I did not have what most people would call a typical upbringing. I was homeschooled for grades K-12. Being the oldest of five, I had a full classroom with my siblings and learned many non-traditional things in addition to having an amazing academic upbringing. Both of my parents had undergrad degrees and were, and still are, amazingly intelligent and talented people. I learned how to shovel snow, change diapers, wash dishes, wash floors, and jump a car battery. All of these experiences, which I found valuable, prepared me for living confidently as an adult. In addition to traditional classroom material, we were encouraged in various other academic pursuits. My mother would have us choose a topic to research using magazines, academic journals, encyclopedias, and fine literature. We would cobble together sources without plagiarizing at a young age and learned how to cite and properly document sources.
One of these times when I was about 12, I was flipping through a National Geographic article to find a topic to research and write a paper on. I came across an article about human trafficking. This particular article was about children being trafficked for labor. I was horrified. I remember shutting the magazine and quickly running and finding something else to focus on. I came back to it. I remember sneaking the magazine off to my room and reading it at night under the covers, and carefully placing the magazine back in the morning. It felt as though it was something I had to keep secret. That was the start of my bug. This article opened my eyes to the plight of children in other countries who did not have the many blessings I did. I remember doing limited research online regarding labor trafficking in other countries and writing a report on it. I remember my mom’s praise for the report and how interesting she found the topic.
It wasn’t until a few years later, when I was 17, I attended a Real Life Giving presentation at the Goffstown Public Library where I learned more about both labor and sex trafficking. I also learned that it happens here in New Hampshire, and not just overseas. I was again horrified and left the presentation feeling numb. The reality of the crime occurring not only overseas, as the National Geographic article depicted, but right here in New Hampshire, was challenging to take in. I read more about it, slowly. I read ‘Half the Sky’ by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and other books that talked about local and international trafficking. I read many online blogs which explored the intersection between trafficking and other crimes, as well as how victims and survivors heal. I also learned about how consumers can make unknowingly support the crime.
Ever since then, I have worked hard to keep my eyes open and strive to make conscious decisions in both my habits and in my everyday choices. When shopping for clothes, I choose second-hand firstly, and then, when at all possible, choose fair-trade and ethically made items, generally purchased online. Although the allure of a cheap t-shirt and on-sale hair clips at Target or Walmart is still very tempting and appealing, those pictures from that National Geographic article still flash in my head. The small children and thin adults at work stations with little to no space in a cramped and dirty work environment chill me -it is chilling to think others suffer for our pretty conveniences and plethora of choices.
I dream, hope, and will work for a world in which our lifestyle is available due to the chosen and fair labor for others, both in the US and in every country in the world. My challenge for us all, is to consider the cost of each choice, each purchase, and work in small ways to make our dollars count towards a safer and freer world. https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing
Natalie Glisson, Task Force Member and Volunteer