Kelly Kyle

Why was Srey Neang sold at seven by her parents? What factors discussed in Chapter One lead to children being sold by their families? Some editions of the book may use different stories to emphasize various components of trafficking- please substitute stories as appropriate.

One quote from the book that really made a point for me was on page 54, “Family honor trumps love.” This is a factor that keeps children from complaining once they are sold. They realize that the money that it earns their parents is all that matters to them. Unfortunately in this culture one of the reason children are sold is that their parents are in poverty and cannot take care of their children. One child is essentially “sacrificed” for the well-being of the rest of their family. Nearly 35% of the Vietnamese families in Cambodia sell a daughter into the sex trade. Statistics show that these actions are, “widespread and culturally acceptable.”

A prime example of these things in the book was with Noi. Her parents sold her for money and a promise that more money would come each month the she worked at the club. Noi’s view was that she owes a debt to her parents. She is willing to sacrifice her own body in order to provide for her parents.

What makes modern-day slavery distinct from the African Slave trade of the 1700s and 1800s? Provide at least 3 differences.

From the readings and my general knowledge, one of the main differences between these two types of slaveries are that the children and women whose bodies are being used for sexual exploitation are only viewed as valuable for a short period of time and then are replaced. The slaves during the African Slave trade were very valuable for many years from which they entered captivity. Even if a slave wasn’t good for working in the fields then other labor within the plantation was made possible. In these modern times once young girls or children have been trafficked for sex trade for as few as about 3-6 months they may no longer be of value and thrown back out, alone in the society.

Another main difference between African and modern slave trade is that it was pretty easy to tell who was enslaved during the 1700 and 1800s; whereas today it is a lot harder to tell. The modern slaves are hidden very cleverly into modern society and they blend in with the everyday norm, not causing attention to themselves.

Another small but alarming difference between the two time periods of slave trade is that there are a bigger number of slaves today then there were during the African Slave Trade, but the bigger difference is that it is such a small percentage of people than compared to the 1700’s and 1800’s that it hasn’t caused as much alarm to the everyday citizen like it did for the high percentage of African Slaves.