Ambivalence of Subaltern Consciousness in Somaly Mam’s The Road of Lost Innocence

Abstract

An attempt has been made to analyze Somaly Mam’s The Road of Lost Innocence through the perspective of gender subaltern in which she calls for collective activism to empower sexual slave girls’ position and status in the society. She raises voice against dominant social force to establish own space and other sexed women space in the society. She depicts unspeakable acts of brutality of sexual slave girls in brothels. Through writing, she appeals all people in the world to take issue of sexuality and girl trafficking seriously which is horrible in these days. Despite being an orphan, domestic and sexual slave girl, she succeeds to be an activist and reformist through her personal struggle. Her activism plays important role in the field of sexual slavery and girl trafficking. Mam requests for collective activism to eradicate women exploitation from the world. Her focus on NGO activism instead of political and national activism is questionable. Mam’s NGO rescues slave girls from brothels and provides them shelter and skills to re-start new life. Her activism looks contributory but paradoxical. Therefore, this paper will emphasize on Mam’s subaltern consciousness which is ambivalent consciousness.