http://www.marieclaire.com/politics/news/a9210/cam...

http://www.seventeen.com/life/real-girl-stories/a4...

These two articles above set the tone for this specific article you are about to read. Before diving into this article, I want you to take a minute and think about all of the relationships, crushes, dates, and boyfriends you've ever had within your life so far. Now take another minute and imagine yourself in Afghanistan, Cambodia, or Africa. Your minute's up, because that's how long it takes for young girls and women in these countries and other ones alike to have their lives taken away and sold.

In parts of the world outside from the United States millions of girls suffer with their virginities being sold for money every single day. They have no freedom, no choice, no opinion as to why they have to be sold for money. They don't sell themselves, their parents unfortunately do because in third world countries this has become their culture.

It's sad to think that this is part of their cultural norm but it unfortunately is and these girls grow up knowing their fate. In third world countries sex really sells and I don't mean in the media aspect. These girls are treated like property and are in the hands of men for weeks upon months at a time. Girls as young as 10 experience this harsh reality of being forced against their will to have sex and are raped at least two to three times every day depending on how long the men decide to keep them.

Sadly, parents in these third world countries have no money, adequate resources, or means of survival unless they sell their daughters virginity. It's the only way they can depend on themselves, they don't want to do this but have no other way to provide for themselves. What's even more messed up is that the men that play a part in this heinous norm are government officials, police officers, or of the wealthy so no one has ever been convicted of this crime.

It's illegal but yet no one is ever caught in these actions because the people that commit these acts have so much power to make it seem so nonexistent and invisible. While in Afghanistan the belittlement and degradation of women is embedded into their culture. Girls also as young as possible can be married off to the wealthiest man their parents choose for them. It's not a matter of just money but it's more a part of their culture values and morals.

These girls know their fate from birth because education, career opportunities, and self-worth are never in the picture when it comes to women living in Afghanistan and some other parts of the Middle East. These women are married by force to men who are old enough to be their fathers. These husbands control, manipulate, rape, abuse in all ways, and child bear these women for years and are able to have multiple wives at their discretion.

It's sickening to imagine it but it's the truth because it's their cultural relativism. It doesn't have to be that way but it unfortunately is and us Americans need to know about these kinds of issues and raise awareness about them. Women in these countries are fighting, surviving, and struggling to break this cycle of destruction. They need us to be their voices because they can't continue to suffer anymore agonizing pain.

I write this article in the name of love today because love is a powerful thing. Us Americans don't realize how blessed, fortunate, and thankful we are that we have the freedom to love. As women in the United States we might still be fighting our battles to a certain degree but what women in these third world countries go through it nothing compared to what happens in the states.

We have the power to have the opportunity to be loved by who we want, love who we want to, accept love by who we want to, and say no to something or somebody we don't love. In third world countries "no" is forbidden and it is a "must" to do what you are told. Women in these third world countries aren't granted the right to love as they please.

So as a closing remark I want you to remember this, love must not be taken over by advantage. American women need to realize that if it wasn't for the history of women before us paving a way for all other women to come in this day it could of been possible that we all end up as child brides. We ourselves could have all been victims of rape, have our virginity and identity stolen from us, and have to make ourselves love a stranger.

Overall, ladies don't ever take love for granted and stand up for global women's issues. It's not about being a feminist, idealist, or a realist just do what is right and cherish love starting today for the rest of your life.