A woman has given a heart-breaking interview to Upworthy detailing how she was trafficked as a child. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, explains how much of the abuse is not the way others may imagine. She points out that aside from the sexual abuse itself, there was very little direct violence or aggression enacted upon her and that much of it became 'normal'.
She has told her story of how she was trafficked by her own father, from aged 5 or 6 to the time she was a teenager, in the hope that it will make others aware of the signs that a child might be being trafficked.
She begins:
"I'm pretty open about my story. My father trafficked me from the ages of about 5 or 6 until I was a teenager. Knowing this, I can say, I was never once tied up in a dark place. It's important for people to educate themselves on what trafficking can really look like … And like me, these children are often not treated "badly." I mean, yes, they're treated awfully and violated beyond words. I mean they're are not hit, tied up, or beat up. Most of the time, they're treated with fake kindness (which really fucks up children's trust later on in life). But they're often praised, given treats, and made to feel like what is happening is a good (and normal or because they're special)."
She spoke of how her father would take her places and simply drop her off with other men, so often that it became a normal thing, and something that she would often be rewarded for.
She says:
"How many vacations we went on where I was left for a minute at the pool, until a man came and I left with him for a while. Airports where I was passed over to another man in a crowd, looking like any girl going from her dad or uncle to her dad or uncle. Again, a public drop and nothing suspicious."
She also goes on to reveal that her father was a little-league baseball coach and that her mother knew what was happening, and even helped facilitate some of the abuse.
The woman has bravely told her story so that others may notice a child being trafficked. She says that proper training of teachers and other citizens could potentially keep more children safe. She urges all people to be more vigilant:
"Best thing we can do is talk to children. We don't need to be graphic; but teachers, schools, need to talk to children about things like this in a child-safe way. Assume these children aren't being taken to doctors. Teachers can make a huge difference. Talk to children. Go with your gut. Schools need to not be scared to act on what they feel. Conrad Wesier had a social worker in the elementary school who pulled me out of class on more than one occasion after teachers noticed "things" and it went nowhere. Social services were never notified. And they should have been. Period. And what you can do is watch. Pay attention. Be mindful. If you're waiting in line at a park, notice who goes in and out with what child. If you see something; speak up. If you're wrong, fine you ruined someone's day, apologize. If you're right, you saved someone's life."
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