Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom: Sex Trafficking, Global Prostitution, and the Gospel’s Transforming Power

Dawn Herzog Jewell
Monarch Books (2008)
ISBN 9780825461651
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (2/09)

 

By writing “Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom,” Dawn Jewell teaches us about the horrors and prevalence of prostitution in the world.  She takes us into the worlds of several people who are engaged in it. She discusses their stories with compassion. It was really eye opening to see how people can be forced into it and then stuck.  For some, they were already being abused at home; for others, they are doing it to support their families.  It was so sad to read their stories.

When she tells the stories of men working as prostitutes, she teaches us that they do not have it any better than the women.  They are put in just as much danger.  This is something that I hadn’t realized. 

Mrs. Jewell also writes about prostitution and abuse involving children.  It is so horrific to see that there are many children sold into it by their families.  If your parents won’t protect you, then what chance do you stand?  Many children cannot survive this kind of abuse, or they end up with horrible diseases such as AIDS.  The statistics are horrible. 
           
People, including many Americans, will travel for sex.  This is called “Sex Tourism.” Many times this involves sex with children.  There are countries with laws to protect against this, but when you have law enforcement people that are poor and can be paid off, not much gets done.  I personally know some people that engage in sex tourism. They think that if it happens outside the US, it doesn’t mean anything to their families.  They have no clue that their participation is degrading and abusive, or that the people with whom they are engaging in the acts, are not doing it because they want to, but because they are being forced to.

Reading the stories of these victims really impacted how I look at them.  I feel much more compassion now, especially after learning about sex trafficking and how they get trapped in the industry.  Sometimes they have to stay because their family members are being threatened at home.  It is horrifying.  Our own media is desensitizing us to what kind of impact the sex trade has upon our culture.  We see children in risqué clothing, hear songs about women being ho’s and take strip aerobics and pole-dancing classes because it is considered sexy.  The media places very little value on true intimacy. Fortunately, there are Christian organizations with volunteers that seek to make a difference in the lives of these people.  The author includes a list of resources for readers who want to get involved.

I don’t think anybody that engages themselves as prostitutes grew up thinking, “Someday I want to become a prostitute.” Instead, for whatever reasons, they get sucked into the trade.  I truly hope that the organizations that seek to help these people get out of the business and find a better way of life will make a huge impact on the lives of these people.  By getting this book out there and educating the public, I think that this will make a good start for change.  Everyone should read “Escaping the Devil’s Bedroom” by Dawn Herzog Jewell so that their eyes will be opened.  I think that John’s should be ordered to read it, so that they gain an understanding of how much pain they are causing others.

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