The Jan. 10 Maine Sunday Telegram included an editorial stating that we need to address the reasons behind sex trafficking, and what makes people vulnerable to it (“Our View: Sex trafficking worst-case result of flawed system”).
The Jan. 11 Portland Press Herald gave front-page space and two pictures (“Racy restaurant may test local sensibilities”) to a new South Portland restaurant that glorifies the sexual objectification of both its female servers and its male bartenders. To work there, a person must be “hot.”
The first takeaway is that sex sells both food and newspapers, which is why the Press Herald gave the Tilted Kilt free advertising. The second is that our society is bombarded with the idea that to be hot and sexy is to be successful.
There is a lot of justifying in the article, and a protestation that the restaurant is “family-friendly.” It will teach your family the same thing that the media, advertising, etc., preach every day: Being desired is more valuable than the intrinsic value of a person, and even that life is over when “hotness” has passed.
Based on societal input, young teens romanticize desire, attention, freedom and even prostitution. We have created an atmosphere that is an open door for pimps and traffickers.
Caryn Hasbrouck
South Portland
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