Some Girls: My Life in a Harem by Jillian Lauren, published by Plume/Penguin Group, 2010
By Sheila Orysiek
SAN DIEGO — Jillian Lauren was born in 1973 and was adopted as an infant by a Jewish couple in Livingston, New Jersey. Later a son was adopted. They were a middle class suburban family, gave their children religious instruction, a moral structure, and celebrated a Bat and Bar Mitzvah for their daughter and son. There were also lessons in music, dance, sports and summer vacations in the mountains. The parents envisioned sending their children on to college.
Jillian rebelled against all of this and instead dreamed of being a famous actress. She began her journey by embracing the accoutrements of a teenage punk lifestyle: hair dyed in primary colors, body piercings, early sexual escapades, genital tattoos, alcohol, drugs – all of which was a nightmare for her parents. Her father, in his frustration often responded with inexcusable violence.
By eighteen, Jillian was living in New York City with a steady stream of live-in boyfriends, already an experienced pole and strip dancer, and dabbling in the very outer edges of the theater world. A friend suggested that to earn more money she work for an “escort” service. In her interview for employment she stated that she was “willing to do whatever” might be asked of her.
This led to an offer to travel to Brunei as part of a group of young women who were rotated through the palaces of the Sultan and his brothers. The duration of this “visit,” the amount she would be paid and other details were unspecified, but she did know the overall expectations implicit in this invitation. She briefly considered the possibility of being held against her will but still handed over her passport when she landed in Brunei.
The story of her stay in the Sultanate of Brunei is both sad as well as mind numbing: the details of sexual activities, the boredom of waiting for days on end with dozens of other women for the possibility of a glance from the prince, the intrigue and competition among the women for the benefits of his pleasure (unlimited shopping trips, jewelry, etc.). And always lurking in the background the distinct possibility of being dismissed and immediately deported.
Jillian was never alone. Even when she was locked into her bedroom she knew that cameras were recording her every move. However, she never indicates that at any time was she held against her will. She also doesn’t express any sense of outrage at being passed along as a gift from the prince to his friend – and back again. Nothing humiliates her. She has no discernable standards, no sense of dignity and no conscience. Only the prospect of money and jewels holds a value for her. After a brief return to New York City, she travels again to Brunei to refill her bank account.
The book ends rather abruptly; with Jillian newly married and living in New York. One could come to the conclusion that the book was written for the same reason she went to Brunei.
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Orysiek is a freelance writer who specializes in arts and literature. Comments may be made in the space provided below this article or sent to the author at sheila.orysiek@sdjewishworld.com