07/08/2026
Every time someone makes a "happy ending" joke, asks for "extras," or implies that massage therapy is somehow s*xual, I wonder if they realize what they're actually joking about.
Human trafficking is a real and ongoing problem in businesses that disguise themselves as massage establishments.
Here are a few facts:
• An estimated 24.9 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking.
• The United States has more than 9,000 illicit massage businesses, many of which are believed to involve s*x trafficking, labor trafficking, or both.
• These businesses are so common that there are more illicit massage businesses in the U.S. than company-operated Starbucks stores.
Behind those numbers are real people who have been exploited.
This is one reason licensed massage therapists take professional boundaries so seriously. When someone jokes about s*xual services, it isn't harmless. Those comments reinforce a stereotype that harms ethical therapists while minimizing the reality that trafficking victims are being exploited under the same word: "massage."
Massage therapy is healthcare. My work is about helping people manage pain, improve movement, reduce stress, and support their overall well-being.
So the next time you're tempted to make a joke about a "happy ending," remember that for someone, it isn't a joke. It's a life they didn't choose.
We can do better by supporting licensed massage therapists, reporting suspicious businesses, and refusing to normalize comments that blur the line between healthcare and exploitation.
Education changes culture. Let's keep having these conversations.