About the Founder
Tina Frundt, Executive Director/Founder, has been actively involved in raising awareness of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) since 2000. A high profile national advocate on the issue of domestic sex trafficking and a survivor of CSEC, Ms. Frundt is deeply committed to helping other children and women who are living through experiences similar to her own. She has been featured on numerous national television shows and publications, including the Oprah Show, the Montel Williams Show, CNN and Redbook Magazine. She has also testified before U.S. Congress about her own experiences and the need for greater protection and services for trafficked persons. Realizing that there was no specialized housing in Washington, D.C. for sex trafficked children, Ms. Frundt started Courtney’s House in August 2008. Ms. Frundt trains law enforcement and other non-profits about rescuing victims and servicing their needs. Tina Frundt has helped over 500 victims escape their trafficking situations. She is also a member of the Washington, D.C. Anti-Trafficking Task Force.
"Enslaved in America"
Human Trafficking in the U.S.
by Tina Frundt
When most of us Americans hear the words "human trafficking", we invariably think of women and children overseas who are being forced into the sex trade overseas, or who are brought to the United States for the purpose of sex. We, consequently, don't think closer to home. I want you to think about women that you have seen late at night on your way home from work or at social events. Maybe you have seen women in the streets in short dresses. You turn your head to look away. We do not look at the faces of these young women and girls who are forced to be out in the street. Maybe we think this is what they want to do, or they wouldn't be out there. Maybe it is easier to believe that it is empowering rather than facing the harsh reality of child sexual abuse, which is perpetrated against them both physically and mentally by the pimps who prey on these women and children.
To understand human trafficking in the United States, you have to open your mind and let go of what you have seen or heard on television, and its portrayal of the joys of street prostitution. You have to open up your eyes and understand that some aspects of street prostitution are indeed human trafficking.
Ecpact USA states that the average age of entry into street prostitution is between 12 and 14 years; though there have been cases of girls as young as 10 years old being forced into the trade.
I was 14 years old when I was forced into prostitution. Like many teens at that age, finding my own identity and defying my parents were top on my list. Consequently, when a man came into my life and showered me with attention and listened to me when I complained about my parents, I did not think twice about the fact that he was 10 years my senior. After all, he said I was mature for my age and I understood him better than anyone his age. Little did I know, he was planting the seeds of manipulation. It did not matter what my parents said to me, they did not understand me and he was the only one that "got me". After 6 months, I thought I loved him, at least that is what he told me, so I did what I thought my heart was telling me; I ran away to be with him. We ended up in Cleveland, Ohio. He told me we were going to meet the rest of the family. I had no idea the "family" meant myself and three other girls.
After I was introduced to the "family", I was told what my role would be. I would go out to "work" that night and bring him back the money. How else would we build our dream home? He assured me he would always love me no matter what, but to prove just how much I loved him, he needed to make sure I would do anything for him. Later that evening, his friends came by the motel. At first, he told me to have sex with someone. I did not want to so his friends raped me. Afterwards, he said "that wouldn't have happened if you would have just listened to me at first." I blamed myself instead of being angry at him for being raped. I was angry at myself for not listening to him in the first place. Right after that, he picked my clothes out, he told me what to wear, what to say, how to walk, what to say to "Johns" and how much money I was to bring back to him. He then forced me to go out into the streets.
When I first went out into the streets and met my first "John", I felt like this was something I did not want to do. I walked around the streets back and forth, for hours. Finally, I got into a car because we were always being watched and I knew I had to get into a car sooner or later. Our quota was $500, and I had only made $50 that night to give back to the pimp. As a result, he beat me in front of the other girls to make an example out of me and then he made me go back out until I had made the money. This is the same man that took me out to eat, listened to me when I wanted to complain about my parents, and gave me words of advice. I was now seeing a side of him that I never saw before - a brutal side where he repeatedly hit me in front of the other girls to teach us all a lesson. Not only was I shocked, I was scared. What would happen to me if I did try to leave and who would believe me if I told them what was going on?
I worked from 6 until 10 the next night without eating or sleeping. I came back with the $500, but in his mind I still did not learn my lesson. He sent me back outside until 5 a.m. the next morning. After the second day, he finally bought me something to eat, but as a punishment to learn never to do it again, he locked me in the closet to sleep. Since that night, I was locked in the closet on numerous occasions and had my finger broken, which never set right. None of us were ever allowed to see a doctor so we endured our pain by pushing it deep down inside and trying to forget it ever happened. I can't count the number of times people have asked me "why don't you just leave?" "Couldn't you escape?" To that, I simply say, "do you ask a child that is kidnapped why they didn't try to leave?" No. We automatically say they are a victim; it wasn't their fault and now I know it was not my fault that a pimp manipulated a child.
Under federal law, a child under 18 years old is considered a victim when there is child trafficking involved. On the local level, however, you are charged with child prostitution.
The Reality of the "Pimp Game"
Pimps have a great marketing tool: the media. You can turn on the TV now and see pimps glamorized through TV shows, music videos and movies. Now the term “pimp” is so commercialized, we as Americans do nothing while it becomes part of our socially acceptable vocabulary. Children and teens use the word in everyday conversation: “my ride is pimped out,” “your clothes are pimping.” We do not understand the reality behind the term.
Pimps prey on women and children by finding out their weakness and attacking it. It’s easier to manipulate children, because by the time they become adults, they are dependent on a pimp. After the pimp gets into your mind, it’s easy for him to maintain control. From that point, you have to call him “daddy”, and he will punish you if he feels that you have stepped out of line. You are required to bring home between $500 and $2,000 every night, as are the other women in his “stable.” You are not a “woman”; you are always a “bitch” or a “ho”. You are reminded of that daily. If you do not want to follow the rules, then he may sell you at anytime to another pimp. The pimp game is not anything like the drug game because it’s not territorial. With drugs, you buy and sell it once; but with people, you can buy and sell them over and over again. This is why they move you around from city to city and state to state so you do not have anyone to run to. That way, they can keep making money off of you.
A non-profit organization in Washington, D.C. reported that a pimp, who had 3 women in his “stable”, had each bringing back $500 every day. He was making about $24,000 per month or about $642,000 a year – tax free!
In the dictionary, the definition of slavery is the “state of one bound in servitude as the property of a slaveholder or household.” If someone sells you to someone else, is that not slavery? If someone forces you to do things against your will and you are not allowed to leave, is that not slavery? Then I ask you why, when the word pimp is added into the mix, we as Americans do not consider this as slavery?
What happened to me 15-20 years ago is still going on today. It is not better; it is actually getting worse. I spoke about children being forced out into the streets, but there are women over 18 years old who are being forced as well - after all they were once children. Now that you have the knowledge what will you do with it?
Join the fight for our children’s future!
