July 2019 – In April, Teen Vogue released an opinion article titled “Why Sex Work Is Real Work,” by Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, head of South Africa’s Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition. In the article directed specifically at teen girls, Mofokeng calls for global decriminalization of sex work, stating that prostitutes and other sex workers such as dancers, actresses, and escorts are unfairly stigmatized and suffer from discrimination. Unfortunately, the article fails to detail the horrific abductions, enslavement, and sex trafficking of both young men and women around the world. Sex trade survivors and anti-trafficking advocates have criticized Teen Vogue for irresponsible journalism, as the article seemingly condones prostitution for its teen readers.
