Intro-Chap 2 Summary

The introduction in, Half the Sky begins with a story about a young girl named Rath. Her family runs out of money so she decides to get a job as a dishwasher in a Thai restaurant, along with four of her friends. A job agent takes the girls into deep Thailand and hands them off to gangsters. The girls are mistaken and are forced into prostitution, working 15 hours a day. They are abused, neglected, and barley received any food. The story continues on about the experience Rath encounters, and concludes with the author discussing how this very incident happens all around the world to women of all ages. The author warns the readers about the intensity of the stories, but encourages reading with an open heart and mind. The focuses of the stories are on sex trafficking, forced prostitution, and gender-based violence.

Chapter one discusses sex trafficking in India and begins with a story about a girl named Meena Hasia, whom is prostituted in a brothel run by the Nutt in India. Meena tells her terrifying experience in the brothel and how it all began when she was only eight years old. She explains how when she refused to give sex to a client the owners would beat her horribly and even threatened to kill her is she ever refused again. Meena wasn’t allowed to leave the brothel, nor was she paid. When the clients wanted sex they could choose to not use a condom, which put Meena in risk of AIDS or even pregnancy. Meena ended up pregnant, and felt as if she wouldn’t be a good mother because her life was wasted away. The owners of the brothel took Meena’s baby away and threatened that if she tried to escape they would hurt her baby. Meena knew that she needed to escape so she did. Meena then married and had two more children. The story continues on about Meena’s fight to get her children back and how she ended the brothel she was at. The authors inform the readers about sex trafficking and how there are 2 to 3 million prostitutes alone in India. In China there are more prostitutes, which estimate around 10 million or more. The author’s also explain that it’s difficult to estimate the number of voluntary and involuntary prostitutions.

Chapter two continues discussing about sex trafficking and slavery, but focuses more towards the law and political aspect. An officer is asked if the police monitor illegal prostitution. The officer doesn’t take the discussion seriously and says that, “prostitution is inevitable.” The chapter explains how many organizations are taking action. DMSC encouraged the use of condoms, and how they can protect ones health. After DMSC campaigned, condom usage rose 25% and HIV cases decreased, amounting to only 9.6%. The author’s continue explaining how prostitution in many countries were being cracked down. In Sweden, the number of prostitutes dropped by 41% in the first five years. Congress even became involved; in 2000 the state department was required to put out an annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which lead to other countries passing laws, which crackdown prostitution immediately. Even though action has been taking place, prostitution won’t disappear completely. Neth, a young woman who experienced the brothel of prostitution, expressed that anywhere, anytime a good difference can be made.