In this class, I was tasked to write an argumentative essay on any subject. I chose to research how women’s rights are violated through female genital mutilation and human trafficking and how further actions needs to take place to end these violent crimes. Looking back, I am glad I chose something that can make the average person uncomfortable. Female genital mutilation is not a subject for everyone. It's gruesome and fills you with many emotions. During this essay, I learned to push my boundaries of how comfortable I was. It was difficult to learn the many ways that women are violated and used. It’s heartbreaking to hear that many of these incidents are involuntary or societal pressures. In many places, it is culturally appropriate to mutilate female genitalia. This essay allowed me to cherish the ‘privileges’ I have within my society. I hadn’t heard of this issue before and I now question why as a society we do not talk about it. Just because a topic can make you uncomfortable, does not mean that it should not be addressed. I feel that in many cases if it is that uncomfortable, the issue should be dealt with rather than thrown under the table for someone else to deal with. This essay taught me how passionate I am when it comes to women’s rights. Before this essay, I was very interested in women’s rights and hearing about these issues strengthened that passion.

Human trafficking was the other issue I addressed in my essay. A main target of human trafficking is young women. I had heard about human trafficking in school before, but taking a deeper look into the subject gave me a different perspective. You don’t think that horrible things can happen to you or happen around you. You don’t think that human trafficking can be right around the corner. It was extremely eye-opening when I learned about the high trafficking rates in my area. Large malls around you are usually big places for human trafficking. These were some things I didn't think of in my everyday life. After learning this, I felt a little naive for not even considering that this could occur in my own town. It truly gives you a different perspective when going out with friends or going places alone. It's terrifying that this could happen to anyone and I think that is what interested me. Parents always say ‘be safe’, but you don’t really think of the consequences. This essay really gave me that insight into the world.