Exploitation, of course the merciless Moloch of capitalism that fattens on underpaid labor, thus driving thousands of women and girls into prostitution. What is really the cause of the trade in women? Not merely white women, but yellow and black women as well. It serves to amuse the people for a little while, and it will help to create a few more fat political jobs – parasites who stalk about the world as inspectors, investigators, detectives, and so forth. The “righteous” cry against the white slave traffic is such a toy. The people are a very fickle baby that must have new toys every day. Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested – for a while at least. As indifferent, indeed, as mankind has remained to our industrial system, or to economic prostitution.

Prostitution has been, and is, a widespread evil, yet mankind goes on its business, perfectly indifferent to the sufferings and distress of the victims of prostitution. To assume that the recent investigation of the white slave traffic (and, by the way, a very superficial investigation) has discovered anything new, is, to say the least, very foolish. How is it that an institution, known almost to every child, should have been discovered so suddenly? How is it that this evil, known to all sociologists, should now be made such an important issue? And what is the result of such crusades? Gambling is increasing, saloons are doing a lively business through back entrances, prostitution is at its height, and the system of pimps and cadets is but aggravated. It is significant that whenever the public mind is to be diverted from a great social wrong, a crusade is inaugurated against indecency, gambling, saloons, etc. The papers are full of these “unheard-of conditions,” and lawmakers are already planning a new set of laws to check the horror. OUR REFORMERS have suddenly made a great discovery – the white slave traffic.

New York & London: Mother Earth Publishing Association, 1911. Source: Emma Goldman’s Anarchism and Other Essays.

Life on the line emma goldberg