Happy Endings and Human Trafficking

I recently recieved a comment inquiring if I do "happy endings". First of all I would just like to say how excited I am to have recieved a comment (yayyyyyyy!!!!). Secondly, no - real massage therapy is strictly therapeutic. For those of you who don't know, a happy ending is ....(I'm looking it up on Google right now, hold on)...when a "massuese" finishes a massage session with either oral sex or manual release....ew. Unfortunately, there are many women (and men) out there that pose as massage therapists when they are, in fact, sex workers. They advertise things like “erotic massage,” “full body service,” “table shower,” or “oriental massage.” It is almost always called a “massage parlor.”It really frustrates me that this occurs because it brings such a bad name to massage therapy and portrays the idea that anyone who does muscle work is a hooker of some sort. This simply is not true.
            There is a tragic side to this kind of prostitution. Massage parlors are a hotbed of human trafficking, specifically sex trafficking. Over 95% of reported sex offers/acts (that occur during a massage session) in the state of Florida come from women of Oriental descent. They are brought from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, etc. under the promise of working jobs in the hospitality industry, hotel business, etc. only to learn upon arrival to the U.S. that their job has changed and they owe a large debt for their travel expenses. They are told that they will work it off by performing sexual acts on men for a set price in these parlors. Most have locked gates and security systems so the girls are not able to get out. These victims are often threatened, coerced, given drugs, and abused in order to keep them obedient and quiet. The saddest thing about this increasing epidemic is that many of the victims are children. Some parlors even have an added charge to customers who request children. Although I am very disappointed that my profession is mixed up in stereotypes of prostitution, I just feel so sad by the fact that this is happening all around us. It can happen in any state. It can happen in any neighborhood. It can happen next door. My point is, it happens. To learn more or to find out how you can help visit www.humantrafficking.org.

Trafficking articles:

http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-05-18/bay-area/17244817_1_massage-parlors-asian-massage-human-trafficking
http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=2008lydersen-trafficking
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=158807
http://www.texasmonthly.com/2010-04-01/feature3.php
http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/sex-trafficking-in-the-us/massage-parlors

The Beginning

I walked into my new job through the front double doors leading into the lobby. I donned black scrubs from my old chiropractor job because I didn’t have my Massage Envy shirt yet. As soon as I was a foot inside the lobby I experienced a slight sensation of wanting to turn around and run as far away as I could get. The lobby was a zoo, packed to the limit with people vying for the attention of a front desk associate or squashed together on the purple furniture. One day after Christmas might not have been an ideal day to start work. Oh well. I politely fought my way to the hallway doors which eventually led to the break room. There were half a dozen therapists in there moving around so quickly that it looked like a drone of hornets having a freaking seizure. Upon seeing me however, I was greeted very warmly with an introduction, smile, and handshake which lessened my nerves just slightly. Taking a look at the break room computer, I realized I had a massage lined up to start in ten minutes with a Wilton Smith. Immediately I felt like I had been socked in the stomach. I was so used to giving thirty minute massages (and on only one area like a bad knee or a whiplashed neck) that I had gotten really rusty with certain techniques. The clock kept creeping towards top of the hour so I tracked down a manager who helped me find an empty room (it would at least take me a week or two more to learn to whole room assignment thing but we’ll get to that in another post). I then frantically trudge to the side of the lobby desk where the client files are kept and select mine from the bunch. After reviewing his medical history I walk out to the area where the couches are and call out: “Wilton?” A man in his mid forties stands up, smiles, walks towards me. I brighten up my face, welcome him with a greeting and a handshake and then tell him to follow me. Once in the room I ask him what his areas of concern are. He listed his upper back and neck as his primary areas of pain. I leave him to disrobe to his level of comfort and get underneath the sheets face down. After returning his chart to the lobby desk I wash my hands and knock on the door to make sure he was not still undressing. He says, “I’m good!” and I walk in the room, adjusting the foot pillow, face cradle, and heating pad to his desired level. As soon as I began massaging his back a lot of my skills from school flooded back into my head and I felt infinitely more confident. Scared of course, but still confident. I finally make it through the fifty minutes (which felt like fifty days) and excuse myself so he could dress. I washed my hands, grabbed fresh sheets, a face cradle cover, a cup of water, and wait outside the door like a friendly stalker (or so it felt like). He emerges, groggy and sleepy-eyed, and says it was a great massage. Hearing that felt so good, but him handing my twenty bucks felt even better. After a couple more massages my boss (sensing that I was still overwhelmed) decides to send me home several hours early. My heart leaps at this and I think I looked a little too enthusiastic about it. I return to the front desk, turn in my cream and holster, and check out. I get my purse from a locker in the break room, say goodbye to the strange faces that don’t have names I can remember, and walk out to my car. After taking a few deep breaths and congratulating myself on a first day well (enough) done, I start my engine and head home with a smile on my face.

What's It Like?

People always ask me the same question - what is it like to be a massage therapist? My answer to that question is this blog. My goal is to give you a real look at the day to day life of a working massage therapist. I’ll expose the stereotypes, misconceptions, dirt, and glam to show it as it really is – and the only way I can is to start at the beginning…