When I type "Pimp" into my Google search engine, the photo above is my result. The first definition is the one I'm most familiar with because of the work I do with women who have been sex trafficked. To them, and to me, "Pimp" is one of the worst four-letter words in the English language. And yet, it's a word our culture not only uses freely, but also celebrates.
Last night, I watched as an artist was awarded for an album with the title "To Pimp a Butterfly." I will add here that I have not heard this album. I did look up some of the song lyrics and can say they are not lyrics I would want myself, or anyone I care about to hear. This post is not a personal attack on this artist, but more on our society that has embraced things that are evil and called them good. Not just good, but awarded them as being the best at the moment.
The conflict is that not everyone even recognizes the meaning of the word "Pimp." Many simply think of it in terms of the second definition listed as a verb in the image above. It's why when it's time to return to school, stores advertise ways to "pimp" your backpack. We have television shows highlighting how to "pimp" different things in your life. And yet, for many women, this definition is far from their truth of the word.
Let's compare this to another word, "Fag".
This is a word commonly used not too long ago. Once the word became associated with being a derogatory term, most people stopped using the term. I can't imagine an award being given to an album containing this term. I can't fathom walking into a store and seeing this word displayed on advertising. Yet, for the word "Pimp" it's okay. A word associated with abuse and slavery, is celebrated. How does this happen?
I blame this on our ignorance of things we do not want to acknowledge or admit about our culture and world. We don't want to know about the millions of women around the world being manipulated and controlled by others. Wait, not just "others." These women are owned by PIMPS. If you have ever sat with a women as she's detailed her experience with a pimp, you can never hear the word without cringing. When you see her bruises and scars given by her pimp, you can't think of the word as being a good thing. When you hear media glorifying pimps and little boys talking about how they want to grow up to be a pimp, you can't help but want to cry. And yell. And write blog posts.
Here are just a few facts about sex trafficking:
- The average age of a woman entering prostitution is 12-14 years old. Most are runaways and research shows most are approached by a PIMP within 24-48 hours of running away.
- Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms, including: forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude and compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography.
- There are approximately 20 to 30 MILLION (read that again...MILLION) slaves in the world today. Translation: Pimps are slave owners.
- California harbors 3 of the FBI’s 13 highest child sex trafficking areas on the nation: Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Oh, the irony! The Grammy's were held last night in Los Angeles!
These are only four quick facts about trafficking. And this isn't happening just in some other country that is highly impoverished. This is happening in YOUR neighborhood. This is happening to YOUR children. This is happening to YOUR loved ones. One of the most commonly heard phrases I've heard from women coming out of being trafficked is, "I never thought this would happen to me." No little girl thinks, "When I grow up, I want to be a sex slave." But then that little girl meets a pimp. He promises love, money, fame, family, security, or whatever else is missing in the girls life. So she believes him. And then finds out it's a lie. Because that is what evil does. It lies.
A pimp is NOT a thing to be honored. A pimp is NOT something to be celebrated. A pimp is NOT a career goal. People, don't believe the lie.
If you'd like to learn more about sex trafficking or how to help FIGHT this evil, please visit www.JusticeMinistries.org. You can also donate to help us in this war at the same website.
**Statistics from www.DoSomething.org**
