This is my second blog post about “Girls Like Us.” For part one, click here. I’ve now finished this eye opening book. I know the question that many people ask and think about in relation to someone who has experienced sexual exploitation is: “Why didn’t you just leave?”
What an important question! The answer – how can they when they often have no where to go, are beaten, abused, threatened, tied up, and if they have no financial way to care for themselves (most are between the ages of eleven and eighteen). A quote from “Girls Life Us” states: “For commercially sexually exploited and trafficked girls, the perception of threats is almost always based on the reality of violence. Girls believe that their pimps will act on their threats to hurt, to maim, to kill, and with good reason. So many of these girls have experienced rape, had guns held to their head, heard their trafficker talk about other girls he’s killed — enough violence, in other words, to ensure that girls are hesitant about running away.” (p. 158)
I am writing this second post just to let you know that after finishing the book, I can assure you that you really need to read this book in 2012. This is one current version of slavery, and it has to stop. You can go to this link to find out more information on how you can support GEMS: Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (located in New York City). My sister (and the end of the book also mentions it) alerted me to the documentary that was also created called: “Very Young Girls.” You can find more information about this video online or you might be able to watch through Netflix.
Please support this very important cause!
random olio 
Hey Tami – I had to post after I saw your blog was about Girls Like Us! I love this book, and it makes me cry every time I read it (heck, think about these situations!) I worked for a couple of years at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and met some of the bravest, strongest, and most resilient young women who had been victims of sex trafficking – most of them who were runaways trying to escape abusive situations at home. The part that most frustrated me was that every one of them had been arrested for prostitution, and were made to feel like criminals, even though none of them were over 15 and some as young as 11 or 12. And the johns, who should have been treated as child molesters, are most often let go with a fine and a slap on the wrist!!! State and city laws around child sexual exploitation really make no sense. I guess it’s fortunate that there are organizations out there like GEMS that provide support services to help girls break the cycle, and Rachel to help girls understand that it’s not their fault.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing, Kim! I didn’t know you at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. What rewarding work you were doing. Yes, it is so helpful that Rachel explains that and I think they were able to pass legislation in New York that does not punish the girls for prostitution or criminals. Hopefully other states will follow that same path. There is not a single reason these girls should be in jail for what is happening to them. It scares me that they can start in the ‘life’ at 10 or 11. It just is not okay!
LikeLike