Pimps Are Not Cool; They're a Problem

What is a Pimp? If you listen to artists like 50 Cent and Jay-Z, you are probably under the impression that the pimp lifestyle is something glamorous and affluent. You've seen the music videos with the cars, cash, homes and women. Pop culture would have you think pimping is synonymous with elitism and coolness. In reality, however, pimps are neither cool nor funny. Today, I will tell you the truth about Pimps: who they are, what they do, and why they do not deserve any positive mention.

Contrary to popular portrayals, Pimps, as defined by the Anti-Human Trafficking Organization the Polaris Project, are people who " -- force adults and minors to sell commercial sex on the streets by means of physical abuse, threats, lies, manipulation, and false promises. Victims are often expected to earn a nightly quota, ranging from $500 to $1000 or more, all confiscated by the pimp. Victims are typically U.S. citizens, including adults (women AND men), girls, boys, and transgender youth."

Pimps are considered human traffickers when they use force, fraud, or coercion to keep victims in their control. Additionally, since 12-14 years old is the average age of entry into the commercial sex trade, pimps often force minors to work for them as well, which automatically meets the criteria for human trafficking.

Some examples of how a pimp may use force on a victim include beating, slapping, burning, branding, rape, gang rape, confinement, and physical restraint. You may have heard the term "Pimp Slap" used in a humorous context, but there's nothing funny about it. Pimps actually do slap victims to violently force them into submission.

Pimps engage in fraud when they lure their victims with false promises, deceitful behavior, false affection, lying about working conditions, and selling the dream of a better life that will never be achieved. Sometimes pimps tell their victims that they will get large cuts of the money or that they'll only have to engage in the sex trade for a little while. This is rarely the case.

Coercion is when a pimp uses manipulation, verbal, and emotional abuse to keep his victim in submission. Some specific examples include threats of serious harm or restraint, humiliation and intimidation, enforcing trivial demands to diminish the victim's self-worth, isolation, creating a climate of fear, and creating dependency upon the pimp.

Victims will be given no personal money of their own which makes it difficult to escape their situation. Even if they feel they can stand to escape without funds, often pimps will threaten to hunt them down and force them to return by using whatever means necessary. Coercion alone can effectively keep a victim enslaved.

There are many reasons why a person would choose to become a pimp. First, unlike in drug or weapon dealing, their customers- the Johns- often do not receive harsh punishments for "purchasing their goods" (read: soliciting prostitutes.) According to Laws.com, "Usually those who attempt to buy prostitutes are given fines and minor jail time; it is rare that a judge sentences them to time in state prison." So pimps have a large consumer base who will ultimately receive little punishment for their actions. Partaking in commercial sex isn't as feared from a legal standpoint as buying drugs or weapons.

Additionally, when someone is caught for prostitution, it is usually the actual victim, not the pimp, charged with a crime. In order for the pimp to be brought to justice, the victim would have to speak out against him or, less often, her. The problem is, like with many abusive relationships, the victim has been "trained" not to turn the pimp in for fear of violence. Many victims are too afraid or they've been manipulated to believe they're "loved" by their abuser report the mistreatment.

A huge factor in encouraging criminals to engage in pimping, however, is the media glorification of pimps. Unless you've somehow managed to isolate yourself from pop culture, I'm sure you've heard terms like "pimping" and "pimp" used to describe coolness or elitism. "Pimp My Ride" translates to improve my vehicle. "Big Pimpin'" is the modern equivalent of living it up. These positive connections render the lifestyle attractive.

There is also the perception in America that commercial sex trafficking is a distant problem, that pimping is something the culture talks about but is, in reality, rare. This is not the case. Watch this YouTube video to hear from some of the young victims in New York.

If you're tempted to consider it a New York problem, think again. In my state of Tennessee, 29 men were charged with trafficking juveniles just last year in Nashville. In addition, a study by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Vanderbilt Center for Community Studies found that four Tennessee counties had each reported over 100 cases of sex trafficking of minors. A Google search on your own state will likely reveal some shocking numbers as well.

So what can you do? While you're encouraged to support organizations like the Polaris Project and other organizations linked below dedicated to fighting human trafficking or share videos like "Very Young Girls" with others (available on Netflix to watch instantly,) I'm asking for something very simple for everyone to do: stop thinking of "Pimp" as something positive. Pimping should be a word used to describe the lowest of the low criminals. It should be synonymous with child molester. It should be synonymous with rapist. It should be synonymous with slave holder.

A pimp is not a hero. What you see on TV or in music videos does not reflect the reality. Society needs to understand that Pimps are vile criminals who deserve no positive mention. It is up to you to change this misconception by no longer using "pimp" as a compliment of any sort. By doing this, you're taking a step toward making such a lifestyle less appealing; and thereby, reducing our society's acceptance of this abuse.

For more information and to help support the victims, please visit:

Polaris Project: For a World without Slavery

Not for Sale: To Re-Abolish Slavery

Children of the Night: Rescuing Boys and Girls from Prostitution

GEMS: Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (Focuses specifically on young girls and women)

More from this contributor:
Critique: North Korean Mass Games Children's Dance
First Person: Grandson Scam Targets Seniors
Breast Cancer Awareness: Mammogram Questions Answered by Margaret Keuffer, RTRM