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Comments

• [1] Marilyn Fitterman from East Hampton, New York June 11, 2007 - 11:12AM

  As a former president of NOW-New York State and current Northeast Regional Director of NOW, I was on hold on the show but didn't get on. The problem is that prostitution is illegal and thus underground. Of course slavery is already illegal, enforce the laws! I'd like to direct you to the Feminist for Free Expression (ffeusa.org) website where I am currently vice-president. We believe that all censorship is dangerous to women. All women's groups should be working to legalize prostitution and enforce anti-kidnapping laws.

  
  
• [2] Jen from NYC June 11, 2007 - 11:23AM

  At PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics we are striving to impact this very issue. Trafficking is a real life problem that is treated like it does not exist. We need people from all aspects of life working to end the forced prostitution of women. It is often said it is a womens' choice to be a prositute yet it is often the women with the least amount of choices who are. Lets all work together to get the women who do not want to be sex trafficked freed from this oppression.

  We are trying to impact it from a business perspective by using all profits after taxes to fund urgent needs of women, including this important issue. We all need to do something.

  
  
• [3] Maggie from Manhattan June 11, 2007 - 11:46AM

  What marilyn says in her comments show a lack of understanding about this issue. Legalizing prostitution will not protect illegal aliens who make up the majority of victims of human trafficking. Enforcing the anti-slavery laws do not address the ways in which women are coersed into sexual servitude, which is why we have a new law to protect these women. Legalized prostitution does not protect women—look at places where prostitution is legal and this fact will become clear.

  
  
• [4] Feminism is Needed More than Ever from NY, NY June 15, 2007 - 11:37PM

  I am so angry by the ignorant mention of sexual trafficking as if it is a sort of "sex work". If that were the case, then rape camps and rape can also be seen as "sex work". Sexual trafficking is rape and sexual slavery, not WORK. If you're not sure of the difference between work and slavery, think of the last job you had and if you were beaten for trying to leave your job of or fellow employees were beaten in front of you to set an example.

  There are women who were forced into sexual slavery in Japan during WWII: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6418997,00.html These women are not sex workers and neither are sexually traficked women; it is offensive that women who have been forced into sexual slavery should be discussed in a manner that implies they volunteered for a type of job.

  
  
• [5] Will men ever get it? from NY, NY June 15, 2007 - 11:54PM

  Brian Lehrer, are you so numb as a news reporter that you can't see the bad taste in putting a segment about sex trafficking back-to-back with a segment on sex work which ends with a plug for The Museum of Sex? By presenting these in a continuum, it blurs the line between the two.

  At least the "sex worker" pointed out the difference between coerced women who don't have a way out and her own situation in which she was not forced into it. Big Difference.