Ep. 004 – My Little Sister: Personalizing Human Trafficking
In 1912, Elizabeth published a novel entitled My Little Sister in the US (titled Where Are You Going To? in the UK) regarding two sisters who are abducted into sex slavery.
Related links & resources
Read the novel online JSU Robins Web
More information on William Stead William Stead’s Wikipedia Page
Listen to the full episode: Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon
Episode 3 about Elizabeth’s brother Raymond and Episode 4 about Human Trafficking share a common thread one would not anticipate - William Stead. As Editor of The Review of Reviews, when Elizabeth decided to go to Nome to find Raymond in 1900 (as referenced in Episode 3), Stead fronted her £300 to write and get photos for him in Alaskan regarding the Gold Rush. Some of the photos Elizabeth took are at Chinsegut Hill on the second floor, many others are in an album at Fales Library at New York University. Elizabeth wrote to him often on her journey, her diary repeatedly records “worked on letter to Stead” but not much was published and she would eventually pay him back the £300.
William Stead dedicated much time and energy to raising awareness in an attempt to stop child prostitution and human trafficking. When Elizabeth found out Stead had lost his life in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, she picked up a novel she had started on human trafficking entitled My Little Sister and completed it in Stead’s honor. Just as her goal in suffrage literature was to focus on the humanity of women, her goal in this work was to demonstrate the humanity of prostitutes. The novel would become part of the larger conversations occurring globally in both social and government circles.
- Natalie
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Credits:
References to Elizabeth Robins work printed/quoted with kind permission of Independent Age (Registered Charity No. 210729). Visit www.independentage.org to learn more.
Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, Odd Life Studios
Recorded at Profound Revelation Studios
Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, DaBarr Design
Web Designer and Social Media Manager Allisa Babor, Roots Creative Co
“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, Live Oak Theatre
Grant funding assistance by Florida Humanities
Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by Independent Age
Host Natalie Kahler Natalie Kahler | Facebook
