Rachel Lloyd: "Girls Like Us"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-04-07/rachel-lloyd-girls-us
Tracy Toler
Sex trafficking of young girls is a global problem. In the U. S. alone, an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 adolescents are at risk of exploitation each year. A mix of circumstances -- substance abuse, family problems, and poverty -- lures vulnerable girls into the world of teenage prostitution. There, they fall prey to the seduction of pimps and frequently face discrimination from police and the courts. A former teen sex worker from Britain tells the story of her escape from what many girls call “the life.” She describes how she founded a program in New York to help children as young as age 11 survive sexual exploitation.
Guests
Rachel Lloyd
founder, GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services)
Sheila White
GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services) in Harlem, New York
Related Items
Author Extra: Rachel Lloyd Answers Audience Questions
Q: What about the psychology of men who become pimps, and men who “buy” sex from young girls? - From Penelope via Facebook
A: Most of the men who are street level pimps also have histories of abuse and trauma that parallel the girls' stories. Some of them have grown up in "the life" too, as their fathers were pimps too. In addition, our society glorifies pimp culture so boys grow up thinking that women are disposable, that pimping is glamorous and also knowing that pimps are rarely prosecuted. Its only in the last few years that we’ve seen an increased focus on prosecution of pimps.
Q: Rachel, do you know of any social or legal movements to recognize women and girls as victims and focus more on the Johns? - From Brittany in Cincinnati
A: There are several 'demand' efforts developing around the country. Hunt Alternatives is launching a major national initiative to address this, but I think that all of us in the field are working to correct the perception that this is an issue of choice and working to humanize victims.
Comments
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The show charterizes the worldwide problem of sex trafficking as " the teenage Sex Industry" it is not an industry , but rather a crime against humanity. I have seen many documentaries from countries in South East Asia taking young girls from homes and commiting them to lives as prostitutes to midlle eastern practices of "Auctioning off young girls for private prostitiution to residential brothels using Pimps from Mexico abducting teenage girls into the US and keeping them captive in residnces forcing them to provide sexual services.
How much of a worldwide impact is this activity having on the US sex Trafficking trade and what laws are in place to curb and elliminate the problem?
Rachel,
I am so thankful for your work. Thank you for stepping in the gap.
My 17-year-old daughter and I have been inspired by a great, forgotten heroine named Donaldina Cameron, who lived in San Francisco's Chinatown from 1895-1935 and did much of the same kind of work that you are doing on behalf of the thousands of Chinese girls and young women who were trafficked and subjected to terrible abuse. She rescued them and raised them in a Presbyterian Mission Home - worked with some 3000 girls over the course of her career, and broke the back of the Chinese slavery trade. It's possible! Keep at it!
We hope our book will be out in about a year. Link below if you are interested. Would love to put your book in our bibliography, as we are trying to show the relevance of Donaldina Cameron's life to what is happening in the U.S. today.
Blessings!
Fierce Compassion: A Remarkable Woman's Fight to End Chinese Slavery
http://kck.st/aGx7oS
It's very shocking to hear "Mr Lawrence" say that when he saw the prostitute with a black eye "that's normal...." what??!!!! That's a big part of the problem. Shouldn't even if you're a prostitute deserve to be treated respectfully? This guy should have called the police. Adult men are not protecting women, and you can't always say the excuse that because she was selling herself, that's what she likes and deserves to be treated like trash! I just don't understand this mentality.... men should step up! they really should say STOP. Women are supposed to be special and cared for...
I have a cousin who just started working at a drive in beer and go store; how likely is it for her to get recruited to provide sexual services?
Thank you for this much needed program. I find it extremely offensive that a program such as Planned Parenthood,undercover,was found to promote this problem and nothing has been done about it.
It's angering and senseless what people are forced to endure due to socioeconomic conditions. Since the U.S. will do nothing to offer people jobs - ditch the morally misguided laws against consentual activities, regulate and protect rather than prosecute our most vulnerable. Unfortunately with humanitarian assistance the U.S. has been notoriously stingy, giving the least of any industrialized country in the world.
I have been a customer of sex workers for several decades.
I am a high income person who sometimes pays half my salary on sex work. I am also single.
I think the guest did an ok job describing her point of view, but for her to characterize the entire industry as violent in inaccurate.
I have seen shrinks and police officers over the years with few results. No one knows what to say to the consumers of sex, my female shrink even told me I was normal.
What we NEED is to get the point of view of the consumers; find out their thought process, if we do not do that we will never have an honest conversation. It is hard for us to imagine we are doing anything wrong when we pay hundreds of dollars per transaction and many of these ladies live like queens.
Also, don't forget that many men cannot compete for the attention of ladies and literally NEED sex workers. Think about the disabled or disfigured, I am sorry but women have little care for such men.
I believe that sex work should be legal, zoned, regulated, taxed and take place indoors. I am not afraid to say who I am, nor am I afraid to defend my position.
QUESTION:
What is the only thing we know of that is legal to give away but illegal to sell. I think you know the answer.
To d: It took courage for you to impart your comments on this show, considering that the demand for sex workers is the major part of the problem. I do thank you for sharing. But I must disagree on two points. First, no man is so handicapped that he MUST use sex workers. If you believe this about yourself, may I suggest a new therapist or a spiritual walk with the living God. Second, it is not "normal" to prefer to pay for intimacy (or the illusion thereof) versus learning how to develop that part of your character with a healthy woman, at no charge. Yes, we need to listen to the customers. But what would you suggest for customers to learn that women are not objects nor simply sexual creatures for your pleasure, but are real people with real issues and needs, just like yourself, that are beyond the physical. Most of those queens, that you meet, at one point were not in that business by choice. And if she or they have learned that the sex trade is the only way to make a living, they need help too.
Rachael,
We are a group of students from Purcell Marian High School, in Cincinnati. We are working on a social justice project about human trafficking. We would like to ask you some questions and gain stronger knowledge on the issue. By discussing with you a few key things, it would help us with our project tremendously. If you could get back to us preferably today or tomorrow that would be great!! Thank you