People need to be made aware of how well off they are. The privileges that most westerners have are enormous. I’m not saying that everyone is living an easy or happy life in the Western part of the world but the fact is that our lives are not so hard if you compare it to other places where they do not even have clean water, electricity, or a safe place to live.
Complaining should not be allowed if you live in a country that is more often than not, safe from climate disasters, gives you affordable healthcare, lets you have maternity leave in over a year with your newborn baby, and has a democratic system that lets you vote for whoever you want and where your vote can actually make a difference. Not to mention how we are less likely to end up in human trafficking. Instead of complaining, a better way forward could be to speak out if something is bothering you, accept or why not try to leave the situation altogether.
A documentary that shows people who are not living an easy life is “Raised in a brothel”. This reportage introduces you to eight children who have been raised in Sonagachi, the red light district in Kolkata, India. Children raised in those environments are destined to end up in the same positions as their parents, either forced into prostitution, working with people in the sex industry, or selling drugs. These children have no bright future since schools are not likely to accept them because of their background, why they will continue to be exploited. However, these children were actually given a chance. The person making the documentary set a goal to get these children into boarding schools. There were some success stories but not for everyone (Mubi).
In India, human trafficking for sexual purposes is still thriving. It is estimated that almost 8 million people in India are trapped in human trafficking, which in comparison is approximately the same size as the New York City population. Women and girls are the ones who carry the bigger risk of ending up in human trafficking. Some of the girls are as young as 12 years old when they are sold off. These girls can be forced to serve up to 20 to 30 customers per day in extreme circumstances (The Exodus Road, 2022).
A common complaint or comment here in Sweden is about the weather: we either talk about being happy because it's sunny or we are a little bummed because it’s raining. I think it’s sad that rain gets such a bad rap, rain can be so lovely. If more people start to see the beauty in things, practice gratitude, and use their curiosity to help people who actually need it, I believe that the world will be a better place for everyone.
By: Matilda Davis
Swedish University Student and Do Good Now Intern
Source: