Why do Americans buy our children for sex?

This is the question I was asked by an 18-yr-old student of mine. Jenny and I were teaching a class on hospitality and the cultural differences between Cambodia and America. We went in prepared to talk about light differences like picking your nose in public (it’s not a bad thing in Cambodia), or the differences in introducing yourself with a sompeah (slight bow with hands raised to your nose in a praying position) and a hand shake. We asked our students if they had noticed any differences in culture between Westerners and Cambodians. Sothat quickly said that Americans take too long to eat, and talk a lot during their meal. He said that locals eat fast, “6:25-6:29 and we’re finished! We learned how to eat fast because of the Khmer Rouge, never knowing when a bomb would go off, or how safe it was to stay in one place for an extended amount of time.”

We talked more about the Khmer Rouge and the effects it had on their families and culture. But the conversation took a turn I wasn’t expecting when I asked if there was anything they didn’t understand about American culture, or anything that they found offensive we could help them understand. Keo, with pain in his eyes and a slight hesitance asked a question I’ll never forget, “Why? Why do Americans buy our children?” My smile faded as what he was asking hit me like a ton of bricks. I did my research in Bangkok. I knew about the issue of child prostitution in
Cambodia. Where Thailand’s streets are full of young women, Cambodia’s streets are lined with children-street children, school children, trafficked children. But despite the information I gathered, nothing seemed sufficient enough to prepare me for the question put before me. Speaking out of more frustration, with the rest of the class fidgeting and looking to the floor, he blurted out, “For sex, sex, why do they buy our children for sex?” My heart dropped. How do you answer that question? What do you tell this young man who was obviously very hurt or affected by the reality of child prostitution in his country? Looking back, I would have said more, given better answers, offered him more hope, comforted him, something more…but all I could seem to muster out were the words, “I’m sorry.”

-Child Sex Tourism is the commercial sexual exploitation of children by persons who travel from their own country to another usually less developed country to engage in sexual acts with children.

-Child pornography is a problem that only recently is getting notice. Victims include child prostitutes, child beggars and street children.

-In many countries in Asia, some men believe that having sex with young girls (who are presumably virgins or have had few partners) will protect them from contracting HIV/AIDS. Some believe it will cure AIDS.

-Some parents knowingly sell their children to brothel owners or traffickers. Poverty is one reason, but addiction to drugs, the need to conceal incest in the family, discrimination against girl children, and materialistic greed are others. Other family members such as cousins or aunts, friends or neighbor may act on behalf of agents for a small fee and persuade the child to enter the sex trade or lure them away from their homes.

-Children are often separated from their parents in the chaos of conflict, escape and displacement; still others are left as orphans. Unaccompanied children are especially vulnerable and at risk of sexual abuse or exploitation.

-ECPAT estimates that more than 1 million children worldwide enter this sex trade annually.
More than 100 web sites are present to promote teenage commercial sex in Asia alone.

-As many as 70% of the girls rescued from brothels have been infected with HIV.