Action Reflection
Prepared by Nolan McPeek-Bechtold
For my social justice project on prostitution in Thailand, I chose to take action by placing posters throughout the school to raise awareness. I chose this action because I felt it would be most effective. The women in Thailand need representation; there is no one to stand up for their rights as people. A poster is effective in raising awareness because it will be in the same place for a long time so even if someone ignores it or walks right past it a few times, they will eventually take the time to read it. Since the posters are in the halls of Serra High School, about 1,000 students and faculty will be exposed to the issue for the next few weeks. This exposure should raise awareness for the silenced women on the streets of Thailand and possible more.
My hope in making the posters is that people will be interested by the images and the words, and take some kind of action themselves. Whether they simply mention the prostitutes in Thailand to their friends or donate money, any small act, especially when done on a large scale, is extremely helpful. My main goal is to expose the issue of forced sex slavery in Thailand because it is surrounded by so many misconceptions. Too many people think the women are paid well, treated fairly, and have control over their lives, but this could not be further from the truth. I feel I will be successful in my endeavor to spread the truth. I am realistic and understand that most people will not simply see the poster and rush home to donate to an organization working to save the women, but I do think that the long tern presence of the posters will cause people to think differently about prostitution. Prostitution is not always a choice, it is rarely safe and it can bring in very little money. I am confident that people will absorb this message over the next few weeks.
In doing this project and going through the different educational exercises it required of me, I learned a lot about the presence of injustice in the world and the general reaction by the common person. I understand that I may not be able to stop a widespread injustice like prostitution because there are hundreds of people who have dedicated their lives to the same goal and never felt success. However, I do know that small actions can go a long way. If I am financially fortunate, I will donate a large amount of my income to help in the prevention of injustice. I will also teach others the truth and try to rectify any false assumptions my peers might have. In general I hope to spread awareness and expose the horrific injustices that go unnoticed, like sex slavery. Throughout the rest of my life I will set aside time in my busy schedule for those who need my help and support. By thought, word and deed I hope to slowly rid the world of injustice, or at least work to take positive steps for a better future.
