The people of the underground aren't as hidden as you might think.
Prostitution is everywhere in America and places all around the world. Most of these people are victims of addiction, abuse, and a society that doesn't care about them. Measures have been taken to raise awareness about this group of people and yet it's still an unresolved issue.
Some people argue that prostitution should be legal, while others stand firmly behind the idea that prostitution is inherently abusive. There is even an entire website dedicated to listing the pros and cons of controversial topics that has a whole section on prostitution, examining the issue from multiple angles.
No matter what your opinion is, one thing that both sides can agree on is certain: something has to change.
Just because sex work is taboo doesn't mean it can be ignored.
Every day women and children who are forced into this life are being exploited and abused, unable to protect themselves in any way. No matter where they turn they run the risk of being mistreated: by the pimps who manage them, the customers who come to them, or by a legal system that doesn't have proper measures in place for addressing their needs.
Maybe some of these women are voluntarily participating in prostitution, but the majority are being forced against their will and have no means of salvation.
Of course there is no catch-all right answer. Progress towards protection of this marginalized community will only come from many factors being addressed, such as drug addiction leading to the selling of sex in exchange for substances, abuse and the psychological precursors that might affect one's entrance into this aspect of society, etc.
However if we as a collective ignore or even shun prostitutes, thousands of women and children will continue to be hurt.
Prostitution is one of the most dangerous professions in the country, worse than Alaskan fisherman, or loggers, or oil rig workers. According to recent statistics, the death rate for prostitutes in the U.S. is 204 out of every 100,000.
