Reactions to Rachel Lloyd's Girls Like Us

Reactions to Rachel Lloyd's Girls Like Us

By:Jasmine Bacon

 Reading Lloyd's work has had a tremendous impact on my perspectives regarding human trafficking, specifically in the U.S. I think I began this book with a separation of imagery regarding all of this. I think of prostitution and I picture this woman deciding to standing on the side of the road and sell her body for money, gross. Then if I think of human trafficking or sex slaves, I picture these young girls from a variety of nationalities forcibly being sold by big scary men to other big scary men, and that's so sad to me. This is wrong. This separation is not quite the way to look at either of these ideas. The reality is that prostitution is sex trafficking, it's human trafficking. Girls from the U.S. and many other countries from all over are experiencing this awful life. Most girls are not simply choosing this life, but are involved with it due to large circumstances that are normally out of their personal control. They may be tricked or forced to sell themselves to other humans. This is the reality of human trafficking. 
  My heart shattered as I read individual stories of girls' lives that Rachel described to her readers. We read about many circumstances that varied from an 11 year old girl describing her
experiences in nice hotels all over the better parts of New York to girls that have been stabbed in the head with screwdrivers by their unhappy pimps. These are stories of only a few girls that are or were in what Rachel calls "the life". All it took was a few stories for me to realize that this problem is huge and is taking over the lives of girls in very large ways. I've learned that girl here in the U.S. being sold in the clubs or on the corners are not criminals, are most likely being forced, and honestly just as troubled as the girls I think of from other parts of the world being shipped and sold to scary men.
  Lloyd's book is real and extremely important for many to read. I believe as individuals from the U.S. we may have misconceptions about "the life" and the many girls in it. I will encourage others to read this book and be educated about the horrendous things happening all around us. I will encourage others to learn more of people's stories before we make those big judgements like I initially did. I want to be an advocate for these women that are in need of support, in need of guidance, in need of possibilities and hope for other options, and most importantly in need of love.
  I plan to share this Pinterest board we've created in hopes of spreading resources, awareness, and the wonderful story of Rachel Lloyd and all the ways she's doing the same. 
  
  Wonderful read. Wonderful impact. 




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