • @tarvoc746
    @tarvoc746 5 років тому +1194

    She said that Oi is physically free, but not psychologically free - but what she describes isn't psychological unfreedom, it's economic and legal unfreedom. There's a big difference there. In Oi's case, he's stateless, which means he pretty much doesn't have civil rights, and he doesn't have any other way to support his family economically. Give him citizenship and a guaranteed income to support his family and he'll likely stop working in this field. That means he's not psychologically tied to this job. He's economically bound to it.

    • @047Kenny
      @047Kenny 5 років тому +33

      Tarvoc it’s slavery fam

    • @fay6697
      @fay6697 5 років тому +3

      Someone just too good to take responsibility for whole family. I feel sad about this. I have seen some small villages in the northern of Thailand once. People are nice. It has small school. But I don't know that they have Thai citizenship or not. They have family very young like before 20 year olds. They have kids.

    • @TheCyndicate
      @TheCyndicate 5 років тому +15

      She makes amateurish emotional pleas, not logical, fact based ones.

    • @16m49x3
      @16m49x3 5 років тому +10

      Honestly the issue here is that the parents of Oi moved to another country, knowing neither they nor Oi would get citizenship.
      And stayed there even if they couldn't afford to support their child.

    • @dbsk06
      @dbsk06 5 років тому +3

      Tarvoc I 100% agree with this

  • @contrafax
    @contrafax 7 років тому +2448

    I am impressed and pleased. It is rare in this kind of story for the male gender to be even noticed.

    • @dakotas7643
      @dakotas7643 6 років тому +96

      Agreed, a lot of people tend to use women as victims for everything even though men can be victims too

    • @TheCharlos69
      @TheCharlos69 6 років тому +26

      Right, she literally said that.

    • @randomdoublechinwithintern5446
      @randomdoublechinwithintern5446 5 років тому +23

      Urban Clementine omg yass finally a comment that’s sees both sides like woman aren’t just the victims they can be predators too

    • @jakesmitham8180
      @jakesmitham8180 5 років тому +23

      @Arwen Luna That's still no reason to ignore what many of us went through. And a high percentage of those who used me were female. My own mother blamed me for being male, and made me pay for what was done to her. I understand. I hate men, too. But, I also treat women good, and look after them, feeling somehow responsible for their troubles. And more than all else, I hate myself. More than anything, I hate myself. That's what this all has done to me!

    • @2Sugarbears
      @2Sugarbears 5 років тому +28

      Because it is usually to the 90 percentile women who are abused.

  • @Sarah-gf8su
    @Sarah-gf8su 7 років тому +2140

    Amazing. Very intelligent woman who understands her privileges and thereafter goes on to use it for amazing work.

    • @djkb125
      @djkb125 7 років тому +75

      Sumaya s absolutely this. the whole "check your privilege" thing bugs me because I think it delegitimizes the problems of the more privileged person. however, we have to acknowledge that the lives of most Americans are far more privileged (we simply have more choices) than those who feel compelled into this type of sex work.
      no one choses what life they will get born into but as members of this same human race, I love seeing this girl present this issue to us catering to our perspective so that we can better understand. each culture has a way of looking at the world that is just as subjective as the next and to solve complex problems like this, it's important to see the world for what it really is

    • @AuroraLalune
      @AuroraLalune 7 років тому +9

      Danielle Baldridge If that were true this wouldn't be a problem in our country as well but it is.
      Not everyone has those choices. people take from one another.

    • @dahulius
      @dahulius 6 років тому +22

      The overuse of the word "privilege'" by SJWs trained me to cringe a bit everytime I hear/read the word, but it really is appropriate here.

    • @1234kalmar
      @1234kalmar 5 років тому +2

      @@dahulius your ignorance and unwillingness to admit you have it better than others is what trained that in to you palie.

    • @dahulius
      @dahulius 5 років тому +22

      @1234kalmar
      Oh, I see, so you did not understand what I said, jumped to conclusions and labelled me something in your head so you could easily dismiss me, well done there.

  • @filmshc1134
    @filmshc1134 7 років тому +2267

    Judging by the comments, there are a lot of men very resistant to this message. As long as that continues, the problem will also continue. Stop being defensive.

    • @megag52
      @megag52 7 років тому +83

      yes, so many men are listening to this and saying "nar im gonna keep fucking little boys". you are an idiot. whats of more concern is you believe there are pedophiles watching this that are gonna keep fucking kids and all you say is "stop being defensive, pls change" Really?! your that mild when trying to stop little kids being sexually abused? you just gently ask people to stop doing it? thats it? most people are more forceful when ordering a big mac. you think just asking "stop fucking there kids if you feel like it" is ok? what the fucks wrong with you? if you have kids they should be taken away from you

    • @dutchkid-co3dh
      @dutchkid-co3dh 7 років тому +45

      FilmSHC 11 it's not just men, it's everyone

    • @ewqdsacxz765
      @ewqdsacxz765 7 років тому +156

      +dutchkid2000, the demand for sex trafficking comes overwhelmingly from men.

    • @megag52
      @megag52 7 років тому +37

      demand for sex trafficking comes from criminals. Demand for little boys to rape comes from pedophiles

    • @lyricbot8513
      @lyricbot8513 7 років тому +29

      Sam Dawkins the murder rate also comes from criminals. However, if you bring gender into it...

  • @MsFreedom2fly
    @MsFreedom2fly 7 років тому +852

    Many people who work in the sex industry feel they have no other choice. They say they are there by choice but I've spoken with my clients and individuals I have met they are/were groomed and watched so they could be coerced into the sex industry.
    Many don't leave because they feel they have no other choice to but to stay.

    • @tarico4436
      @tarico4436 5 років тому +2

      In 5th grade they started showing us anti-drug films in school. That's ten years old. If you're older than ten, and you trade some of that white powder up your nose for a service, you should know better. Under age ten? Yeah, you're a victim. Older than ten? Take a hike. This term "groomed" is quite misleading. And if you're so worried about child molesters, at least 40% of all child molesters are female; but when it comes time to charge or convict a woman of this crime, most don't get charged, and the few who are convicted receive much more lenient sentences (than men). You're not really trying to lower crime, you're just man haters.

    • @charliechan6892
      @charliechan6892 5 років тому +41

      @@tarico4436 or you should be grateful you were shown that at ten, and quit thinking every ten year old in the world got that same treatment/lesson.

    • @YeshuaKingMessiah
      @YeshuaKingMessiah 4 роки тому

      Mandi W
      Oregon!! I lived there. Right in the almost worst part of Albany. ICK

  • @satyajitsinhkosamiya6822
    @satyajitsinhkosamiya6822 7 років тому +563

    this harshest ,most brutal form of reality that she had addressed in so many poor people of the free world and domestic world.

    • @meirsolomon5626
      @meirsolomon5626 7 років тому +20

      It's modern slavery. It happens in Western countries too.

  • @vlove562
    @vlove562 7 років тому +568

    Brilliant talk. Brilliant woman.

  • @Madison-vx1ws
    @Madison-vx1ws 7 років тому +1921

    I really like how she brought the aspect of privilege into her discussion

    • @welchmapper2726
      @welchmapper2726 7 років тому +32

      privilege isn't real

    • @alexaguido851
      @alexaguido851 6 років тому +123

      Welch Mapper privilege is real, the problem is, when you have it, you can see it. Privilege is not bad, being blind about our privilege and not help people with it, its the problem

    • @kjtamf
      @kjtamf 6 років тому

      👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

    • @reizayin
      @reizayin 6 років тому +26

      It ruined the talk for me. Rip.

    • @robertwilber1909
      @robertwilber1909 6 років тому +7

      how many has she adopted or sponsored?

  • @elsagrace3893
    @elsagrace3893 7 років тому +1013

    Thanks lady! Same with child labor. The choice in many countries is child labor or starvation. Nobody in America understands that.

    • @lindabergman3127
      @lindabergman3127 6 років тому +11

      elsa Grace because many in America r selfish n very judgemental or believe it could never happen to them!!

    • @madell8552
      @madell8552 6 років тому +15

      I understand that your views may differ than others but there is no need to attack another unrelated group of people.

    • @MeAVE243
      @MeAVE243 6 років тому +16

      elsa Grace unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an easy solution. Even if the demand could be erraticated, then the child would just be starving and jobless instead of hungry and working. We need to fix more than the demand. How do we do that?

    • @evandouglas8329
      @evandouglas8329 6 років тому +21

      pet play Can we not use autistic,or any mental issue as an insult? Its sooo extremely rude! Thanks.

    • @evandouglas8329
      @evandouglas8329 6 років тому +8

      Alvin Hill nope but i work and am friends with many autistic children.

  • @gahyeonlvr7501
    @gahyeonlvr7501 7 років тому +460

    This breaks my heart, it really does. Someone finally tells a male victims story.

    • @user-bj7hq2tw8e
      @user-bj7hq2tw8e 7 років тому +10

      Emo At The Phandom these stories are out there for those who look and they're all over the place. it's just that there is poor distribution and access to the masses that make it seem like they're non-existent. the speakers don't deny the existence of such stories; they want to spread the news and educate. more often it's people with biases that discourage the spreading of such content because of fears and/or disgust of similar ideas. i get the feeling your words carry some weight so if there's anything, please hang on and know that things are only going to get better, especially with the right education and mindsets :)

    • @allisoncastle
      @allisoncastle 6 років тому +8

      Right. They are so ridiculously underrepresented. That includes in America too.

    • @diamond_0613
      @diamond_0613 4 роки тому

      I've pretty much read 'exploitations' like whats portrayed in here but I just cant keep being emotional whenever I stumbled on another one.

    • @673497
      @673497 4 роки тому

      @@user-bj7hq2tw8elove this comment!

  • @ppl2luv
    @ppl2luv 7 років тому +516

    i really give her much respect for bringing up men, thank you!

    • @freshgreenjello6431
      @freshgreenjello6431 7 років тому +27

      lindsey cassano I know right! Unfortunately men don't tend to be brought up much when considering these issues.

    • @SpinningSage
      @SpinningSage 5 років тому +6

      Fresh Green Jello we dont often get male victims speaking out!

    • @mikipav1064
      @mikipav1064 5 років тому +6

      SpinningSage Yes and that is because almost nobody talks about male victims and therefore they feel like nobody will take them seriously if they open up.

    • @emmamlis927
      @emmamlis927 4 роки тому +4

      Agreed I think it was 100% the right choice

    • @mcplumpkin6191
      @mcplumpkin6191 4 роки тому +4

      Exactly. It's unnoticed that men are in these situations aswell!

  • @allisoncastle
    @allisoncastle 6 років тому +125

    I’m only a minute in and something I just have to say right away is I am soooo glad you brought up boys. They are soo underrepresented as victims. While they are more of a minority, they matter just as much, and I feel that often people tend to forget about them.

    • @fruitygarlic3601
      @fruitygarlic3601 6 років тому +11

      Agreed. The only time people want to bring male victims into the picture is to contradict those that talk about female victims. Demographics or not, they still need to be mentioned in a respectful way -- and not just in an offhand manner to silence others and be forgotten afterwards.

    • @SiobhanS1868
      @SiobhanS1868 4 роки тому +1

      fruity garlic that’s a good point :)

    • @eeveemaster8902
      @eeveemaster8902 4 роки тому

      I personally I don't think there as much of a minority as people care to believe

  • @bougiepeaches5497
    @bougiepeaches5497 5 років тому +260

    It's always the victims getting called a criminal!

    • @BlackCover95
      @BlackCover95 4 роки тому +8

      The masterminds know how to play the game.

    • @mcplumpkin6191
      @mcplumpkin6191 4 роки тому

      It's society nowadays. No specific group is to blame but group that victim shames is.

    • @WinZawMaung-zb8mb
      @WinZawMaung-zb8mb Місяць тому

      for real

  • @EmeraldMara85
    @EmeraldMara85 7 років тому +105

    Yep, tried to tell poverty contributes to sex trafficking, some people really have no idea how crippling and how easy it is to be manipulated because you're so poor. And they just keep justifying to purchase these forced services...

  • @mariannejohnson405
    @mariannejohnson405 5 років тому +115

    this wouldn’t be happening if there was no demand. some people are just sick.

    • @sharpequeen
      @sharpequeen 4 роки тому +18

      @【a forgotten friend】 um... kids can't consent, yo.

    • @mcplumpkin6191
      @mcplumpkin6191 4 роки тому +4

      @【a forgotten friend】 it's a bit easier than you think

  • @laurenXocean
    @laurenXocean 7 років тому +317

    really interesting to hear, as someone who has lived in Thailand now for about 3 years its become very normalised for me to see sex workers in certain cities and red light districts. Children not to openly advertised or shown. Prostitutes are fined when found working but at the end of the day they make more money doing this than working in say - 7/11 for minimum wage of 9,000 baht. I am friends with a girl who was forced into the sex industry at 14 with her sister being 12, with fake passports saying they were 10 years older than they were. To take care of their family who live in a village in myammar surving on 1 tomato and rice a day - shared by a whole village. She is fluent in Thai and English in less than 3 years living in Thailand. She left the bar, to find foreign boyfriends who can look after her instead, and if they break up - she will go back to the cities for work. Its a cycle thats hard to break, when the money is so "easy".

    • @face-in-the-crowd
      @face-in-the-crowd 7 років тому +12

      lauren X ocean humm so sad....I don't think this will change though. ...this is the oldest industry

    • @laurenXocean
      @laurenXocean 7 років тому +11

      Ali Pali it's true. I think until the minimum wage is brought up, the number of girls who are on the streets will decrease tbh

    • @melgibsonfan9082
      @melgibsonfan9082 7 років тому +7

      "surving on 1 tomato and rice a day - shared by a whole village" Why do you need to make things up?

    • @laurenXocean
      @laurenXocean 7 років тому +25

      Fawkin Lyle Chipperson I don’t need to. Why do you need to be so dismissive. Burma is a horribly poor country. A village isn’t a city. Mostly family members. If I said Africa you’d believe me right? But Burma “doesn’t matter enough” to be in the public eye for the lay people to know how poor they are. Fake passports, fake ages, fake everything for a better life somewhere else in SEA. You can’t imagine that? Well you are a lucky person

    • @melgibsonfan9082
      @melgibsonfan9082 7 років тому +13

      I believe they are very poor but any reasonable person will know a village isn't sharing 1 whole tomato.

  • @perrinfan
    @perrinfan 6 років тому +401

    And then there are the women who pimp out their own child to a new spouse. So sick. Makes me extremely angry.

    • @silg7262
      @silg7262 5 років тому +107

      @Sarah Krueger uh... You're saying that like it's the norm. Most women do not do that

    • @shuepsx652
      @shuepsx652 5 років тому +52

      @Sarah Krueger They must be psychopaths to care that little about their children. The mayority of women would choose their children safety and well-being over basically anything else in the world

    • @alphach1mp
      @alphach1mp 5 років тому +4

      Sarah Krueger Do you speak from experience?

    • @SN00PICUS
      @SN00PICUS 5 років тому +9

      @@shuepsx652 Your naive, women do this every single day. Do you honestly believe the father's sell the kids? The women sell the kids and pimp them out also because it gives the illusion of " unspoiled goods" its sick but true look it up.

    • @icedwhitechocolatemochafra9851
      @icedwhitechocolatemochafra9851 5 років тому +28

      @@SN00PICUS women do it but so do men. Kappa.

  • @rashmiraghavan2632
    @rashmiraghavan2632 7 років тому +37

    This is precisely what I learnt working for an NGO in India.
    A much needed narrative.

    • @criskp6861
      @criskp6861 6 років тому

      Rashmi Raghavan what NGO did you work for ?

  • @trishawhitehouse4226
    @trishawhitehouse4226 7 років тому +281

    Great talk! This issue is so multi -layered and complex , so tackling it in ten minutes is just impossible. I applaud anyone who speaks up for children's right not to be sold and raped! What we need to do is realize that there are sexual perversions that create lots of problems for other people. In this day and age we are so afraid to call any sexual desire , or preference , "immoral or deviant." The fact is that some people enjoy this behavior. We must make it very difficult for them to get at children, with laws and education and talking about it. Looking the other way keeps people trapped. She is right that ignoring the socio-economics that create lots of vulnerable people is a piece of the problem, but not all. We must as a World decide that there is such a thing as evil, even immoral sexual practices, and we can not allow them. It's not just an individuals choice, it always will involve and harm someone else. We have an obligation to protect children from those people who think it's natural and fun to have sex with them. We can't let evil win.

  • @whiterabit09
    @whiterabit09 7 років тому +215

    This starts with economic slavery.

  • @deborahgonzalez842
    @deborahgonzalez842 4 роки тому +5

    I truly wish this had more views. It’s immensely important for everyone to see this!

    • @3thalluing339
      @3thalluing339 4 роки тому

      31.2k likes to 1k dislikes. I’m curious why people disliked this video. 😬

  • @raphaelwang3826
    @raphaelwang3826 7 років тому +48

    This is bigger than trafficking, no matter how you define it. What we should learn from this talk is really how the privileged should understand the whole picture before they conclude that their "help" is necessary or effective. Any social issue's root cause can be very complex and cultural, and certainly not what media portraits on the surface. Great talk

    • @kjtamf
      @kjtamf 6 років тому

      Raphael Wang
      🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻

    • @GadisBaliLivesAbroad
      @GadisBaliLivesAbroad 4 роки тому +1

      yes, and drug trade and addiction has become a big part of it...

  • @dannyjackson3879
    @dannyjackson3879 4 роки тому +45

    Your privilege isnt free. It is paid for by those who defend freedom and a system of laws. Trafficking is a pandemic and funded by the rich and elite. World wide. Those criminals that are in the “elite” class must not be afforded a two tier justice system. I support all those people that are exposing the predators. We all should.

    • @zarac3521
      @zarac3521 4 роки тому +1

      E.g. Jeffrey Epstein. I agree with you Danny - trafficking is a pandemic.

    • @I-Am-Wonderful
      @I-Am-Wonderful 4 роки тому +1

      Danny Jackson Quick note. You cannot have freedom with a system of laws because laws are the elite’s way of stealing your freedom. Freedom only exists under Common Law. Under Common Law you have the right to do whatever you want as long as you do not infringe upon the rights, property or livelihood of another. If you do, you pay an eye for an eye.

    • @dannyjackson3879
      @dannyjackson3879 4 роки тому +1

      RR WA somewhat agree but we choose our government and they have power only thru the consent of the governed. ANYONE can lose their freedom regardless of system if they let it be taken and do nothing.

  • @sasquatchsoldrboi8052
    @sasquatchsoldrboi8052 5 років тому +15

    This brave woman went overseas, fought the good fight first hand in a place that truly needs help. I wish with all my heart that our hooligan "activists" would follow her brave and amazing example.

  • @ashknoecklein
    @ashknoecklein 7 років тому +1337

    9:55 ...and husbands.

    • @virces6563
      @virces6563 7 років тому +6

      eh... no

    • @potterhead665
      @potterhead665 7 років тому +234

      Eh... Yes

    • @univers66
      @univers66 7 років тому +279

      and fathers

    • @dfrost3417
      @dfrost3417 7 років тому +110

      And girls with green hair who have a parrot

    • @leasharene2601
      @leasharene2601 7 років тому +9

      BOGIE watching this right now, December 2017, this couldn’t be more relevant! Everything she said is tying into what’s going on now!

  • @Rachelohplzz
    @Rachelohplzz 7 років тому +85

    What a well articulated human

    • @fluffysheap
      @fluffysheap 3 роки тому

      Her joints are so lifelike

  • @sarvin4471
    @sarvin4471 6 років тому +19

    She is SUCH a great speaker!

  • @hannahsquire2527
    @hannahsquire2527 4 роки тому +6

    An excellent public speaker. Thank you to this woman for carry the narrative forward. Important work.

  • @KeptForJesus
    @KeptForJesus 5 років тому +31

    Please don’t forget that, this doesn’t exclude your favorite celebrities and politicians. All those people that are loved and worshipped, but you don’t know a real thing about.

  • @George_K1
    @George_K1 7 років тому +11

    I wish everyone who explores any issue seeks first hand information as you - Very Insightful, educating, and truthful,

  • @thedestroller5921
    @thedestroller5921 7 років тому +32

    Wow, that poor boy, this is so sad

  • @svenlundergard1
    @svenlundergard1 Рік тому +3

    What is So sickeningly disheartening, is how many people are "customers", and that there is an actual industry that feeds off of this miserable exploitation of desperate people. My stomach is literally sick right now. Heaven help us...Heaven help the innocent young people. 😢

  • @FirstLadyJoy
    @FirstLadyJoy 6 років тому +170

    I'm a Survivor!!

    • @sranney1
      @sranney1 6 років тому +9

      FirstLadyJoy Thank God

    • @kristiekabs2594
      @kristiekabs2594 5 років тому +17

      @Official JOY, I am a Survivor too, we are Overcomers 😍🤩🤗much love..God bless you

    • @butterflyblessbless5836
      @butterflyblessbless5836 5 років тому +4

      💜💜💜

    • @meganhockey2681
      @meganhockey2681 4 роки тому +8

      You are incredible and strong💖

  • @VyvienneEaux
    @VyvienneEaux 4 роки тому +9

    How is this a TEDx talk? She deserves the TED stage.

  • @geekfreak2000
    @geekfreak2000 7 років тому +99

    This is why I love Ted Talks. So informative and insightful.

  • @WilliamHunterII
    @WilliamHunterII 5 років тому +1

    Reactive vs Proactive. Your talk on this problem is the most to-the-point message I've heard, Ms. Sobel. Many times I've seen reactive measures taken by well-meaning people doing their best to do their best, but it isn't enough nor even the correct avenue to take to remedy the problem. You get to the heart of the issue in under fifteen minutes. It's the difference between treating the symptoms and treating the disease.

  • @LivingDead53
    @LivingDead53 7 років тому +20

    I have a special relative whom I love dearly that had to survive doing this. She doesn't have psychological issues, and she grew up in true poverty. She likes nice things, but she isn't entitled, letting it flow to her. It's on Thailand though. She's very smart and a wonderful person. She could have helped the economy, but only has the education of an eighth grader.

  • @blooeygamer71
    @blooeygamer71 4 роки тому +2

    After this came into my recommended, I was highly intrigued. This video, her speech and ingenuity really exerts some force into me, as if I am being fueled to do good for others without expecting a return. I wanna do good, and this is what gives me so much happiness.

  • @lexilynncox
    @lexilynncox 6 років тому +13

    “Images like this” didn’t pop into my head until you showed me

  • @ellamyntr3acha348
    @ellamyntr3acha348 4 роки тому +1

    I’m a teen living in the U.S and this information is surprising and eye opening to me that other kids my age right now are in a totally different setting than me and are struggling to earn money, working, doing things that they don’t want to do but have to do to get by, in short, doing the things that were mentioned in the video, and I feel so lucky that I’m living like how I am right now. I have allowance (money), I have clothes, education, food, all sorts of things right in front me that I don’t have to work for. I’m not forced to do anything. All I’m doing is sitting here with my phone in hand not doing anything important at all while things like this is happening. I feel so... I don’t know the right word, but this makes me really sad and I want to help somehow. Thank you for this video. I’m going to educate myself more.

    • @Booptastic420
      @Booptastic420 4 роки тому +1

      Don't ever take what you have for granted. 😊 You're on the right path, and keep up your research 👍join the fight!

  • @magnolialang5217
    @magnolialang5217 4 роки тому +263

    6:14 everyone looks exactly the same its like a feild of karens

  • @Denisevabyoga
    @Denisevabyoga 10 місяців тому +2

    Thank you for addressing the demand. Yes they are our clean cut looking friends, neighbors, sons, brothers” and don’t forget HUSBANDS

  • @monesma6950
    @monesma6950 7 років тому +258

    You don't have to go so far, the very same thing happens in the borders of Mexico and the US or Mexico and Guatemala. The exact same thing. The same type of discrimination that Mexicans and other Central Americans suffer in the U.S, by the way.

    • @La.Criminaleria
      @La.Criminaleria 7 років тому +30

      But in México is no like Oi's story. Here women from México and Central America gets abducted against their will and get traffic by narcos.

    • @piusminj4533
      @piusminj4533 7 років тому +3

      Mon only illegal should be discriminated

    • @nicolee2360
      @nicolee2360 6 років тому

      Cece Peterson are you being serious?

    • @colleennewholy9026
      @colleennewholy9026 5 років тому +6

      And native women too. Then people wonder why MMIW was created

    • @Aragon1500
      @Aragon1500 5 років тому +1

      She wanted to talk about how men could be trafficked too to upend the hollywood stereo type

  • @emmyweisenberg7841
    @emmyweisenberg7841 4 роки тому +1

    I am going to come out and say this went a very different direction that I was expecting. As someone who has experiences this first-hand, THANK YOU!

  • @molly7761
    @molly7761 4 роки тому +3

    this needs to be heard by soooo many ppl. watching this was like ripping off a bandaid.

  • @nafsikaeuripi7
    @nafsikaeuripi7 6 років тому +1

    What I like the most of her speech is her constantly pointing out the need to take care of the foundation of the issue and then the outcomes of it. I'm also glad that the boy is getting better in his life.

  • @TsetsiStoyanova
    @TsetsiStoyanova 6 років тому +120

    thanks for bringing this to our attention

  • @AnarchistAcidQueen
    @AnarchistAcidQueen 4 роки тому +2

    One of the best speakers and delivery of a speech I’ve ever seen

  • @gregorygrace5722
    @gregorygrace5722 5 років тому +3

    It is really great to hear these problems put into their proper perspective without the hyperbole. And it is great to hear someone actually talk about the fact that boys are often the victims and that women are often the perpetrators. It is great to listen to someone that thinks of everyone as a human being that should be treated with dignity and respect. All these categories of people are just ways to split people and prevent solutions.

  • @valjoy1507
    @valjoy1507 6 років тому +2

    So thankful that this knowledge is becoming more prevalent. Also that there is so much being done slowly but surely. My landlord has sheltered trafficking victims at great risk to themselves and connected them with programs to help rehabilitate them. My roommate went to Costa Rica this summer to volunteer at a center rehabilitating trafficking victims. My Bible study/coffee shop has worked at finding people like she described who have been convinced that they have to do it to survive or provide for family members or have been programmed by a pimp and again connect them with resources to hide them from their pimp and help their situation so they don’t feel like they have to go back. One of my favorite bands, Remedy Drive is working to spread this message that trafficking is not what Hollywood makes it seem like. Change is everywhere, and there is hope.

    • @talesfromthecamside.5837
      @talesfromthecamside.5837 Рік тому

      Would you possibly be willing to talk about this, ask those that you know who have had experience in this to come forward?

  • @MuseCatherine
    @MuseCatherine 7 років тому +32

    Absolutely eloquent and beautifully delivered speech. Very informative and helpful.

  • @glenn06
    @glenn06 4 роки тому +1

    A real eye-opener and very helpful in understanding this problem. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏼

  • @Marco_Onyxheart
    @Marco_Onyxheart 5 років тому +24

    I definitely thought it involved actual traffic. If not cross-border, at least cross-state or cross-province. Or at least kidnapping.

  • @Gabriel-ev6qg
    @Gabriel-ev6qg 4 роки тому +1

    That was so eye-opening and powerful. Thank you.

  • @dougmoore5252
    @dougmoore5252 5 років тому +5

    Wow, she really told us the truth of this dark subject.

  • @johnroddy8756
    @johnroddy8756 7 років тому +2

    Well said Very Intelligent young woman to address such a crowd no notes very impressive ,admire your goodness the world needs more people like you .

  • @ashtenchambliss284
    @ashtenchambliss284 4 роки тому +10

    Thank you for using your privilege as a white western woman to give this issue a real platform. You are what's going right in the world. Great work.

  • @livingwaterutube
    @livingwaterutube 4 роки тому +1

    Great lady!! Very clear presentation and glad urban light is there to offer a way out. Those centers should be all over the place. No wonder this isn't solved, it's so deeply rooted.

  • @sarahpfeuffer1396
    @sarahpfeuffer1396 6 років тому +3

    Thank you for bringing this to light!

  • @tamirule4216
    @tamirule4216 3 роки тому +1

    Thank you for putting this out there 😞

  • @birna6048
    @birna6048 6 років тому +9

    She did a great job presenting. A really inspiring story.

  • @AndreasJohanns
    @AndreasJohanns 5 років тому

    Meghan, thanks for your honesty...an honesty that also acknowledges what happens to boys in many places and cultures. So refreshing for some of us men--with stories of our own--to hear!

  • @benlong9431
    @benlong9431 7 років тому +3

    This video really opened my eyes omg I'm so glad I watched this it is very informative everyone needs to watch this

  • @Randa959
    @Randa959 6 років тому

    Hands down the best discussion of this issue that I have seen so far.

  • @maramarie17
    @maramarie17 6 років тому +5

    very informational and thought-provoking. i had the same hollywood perception, but it turns out it's closer to home than you think. thank you for this ted talk!

  • @fatimahanwaar306
    @fatimahanwaar306 4 роки тому +2

    People should learn how to properly speak out against this issue without saying "this is why I don't want a daughter"

  • @rkvidekar
    @rkvidekar 7 років тому +72

    a lot of insight. Thanks.

  • @Phoenixfyre728
    @Phoenixfyre728 4 роки тому

    This hurts my soul. It needs more attention.

  • @Jesus-wh4sm
    @Jesus-wh4sm 4 роки тому +5

    Thank you so much for making me learn something, I never knew that Americans can do these types of things and get poorly punished. I always watched TV shows and they never mentioned anything you spoke of, I think it's important to fix this issue fast.

  • @GambitXM
    @GambitXM 5 років тому +1

    I have never thought of it this way. Very enlightening! Thank you.

  • @maxgains5426
    @maxgains5426 5 років тому +3

    You are a genius Meghan Sobel... What a wonderful women.

  • @shikhasingh8258
    @shikhasingh8258 4 роки тому +1

    I m sad but hats off to u for showing what kind of society we live in

  • @claudia-ob2wv
    @claudia-ob2wv 7 років тому +513

    6:14 look at all those blond people

    • @sunshinemaple7924
      @sunshinemaple7924 7 років тому +74

      claudia haha omg I replayed it too! I was like omg everyone looks identical!!

    • @nooneneedstoknow5928
      @nooneneedstoknow5928 7 років тому +52

      claudia yeah. That distracted me

    • @bcool4555
      @bcool4555 7 років тому +60

      That's the privilege right there!!!!

    • @vrymri
      @vrymri 7 років тому +92

      fun fact: only one of them has naturally blonde hair

    • @kate78655
      @kate78655 7 років тому

      claudia ikr

  • @d007ization
    @d007ization 4 роки тому +1

    The story of the boy growing into happy man made me tear up, I hope there's more stories like his.

  • @DeepSingh-xb6hj
    @DeepSingh-xb6hj 4 роки тому +5

    That is why I love Ted talk...great thoughts

  • @Sonicman415
    @Sonicman415 4 роки тому +2

    The economic underpinnings are stark. So sad that there’s such a huge demand as well. Thank you for this.

  • @michaellusk2856
    @michaellusk2856 5 років тому +4

    Wow. Outstanding. Thank you so much. The subject was treated in a direct, unbiased manner. Too back most journalists can't do that.

  • @duckyaces
    @duckyaces 4 роки тому +2

    This is something that is so close to my heart. To live in a society where people freely choose to give away their bodies, it saddens to me so those who really have no choice. There is no judgement if this is your choice, but it feels like my obligation to help those who have no choice. We are so privlaged to be able to choose. It's sad we glorify this, when there are people who pray and wish everyday they had a way out.

  • @sanjayatimilsina5799
    @sanjayatimilsina5799 5 років тому +4

    Excellent thoughts.

  • @mariedoremus8440
    @mariedoremus8440 5 років тому

    Thank you for speaking out! Makes you change the way you look at things! What we have been told is help, my not be help at all! If you plan to help, it is important to know what help really looks like and that takes time and invested energy!

  • @Suguri
    @Suguri 6 років тому +77

    Growing up in SE Asia, it was my experience that the vast, vast, VAST majority of men procuring young boys were German. I'm curious how she arrived at the American conclusion?

    • @autosadist
      @autosadist 6 років тому +10

      confirmation bias?

    • @debatingaftershock6816
      @debatingaftershock6816 6 років тому +39

      Suguri Each area has a specific group of “customers”, and it can change every few years.

    • @MarkProffitt
      @MarkProffitt 5 років тому +15

      The vast majority of foreigners in SE Asia are not Americans. It's half way around the world. Europeans, Middle Easterners, & other Asian Nationals are the overwhelming foreigners in SE Asia.

    • @lamsrojo
      @lamsrojo 5 років тому

      Thanks for that insight info

    • @shirleytatha8189
      @shirleytatha8189 5 років тому +19

      She said they didn't official statistics but IN THE CASES SHE HAS DEALT WITH she found most of them were Americans.

  • @SANDPIT_TURTLE
    @SANDPIT_TURTLE 4 роки тому +1

    We need teachers like her in our schools

  • @boldandcourageous4176
    @boldandcourageous4176 7 років тому +67

    The Royal family of Thailand is worth 32 billion dollars they should spend money on educational campains and housing for the poor.The Thai people have been so loyal to them yet they spend millions on having massive lavish pictures of themselves hung all around thailand there can be as many as 60 on one street framed in gold foil sometimes. The prince had a lavish birthday party for his poodle and also has made the dog an honorary member of the royal army.Why not take the money and help your loyal people.HIV and AIDs is on the rise and people in the sex indusrty think that asprin can stop aids.The immigration laws are brutal and they need to change. Thailand has alot of up sides but the down sides is the child prostitution and sex tourism it is awful...but its big money and we live in a me first world.

    • @GrumpyHobo
      @GrumpyHobo 7 років тому

      most people only had the one king their whole life. I think they are just ignorant to what is really going on. I as a American could see that they border line worshipped the guy.

    • @snap-off5383
      @snap-off5383 5 років тому +1

      Low average IQ. Leaders are also imbeciles.

    • @juniperbrooke3883
      @juniperbrooke3883 4 роки тому

      Look up their hierarchy system and you'll understand why they would never do that. They believe poor people deserve their fate.

    • @basicstickfigure1087
      @basicstickfigure1087 4 роки тому

      In the 3rd world, there is a giant gap between the wealthy and the poor. The wealthy give absolutely zero fucks about the poor.

    • @xhostcom9284
      @xhostcom9284 4 роки тому

      Monarchies are a huge problem everywhere, especially the UK Crown, which has tentacles all around the world, including USA

  • @pamcota3451
    @pamcota3451 5 років тому

    Outstanding insight. Children are precious. " poverty, politics, social and economical issues " must be addressed . All are political leaders here in the USA and abroad must help in solving the problem. We all can support non-profit organizations to help solve all these problems too.

  • @jojoyogi
    @jojoyogi 6 років тому +6

    thanks for speaking the truth

  • @MMM18092
    @MMM18092 2 роки тому +2

    When someone makes an academic career out of incorrectly defining an term and then telling everyone they have gotten it wrong. What's described in the video isn't trafficking. Helping victims of prostitution, regardless if trafficked or not, becomes much more difficult if the terms get muddled up.

  • @Rwnds7967
    @Rwnds7967 7 років тому +8

    8:51 OOOOH SHOTS FIRED!!

  • @zohashaikh3730
    @zohashaikh3730 5 років тому +1

    She is so sophisticated and confident. Made me listen to her without a beat of distraction.
    And what a great speech and an important one. I hope her words reach here in india and make them act. It's the second biggest red light area in whole asia