Acclimation

“…I have gotten used to it.”

Such a statement proves why context means everything. If one were to say that in the context of preparing to run a marathon, I wouldn’t really give it much emotional reaction. But, if one were to say it in context of being a child prostitute…

To say that ‘forced’ prostitution is despicable is an understatement. But, in the case of this article, the issue is compounded all the more by the fact that these young girls are knowingly and willingly selling their bodies in order to provide for their families.

The worst part isn’t really the fact that child prostitution is on the rise in Kenya, for it existed long before the election mess. The worst part isn’t even the circumstances that lead to a 14 year-old girl being put into the situation where she must decide if she wants to provide for her family by selling her body, or watch as her family dies slowly of starvation. No, the worst part is seeing (or reading) the reactions that people have to the problem.

According to the article, the mayor of the city in the article started to crack down when he heard that there were girls as young as 12 in this business. WHAT?!? Is there some kind of magical age line after which you become obligated to crack down on child prostitution? This has always been a problem in Kenya…why the crackdown now? Why wasn’t there already an effort underway before this whole election thing happened?

Even more telling is what the mayor actually said: “This is a business we cannot allow. They have to find alternative means of survival. This prostitution will definitely lead to an increase in the spread of AIDS, and many parents will lose their children.”

Now, maybe it’s due to an insufficient grasp of the language in general…or only an excerpt of a more complete statement. But in those three sentences, I see so many things that anger me.

1) “This is a business we cannot allow.” – That’s it? That’s the harshest language you could muster up in your justification to ‘crackdown’ on child prostitution? I could thing of so many more ways to not only condemn the practice, but to also say that I will do my best to end it.

2) “They have to find alternative means of survival.” – So much for compassion. There is absolutely nothing in that sentence that gives me the notion that this man even cares about the children. It’s more like he views the children as a nuisance…or that he blames them for starting the problem in the first place. He obviously can’t be referring to the pimps (or whatever) because those people don’t go into child prostitution out of desperation for survival. They go into it for greed. And, the tone of the whole thing sort of approaches the situation from an almost apathetic sense…he just wants the child prostitution to end, but he could care less about the reasons why it’s becoming a problem in the first place: there are no jobs for the adults and no schools for the kids.

3) “This prostitution will definitely lead to an increase in the spread of AIDS…” – Is that all? That’s the worst consequence you can think of?

4) “…and many parents will lose their children.” - Again...is that all he can think of to say?

All this makes me wonder…how did this man become the mayor? Although, if the aftermath of the recent elections in Kenya is any indicator, the political scene in Kenya leaves much to be desired.

But, the most devastating reaction comes not from the mayor but from a 14 year-old girl. For one so young, she has such a jaded outlook on life that it hurts to read what she says:

“At first, this job was torture to me. Sleeping with these men is terrible, and sometimes they are rough and hurt me. But with time, I have gotten used to it.” – Janet Kimani

“…I have gotten used to it.” There is absolutely no hope in those words. No hope for a better life…apart from prostitution. No hope…only a resigned acceptance of her occupation. There’s no embarrassment, no shame, nothing.

-Matt
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If you missed the link at the beginning, here's a link to the article to which I am referring.