To me, the number-one value that Cara Hotz Style and CAASE shares is that we both care about people and their inherent value as human beings. Humans, and therefore women, are not commodities; they are not objects. Every woman deserves the opportunity to be empowered and seek the full realization of her potential, or her true self. Women who are subjected to sexual exploitation are being robbed of that opportunity, and CAASE works to free them from being controlled by sexual assault and the commercial sex trade.
Cara Hotz, as quoted in an Ask Miss A article, “Charity Meets: Cara Hotz”
A few more pics of the wonderful staff at CAASE! From top to bottom:
Caleb Probst, Educator, who appears to have never been happier to hold the CAASE sign.
Christine Evans, Legal Director, from whom I was able to gain a glimpse into international work regarding trafficking, as she shared with me her time spent with IJM in Chennai, India. Christine also shared with me a lot of the struggles she and the other staff attorneys face in the courtroom (most of which relating to judges and juries being blinded by rape-stereotypes), and how she stays encouraged (apparently, watching a lot of "stupid TV" helps!).
and Karen Belstein, Office Manager, who is actually the reason I was able to get my foot into CAASE's door. I am very grateful to Karen for her kindness and her help!!
So, I realize that I haven't actually given much insight into the organization that will characterize the second phase of my Plastion experience. Allow me to remedy that:
CAASE stands for the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, and was founded in 2006 by Rachel Durchslag (I know, yet another Rachel!). CAASE's mission is to address "the culture, institutions, and individuals that perpetrate, profit from, or support sexual exploitation." They do so through legal services, policy reform, prevention and community engagement. It is these latter two thrusts that I find most interesting (prevention and community engagement).
While many organizations focus on how we can prevent our girls from being trafficked and/or prostituted (better education, improving economic situtions, reinforcing positive female images, etc.) CAASE takes a novel approach by focusing on the roles males play in the issue; namely the pimps and johns. CAASE has a spectacular curriculum for high school boys, teaching them from an early, crucial age the importance of treating women like people, not objects (check it out here!). They also have a wonderful initiative titled "End Demand: Illinois" which I spoke about briefly and will probably post about later.
CAASE is also a great resource for a community that wants to learn more about the issue and/or take some concrete actions against it. They actually have toolkits for all different sorts of groups: religious (Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox Christian), college students (whoo!), high school coaches, parents, teachers, writers, mental health practioners, even massage therapists!
Being here is a completely different vibe than being at GEMS. For one thing, GEMS is a drop-in center, which means that girls were always in and out, creating a lively, (rather loud) environment filled with laughter, conversation, crying babies and music. CAASE, however, is not a direct-service organization, and (consequently) not a drop-in center. This creates a much quieter environment, as you can imagine. I am interested in seeing how the staff here stay connected to the purpose when it is not right in front of their faces, the way it is at GEMS.
57 percent of men who bought sex believed that the majority of women in the sex industry had experienced childhood sexual abuse and 32 percent believed that most women entered the sex industry before the age of eighteen.
20 percent thought that they had probably purchased someone who had been trafficked, either internationally or domestically, against her will.
40 percent had bought sex from a woman who he knew had a pimp or "manager."
42 percent believed that prostitution caused psychological and physical harm.
So if men know that the sex industry and harmful to girls and women, why do they still participate in it? Many of the men in the study cite peer pressure; being introduced to the sex industry by family, friends, even coworkers; the belief that women in the sex industry are "different" and therefore more acceptable to abuse.
Recently, we covered Model Stranger and Red City at Underground Lounge for a benefit to raise awareness and support for victims of human trafficking in Chicago. The event was organized by Katie McDougall of the Chicago Alliance Against Exploitation caase.org
CAASE states its vision as "CAASE is committed to building a global community free from sexual exploitation. We know that all forms of sexual exploitation, including sexual assault and the commercial sex trade, are detrimental to a healthy society and undermine the dignity of all people." For more information please visit their website and for the complete Model Stranger videos visit secretnoteshows.com/modelstranger
