In The Road to Lost Innocence, the issue of rank of class plays a significant part. Somaly says at one point, "People seem to think to think it was normal that i should be beaten, since I was this small black savage, the lowest person in the village." (15). In Cambodia, the main religion is Theravada Buddhism. It is from Buddhism, similar to Hinduism that the Caste System arises. Although religion plays a seemingly minor role in the autobiography, its affects on society are important. Because Somaly is poor, dark, thin, and an orphan, her rank is probably the lowest one could get, thus making her an easy target to be taken advantage of which is why she is taken, enslaved, beaten, sold, raped, sold again to be continued to be raped and beaten. Not only the source of her problems, but the hierarchy in Cambodia makes her feel like "[m]y body was nothing, of no value" (62). Also, in a sense, it made her feel helpless. Especially whenever her grandfather takes her, since he is her elder and he 'took her in', she feels as if she owes him, even though he beats her and sells her. Thus far in the story, she wants to get away, and tries several times but because of her misfortune and her class, she is stuck at the brothel with seemingly no way out.
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