Prostitutes, prisoners, and the poor all have much more in common than one would expect. They’re just a few of the many groups pushed to the fringes of our society, deemed in essence, “undesirable.” Yes, there are unions, laws, charities, and NGO’s, among other initiatives, all geared toward providing the basic necessities and civil liberties to each of these groups, but they are the exceptions to the norm. The general population couldn’t care less about these groups, until we’re knee deep in an economic crisis, and one of our glorious politicians brazenly declares that those on the fringes are to blame for our troubles.
Sex workers are usually the butt-end to the joke of society. The many women, increasing number of men, and disgustingly high number of children that are taken advantage of in this industry speak volumes about our current moral deficiency. The film industry, television, popular music, and pornography all passively condone the mental and physical damage done to prostitutes and sex slaves of all ages and backgrounds, showcasing them as toys and trophies, all to be discarded when the “fun” ends. Income bars no one from partaking in such carnal endeavors. Whether you’re with the neighborhood street walker in a downtown motel or getting the girl-friend experience for a weekend in Las Vegas; you are participating in and continuing a massive cycle of oppression against millions of people. It is not something we can turn a blind eye to. Our media and popular culture are supersaturated with such subtle, yet obscene references and the problem is only exacerbated by our general indifference. In our culture of victim blaming, we need to take more individual and collective responsibility in making sure that those who are underage are not being coerced into such work, and thus taken advantage of, as well as maintaining safe working environments for adults that to wish to provide and partake in such enterprises.
Concerning our nations’ prisoners, let it be known that they are what keep this nation going. Many think the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution completely and utterly abolished slavery once and for all, but the Amendment clearly states, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted [emphasis added], shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” It then continues, stating, “Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” Well, Congress has certainly done its job. The prison population is ever-increasing, with prison reform moving at a snail’s-pace, or not at all. The real criminals, our corrupt bankers, politicians, and CEO’s, walk free among us, while ordinary citizens who may have stolen a loaf of bread to feed theirfamily, driven with an expired license to get to work, or been unable to make their parole hearings because of lack of transportation, could easily be put away to rot for years, decades, if not the rest of their lives. They committed crimes that harmed no one. Once convicted and sentenced, they do slave labor making products for some of the largest companies in the world. They fell prey to our archaic, increasingly complex criminal justice system, which is a misnomer in and of its self.
When looking at the statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau and other organizations, you notice that the number of homeless people has been increasing in recent years, especially in urban areas facing unconstrained gentrification. Gentrification has become a political trigger word in recent years, usually used in the context of wealthy whites forcing out poor blacks. While that is the case in some circumstances, that definition can’t be applied to all situations. When mostly wealthy, college educated young adults move into urban areas, gentrifying entire swaths of the city, poor and middle class Americans of all ages and racial backgrounds are then squeezed out of their homes and neighborhoods. They can no longer afford their rent due to increasing property values and must retreat to the suburbs. This only adds fuel to the fire. When poor people, who depend on public transportation to get to their schools, homes, and places of work, are forced to relocate to the suburbs, where public transportation is most likely sparse or non-existent they, they lose the last bit of independence and their share in our current economic system. With no other alternatives, people begin to lose their jobs and homes, and are forced to live on the streets or either indulge in criminal activity just to scrape by.
In summation, we need to make drastic changes to how we treat ourselves and our fellow citizens. For entertainment we make movies, such as the Purge and its sequels, about eliminating the poor and unwanted populations without repercussions. When will we notice that, yes it’s just entertainment, but the motive behind it is still twisted at its core. If one of us is suffering, we’re all suffering. Personal choices do come into play in all of these circumstances, but we as a collective must do our part to help those down on their luck in a system that will readily dismiss them, for a nation divided, imprisoned, enslaved, and forgotten can neither stand nor exist. For the sake of our nation, and the tens of millions of people affected by sex work, a criminal record, and the struggles of poverty, I hope we’ll make that much needed change for the better.
