Epilogue
As Annette says: "It might not be for just anybody," but it's the best life for her, at least currently. Given her exposure, her upbringing, this is probably true. Most psychologists have ceased utilizing the Freudian process in favor of more pragmatic methods, the standard being, "It it feels good do it," an oversimplification, granted. But from a personal view, moral judgement aside, Annette seems to have taken to her own happy style of hooking quite well, especially considering the guilts and anxieties that had plagued her early formative years. There are traces of neurosis still evident in her makeup, but for the time being, she is function-ing well, to borrow another increment of measure popular in psychology today.
Now it is true that most people wouldn't consider it a successful upbringing if their daughter went into prostitution, but putting the onus of legality aside for the moment, one can see that the girl may be better off indeed, enjoying herself in this occupation, rather than wasting away, tormented by fears of the past. And for those who still don't feel that Annette has shown that much growth, one must remember that she is only nineteen, and has a lot in front of her.
But regardless of what lies in store for one girl in prostitution, the major factor to consider is a sociological one, for, indeed, most of the thousands of girls who practice prostitution are not so fortunate as Annette and Gwen, by their own admission. One recalls Annette's statement to the effect that she would abandon prostitution before going to work for a pimp, or in a brothel. The sad fact is, most girls involved in prostitution are recruited by a pimp, most of the girls 'turned out' at an early age. All too often, the girl turns to prostitution as means of escape from poverty, and all too often she is of a racial minority due to the simple fact that there are more impoverished Blacks, Puerto Ricans, Chicanos and so on. The girls are often enslaved by the pimp, forced to turn over the bulk of their money to him, subject to violence, inducted into the use of narcotics and so on. Tough.