This past Sunday, February 1, marked the 49th Super Bowl Championship, but the players on the field weren’t the only ones profiting off the game.
Not only is the Super Bowl one of the most watched televised programs of the year, but also a day that has been marked—incorrectly—for its heightened likelihood for sex trafficking and domestic violence.
It is important to note that these claims lack evidentiary support, as many officials have found no direct link between the Super Bowl and sex trafficking or violence against women.
This brings up the question of the staying power of this devastating myth. If professionals have issued statements disproving this fact, how is it still being seen as fact?
Perhaps it lies in the previously misinformed public and their ability to absorb this corrected information. What it can reveal is that sex trafficking and domestic violence are serious issues that need to be addressed regardless.
Though the Super Bowl may not be the largest date for these horrible acts, sex trafficking and domestic violence are still very big issues in our society.
Sex trafficking affects over 4 million people around the world, as shown in statistics gathered by the Polaris Project. The Polaris Project, an organization like Safe Horizon, is dedicated to providing help to victims of any type of human trafficking, including both labor and sex trafficking.
According to Safe Horizon, a leading organization in the protection of victims and prevention of domestic violence in the United States, approximately 25% of women experience accounts of domestic violence. Women are not the only victims though. They also say that approximately 3 million men experience domestic violence physically each year.
Domestic violence can occur anywhere at any time among individuals of any race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. It is an issue that is ever present in our society.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, Safe Horizon can offer help. Call their hotline number at 1-800-621-HOPE, or 1-800-621-4673.
There are things you can do to help.
Both Safe Horizon and The Polaris Project accept donations to fund their organizations. They also have more information regarding how you can help those affected by either domestic violence or human trafficking on their websites, both of which can be found at: safehorizon.org and thepolarisproject.org.
The statistics and information provided in this article were all found on either the Safe Horizon or Polaris Project websites.
Sex trafficking and domestic violence occur widespread not just on Super Bowl Sunday, but every Sunday. Let’s make it our mission to offer help everyday.