Sex Trade in Russia

In Lyubertsy, Russia Olga, a young 13-year-old tomboy worked last year as a prostitute. It started shortly after she quit school to try and feed her starving family and began to hang out with girls in this gang-ridden industrial suburb of Moscow, where she was recruited. First, a young woman befriended her and brought presents, to win her over. She lured Olga into an apartment for vodka and sex with a couple of men. (Arnold 2007, 25-110) The group told her she owed them money for the presents they had given her and she was trapped. Soon they were delivering her to clients, and she performed what sexual services they demanded of her. She was stripped of her dignity and forced to live a life of sickness and shame. Olga's tragic story is one on an increasingly common theme in Russia. In the upheaval of societies suddenly pushed into a money culture that demands inventive mindsets and skills, many families are confused, impoverished or destroyed. The biggest tumor of this society is that of prostitution. (Arnold 2007, 25-110)

Russia has its share of struggles since 1989 when their longtime socialist regime fell. This sent the then USSR back in time and it recently start to adapt to modern global world. The shift from a Socialist regime to an independent capitalist country was not an easy one for Russia. It still bears some of the scars from the harsh transfer of power that took place. Russia will soon become a place of turmoil and waste if its current polices, such as prostitution and child pornography, are not changed. (Arnold 2007, 25-110)

Russia truly does have prosperity and the economic potential to be a world power. It has blossomed in a world contender had has finally become active in trade and its newly found oil wells have boosted it GDP up to seventh globally. Its populace is quite talented in the engineering, space, and science departments. It has invested in the future with more and more science programs and is using their natural wealth as capital to boost these programs. Its unemployment is the same of that of the United State, at about 6%. Its economy has grown virtually uninterrupted for the last seven years. Russia has produced fiscal surpluses for the last 8 years. It has rich natural resources. It recently became one the world's major oil supplier and has led the foresting industry as well as some mining for years.

Even with all the advantages the Russian quantity and quality of life is sharply diminishing. Russia is one of the few developed countries with negative birthrate. Its population has decreased by a quarter of million since 1989. Deaths exceed birth by an alarming rate of 2:1. Life expectancy is also declining. In parts of Russia their life expectancy is on par with developing African villages. 10 million Russians are sterile because of batched abortions and 45% of newborn babies are born with a congenital birth defect. Clearly something is ...