In today’s rundown: Local gang members force underage girls into prostitution. The gender pay gap and its impact on l0w-wage workers. And has there been an uptick in violence among young female students?
— Federal investigators say that local members of the MS-13 gang are “branching” out into forcing underage girls into prostitution. A Washington Post article details the story of a 12-year-old girl who ran away from home and says that she was forced by an MS-13 member to have sex for money. In recent months, three gang members and associates in Northern Virginia have been convicted of federal prostitution charges involving juveniles.
— A Washington Area Women’s Foundation staff member weighs in on a new report on the gender pay gap and low-wage workers.
— There’s a rise in violent incidents involving females students, according to The Washington Post. Experts cited in the article — which includes details about a number of local incidents — say that “changing views of femininity” have contributed to an uptick in violent acts by women, against women. But Washington City Paper isn’t so convinced that this is a trend. In an online response to the Post article, the City Paper says that there are several issues at play and “shoehorning” them into one “trend” sensationalizes some very serious topics.
