As a life long resident of Louisiana, it saddens me to see so much crime happening and to see innocent young women disappear or be killed. It doesn't matter if they were riding their bike late at night, working as a dancer or just involved with an abusive man- they didn't deserve their fate and it is not their fault. No matter how they ended up in life, they were loved by someone, someone's child and maybe someone's parent.
Louisiana has always had a unique history and New Orleans has always had a reputation for good times, great food and lovely women. There is a long and quite interesting history of prostitution in New Orleans. Just this week, in our local paper, there was write up about a historical house of ill repute and how it and its former owner were well known. There were many well known madams thru the years who gained money, power and prestige in their profession. They are not looked down on. Many of them were really smart business women with fascinating stories.
The old style "sporting houses" are long gone but there are many clubs here today where young women dance for a living. Some of them are not very nice. I've known some girls who have worked in them. Really sweet girls caught in a rough spot in life and having to support themselves and often others.
But how does one get to the point in their lives where they work in some of these places? Some people say it could never happen to them, no way, its sinful, it's wrong, there are other options, etc, etc. But lets say you are a young mom, or simply a single female trying to make it on your own. Sorry but minimum wage isn't going to be enough to live on. Sure you might be able to do it but it won't be easy and you will always struggle. I've known a few girls who have been down that path. Sweet girls who deserved more than they got in life but they kept trying.
So you have a friend who has a nice car or lots of clothes and she works at a club. You get tired of seeing everyone with nice things while you struggle to get the bare necessities. You can work in the club as a waitress, bartender or hostess and keep your clothes on. Your friend is nice and she works there. But then you get there and see that there is more money to be made dancing. It's fast money, cash in hand at night when you go home.
Often in life, situations happen and a financial crisis will occur and money needs to be made fast and dancing is a quick way to do it. I imagine that after the first time you go onstage and get the applause and the money that it might help the esteem (at first) of someone who has had it rough in life.
And so it happens. You get caught up in the life, maybe acquire some habits, and it's hard to break free. It's not like little girls dream of growing up and working as a dancer at a seedy place, but then again, a lot of things happen in life that you don't expect.
I'm not saying Jaren was working doing anything other than dancing, doesn't matter to me even if she was, she was a victim of a horrible crime and there are people grieving for her this minute and they will continue to grieve forever. She was a beautiful woman and has a child who will grow up without her. This is such a tragedy.
That doesn't really have anything to do with anything...I'm sure it's just that no one noticed. But we were parked right near the quarter, and we still look back on that and can't believe it. 
