Survivor Serves as Refuge for Children Prostitutes: News Comment #1

The news story I chose was about Lisa Williams, a once exploited young prostitute. Williams survived child abuse and molestation as a young girl. She was raped multiple times by a family friend who lived in her house when she was a child. Shortly after her mother, who lived a reckless life, threw her out to the streets. There she moved from couch to couch, and eventually made herself a promise that she would make her life better for herself. She graduated at the top 10% of her ROTC class and got a job as a petroleum engineer.

After making a steady, enjoyable life for herself in 2008 she opened Living Water for Girls. This non-profit organization took in its first girl in late 2009. The serendipitous place allows girls, ranging in age, to regain their lost lives and find some reassurance that they are loved.

I personally enjoyed this story because Williams can see the view of the girls who are in prostitution as survivors, and also the victims. She is taking this stance because the pimps and men the girls are sold to are never really seen as the bad guys(girls). Most people who think of prostitutes, including myself before this story, think of prostitutes as whores and loose woman who can do other things besides hooking. However, some of the women out there don’t have a choice. They choose this lifestyle because it may be all they know, they are trying to survive, and in some cases are forced into it. This story takes a different point of view and is sympathetic to the unlikely victim. Also, it is objective because it is coming from a third party, which helps define the problem.

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