Introduction
For the past decades, the issue of human trafficking has been debated rigorously since it ruins the lives of millions of people worldwide. As one of the most ignominious felonies in the world, it turns people of all ages and sexes from all parts of the globe into victims forcing them to do perverted acts daily. The most notorious type of human trafficking is sexual labor. Annually, millions of individuals around the globe are kidnapped for forced labor, organ extraction, or sexual abuse (“About human trafficking,” n. d.). Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale by Rachel Lloyd is an insanely moving story about the harsh realities of sex trafficking, which makes one appreciate life even more.
Girls Like Us
In the memoir, Rachel Lloyd provides an account of the events stating how she worked as a prostitute when she was only 13 years old in Europe. The author recalls how she has managed to change her life after all the pain she had been through by moving to America to get an education. Lloyd (2012) wanted to share her experience and established the non-profit organization GEMS – Girls Educational and Mentoring Services. She has successfully incorporated her own experience and accounts of the women she worked with. Such a combination of similar stories helped her tell the audience about the physical and emotional damage that the female sex faces.
Lloyd was left alone as a teenager; there was no responsible adult that would support her. Therefore, Rachel ended up in the streets selling her body. The sex industry devoured Lloyd as she had to survive and had no other choice. Three years later, she moved to the United States and kept working in the sex industry (Lloyd, 2012). Despite all the hardships the author has experienced, she has managed to impact the community by informing them about the dangers of sex trafficking. Lloyd earned money and received full scholarships to attend college and graduate school years later. In Girls Like Us, Lloyd (2012) revealed the dark truth of working as a prostitute, telling how much effort she put into liberating herself from a souteneur. It took much time and stamina to free herself with the help of the local church. Now Lloyd is the CEO of GEMS in New York, which has become one of the most influential non-profit organizations in the state.
This book was difficult to read because of the heartbreaking stories about many girls who were doomed to experience violence. Sex trafficking and CSEC (Commercial, sexual exploitation of children) are big issues in different countries, but sometimes it seems that the U.S.A. (Lloyd, 2012). faces it in a bigger proportion. However, it is not a statewide problem – it is a human problem. This means that some people are willing to take advantage of the weak, while the weak have no choice but to consent. It is painful that young girls and women suffer from such violence solely because their life took a wrong turn.
The suffering and torment of young girls described in a book in vivid detail could make one contemplate why they could not just escape or claim their rights. Why were they not enraged and determined to act? It is unbelievable that females had to undergo such torture and were not allowed to complain or report anyone for fear of being murdered. It proves that sex trafficking remains an issue to be revealed publicly. People should be aware of the consequences of such actions and report cases to promote public awareness and protect young girls, especially those living in disadvantaged communities.
The book raises the problem of sex trafficking in the context of the United States alone. An estimated 15,000 to 50,000 women and children are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation each year (“Facts about human trafficking,” 2020). The narrative encourages people, especially women from all over the world, to strive to change the situation and shape new values. Seeing this number makes one wonder what happens to those who survive. Perhaps, some live in reclusion after all the violence they have experienced; others may assimilate into society, yet the past trauma affects them till the end. Very few people can speak about it openly. Hence, this reading would be useful for reading not only in an academic environment but also in churches, schools, or just to gain personal knowledge and awareness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Girls Like Us discloses the relevant issue of sex trafficking and how much it affects people’s lives, especially women’s lives. By sharing her private accounts, Lloyd raises awareness of sex trafficking and how it impacts the lives of innocent girls who had to experience violence due to unfavorable circumstances. Hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. become victims of sex traffickers. The number is so large that it is difficult to imagine what happens to those who manage to escape the torturers. Promoting this issue and reporting cases to halt these terrible wrongdoings is vital.
References
About human trafficking. (n. d.). U.S. Department of State. Web.
Facts about human trafficking in the US. (2020). Deliver Fund. Web.
Lloyd, R. (2012). Girls like us: Fighting for a world where girls are not for sale: A memoir. Harper Perennial.