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Sutapa Basu / Champions women from the UW campus to the corners of Calcutta

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BEN BENSCHNEIDER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Now in its 33rd year, the University of Washington Women's Center is a national leader on violence prevention and human trafficking. It also mentors disadvantaged high-school students, helps women returning to college after years away from school, and sponsors lectures, classes and workshops on everything from eating disorders to academic success. A chat with Professor Sutapa Basu, executive director:

Q: What issues are college women grappling with today?

A: It's overwhelming for young women to have to do it all. Young women are expected to get an education, find a mate, balance both professional and personal life, achieve financial success, and stay fit and attractive. That's a lot! Because of these unrealistic expectations from our society without proper support, they have a lot of self-doubt, and we notice more and more young women experiencing depression and eating disorders.

Q: Why so much focus on violence against women?

A: Every nine seconds, a woman is beaten or physically abused in this country, even though we've been working on this issue for 30 years. We've passed legislation, but the rate of domestic violence hasn't gone down at all. Many students have themselves experienced violence or sexual aggression or come from families with domestic violence. A lot of women are getting higher education, but to succeed in life, you have to deal with all the issues, not just getting a degree.

Q: What's the link between an American college campus and international human trafficking?

A: We live in a different world now. It's all interrelated. Students need to know what's going on globally. Trafficking is one of the fastest-growing underground businesses in the world. It generates 15 to 25 billion dollars annually. It is modern-day slavery for women and children. Labor as well as sex.

Q: Why is it increasing?

A: As the disparity between haves and have-nots continues to grow around the world, women seek ways to support their families. They're exploited by brokers who say you can go to certain countries and get jobs, and then they end up going to countries and become sex slaves. A lot of the women coming into this country are given student visas and told they'll be working as waitresses, and then they find themselves in brothels. Traffickers take away their passports and papers and threaten they'll be harmed if they go to the authorities.