U.S. advocates say most johns prostituting children are rich and famous

When one thinks of a john prostituting children, he or she pictures a sixty something year old grandfather who wants to fulfill his bizarre sexual habits by surfing through the internet looking for children to prey on. But, nonprofit advocates say that johns proliferating the U.S. child commercial sexual exploitation are rather wealthy and highly educated. While these children entering prostitution are only in the age of 13 on average, the johns who prey on these children are politicians, college students, lawyers, law enforcement officials, etc.

WHO ARE WEALTHY JOHNS

According to a research by an organization, Victims of Violence, most johns prostituting young children are wealthy or from white collar families. They also prefer prostituting young girls to older women because of their belief that young girls are not only innocent and naive but also having sex with children place them at less likely risk of sexually transmitted disease. The research also states that these johns prefer young children because they may find it easier to manipulate young girls and dominate them."

In regards to why johns visit brothels in general, one research conducted in Chicago suggests that wealthy johns visit prostitutes because they want to fulfill sexual fantasies. In fact, the case of Eliot Spitzer, a wealthy john and a former governor in New York, women are not treated any better just because the johns are wealthy and highly educated. According to a book " Rough Justice: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer," Spitzer once "summoned three prostitutes" in a single day:

On one occasion, "George Fox" (Spitzer's alias) had booked an appointment in the late morning at the Mark Hotel, on the Upper East Side, just five minutes' walk from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As usual, he paid the girl in cash—about $1,200 an hour. Not long after it was over, he called (the booker) back, wanting to see a second escort. 'Who else is around?' he asked. (The booker) made the arrangements.

Then, late that afternoon, (Spitzer) called again.

'You're going to think I'm crazy,' he began. 'But can you send somebody else right now?'

He wanted a third girl? The booker chuckled: "You must be Superman! The man of steel!" (The booker) found him another girl. It wasn't even dark yet."

CHILD VICTIMS FULFILLING JOHNS' FANTASIES

Sven-Axel Månsson, Professor of Social Work at Gothenburg University in Sweden, describes a wealthy john like Spitzer who attempts to fulfill his sexual fantasies in brothels as follows:

Men who live in a relationship and seek something different.

– These men feel that the relationship does not function and that their sex life is dissatisfying. Buying sex gives a moment of undemanding diversion. This group also includes men with sexual wishes and fantasies that they cannot, or dare not, express to their partner. Fantasies of the "whore" seem as important as the actual encounter with a prostitute. The whore is always available for male satisfaction. She is both attractive and repulsive, which arouses excitement and curiosity in these men. [emphasis added]

Therefore, children who are forced into sexually encounter a number of these johns on a daily basis are more vulnerable to psychological and physical damages than others. Needless to say, johns do not generally fantasize about lavishing a woman or a child with flowers and expensive gifts to treat her like a princess. Rather, they fantasize about bizarre sexual positions that their wives or anyone, will not participate because it is degrading.

JOHNS MUST COMPENSATE FOR THE DEMAGE THEY CAUSED IN VICTIMS

Eliot Spitzer once willingly paid $1200 just to have an hour appointment with a prostitute for multiple occasions. It is highly doubtful that Spitzer, just as many johns, was willing to pay $1200 for an hour, if that were not a drop in a bucket to him. But, the sad reality is that many children who are commercially sexually exploited by wealthy johns are left with nowhere to go for rehabilitation. While efforts of advocates to fight against the crime are ongoing and growing, the needs to rehabilitate and shelter commercial sexual exploitation victims are far from sufficient. Though it is vital, there is not enough funding sources to support such longterm care assistance for all victims. Then, why not implementing a law that will enable victims to receive compensation for their rehabilitation care expense from these johns who caused the harm?

Check out Global human trafficking roundup for daily update news on human trafficking around the world.