Explain the complexity of choice, as it relates to both Rachel Lloyds elucidation of the choices she made and that young girls make when entering and leaving “the life”? Furthermore, how it relates to Paul Farmer’s concept of structural violence.

. SYG2000
Introduction to Sociology
Extra Credit Assignment: Girls Like Us
The memoir “Girls Like Us” by Rachel Lloyd is replete with sociological concepts and gives incredible
insight into the disparate life chances brought about by varied social structures and mechanisms of
socio-psychological manipulation that predominantly affect one group of children versus another.
Simply put, social location matters. In a (5) five–paged paper, answer the following short-answer
questions. Ensure that your answers are explained in a manner that reflects not only the structure of
social life expressed in the memoir, but also serves to bring to life sociological concepts in your text,
articles and discussed in class. This extra credit assignment is worth a total of 25 points and is to be
turned in via Blackboard. No physical copies will be accepted. Note that any form of plagiarism
and academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and result in forfeiture of the 25 points in total.
The extra credit must be attempted in total to be graded. Please do not use outside sources
other than your textbook, assigned articles and videos and the novel.
1. According to Rachel Lloyd, what are the risk factors for the commercial sexual exploitation of both
children and adults in the United States? Explain in detail.
2. Explain the complexity of choice, as it relates to both Rachel Lloyds elucidation of the choices she
made and that young girls make when entering and leaving “the life”? Furthermore, how it relates to
Paul Farmer’s concept of structural violence.
3. Slavery, exploitation, and violence, as manifested through ‘prostitution’, have become mainstream
in the media, hip-hop and popular culture’s embrace and portrayal of being a “pimp”. Give the
evidence outlined by Rachel Lloyd for this assertion and discuss the possible implications.
4. The sociological concepts of differential association (learning deviance through social
interaction and peer groups), stigma (negative social labels meant to devalue), labeling (how
people respond to one or one’s behaviors becomes the basis for how one is viewed and treated
in society) and master status (characteristic-real or perceived-that overrides all other
characteristics and forms the basis for treatment) have all been portrayed in the memoir.
Highlight and explain in detail the variety of ways these concepts are manifested in the life of Rachel
Lloyd and the lives of the young girls she seeks to help. How can these concepts help us understand
the obstacles faced in seeking justice?
5. What are the main reasons that Rachel Lloyd calls for the abandonment of the term “prostitution”
and the legal culpability that comes with such action in favor of the term “commercial sexually
exploited children”? How has, if any, your perception been altered about prostitution?