On “Sex Trafficking and the Exploitation of Adolescents”

Rivers, Robert; Saewyc, Elizabeth

doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2011.01336.x

Cited by 48 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Department of State, 2014). All children, especially adolescents, are at risk of exploitation, but some children are at heightened vulnerability due to individual (e.g., history of child abuse, substance use), family (e.g., parental substance abuse, domestic violence), and community (e.g., poverty) factors (Goldberg, Moore, Houck, Kaplan, & Barron, 2017 Young men are often not identified as at-risk or involved victims of sex trafficking (Dennis, 2008;Johnston, Friedman, & Shafer, 2012;Jones, 2010;Rivers & Saewyc, 2012). Research focused on male sexual abuse suggest that challenges to victim disclosure may be due to fear of being perceived as homosexual, deviant, and/or willing participants (Alaggia, Collin-Vézina, & Lateef, 2017;Sorsoli, Kia-Keating, & Grossman, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: A Case Series of Male Pediatric Patients

Moore

Fitzgerald

Owens

et al. 2020

J Interpers Violence

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Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is the commercial sexual exploitation of children (<18 years old) who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, victimized within U.S. borders. There is limited knowledge and research in regard to male involvement in DMST outside the context of homelessness and runaway youth. To our knowledge, no research specifically examines at-risk or involved male youth from a larger dataset of youth who present to a child abuse outpatient medical clinic. The objective of the present case series was to describe the demographic, psychosocial, medical, and psychiatric characteristics of natal male participants (who did not identify as transgender) suspected of DMST involvement. Six medical records of male patients under the age of 18 who were referred to a child protection clinic for concern of DMST involvement between 8/1/13 and 12/31/18 were retrospectively reviewed. Our case series demonstrates that male participants present for concern of sex trafficking and have complex behavioral, medical, and psychiatric concerns similar to what has been identified in research focused on female victims. Therefore, testing (e.g., sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV testing, urine toxicology screening), DMST screening, and interventions (e.g., STI prophylaxis, referrals to mental health counselors) should be completed in male patients.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: A Case Series of Male Pediatric Patients

Moore

Fitzgerald

Owens

et al. 2020

J Interpers Violence

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“…Using a population-based sample, these analyses provide the first evidence that severe physical disability and low cognitive ability are associated with MSE for male adolescents in the United States. These results add to the evidence that pushes back on the assumption that most individuals experiencing MSE maltreatment and exploitation are girls and highlight the potential intersectional nature of vulnerability for MSE that exists for those who are male and disabled (Gerassi et al, 2021;McNeal, 2020;Rivers & Saewyc, 2012;Robert & Willis, 2013). Our findings build on previous examinations of the links between vulnerabilities created by disability and sexual violence and spotlight the need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies for males with disabilities who seem to be at heightened risk for MSE relative to their peers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…Children with disabilities experience a higher rate of sexual abuse than their non-disabled peers and many of these disabled children may not feel they have the control or power to speak about or stop the abuse (Palusci et al, 2016). Thus, it is crucial to consider how disability intersects with other identities or circumstances that create potential vulnerability-including assigned sex and/or gender-for MSE, and these findings add to that intersectional evidence by considering males who are often overlooked or assumed to be less at risk of MSE than females, particularly cisgender girls (Fitzgerald et al, 2021;Gozdziak, 2020;Rivers & Saewyc, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, it should be noted that a seemingly disproportionate piece of this risk factor research has focused on or centered around MSE experiences of individuals assigned female at birth or cisgender girls (Kenny et al, 2020;McNeal, 2020;O'Brien, Li, et al, 2017;Reid, 2011;Rivers & Saewyc, 2012;Robert & Willis, 2013). Additionally, experiencing violence during childhood, especially sexual violence, appears to increase the risk of MSE in adolescence (Edwards et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physical Disabilities and Low Cognitive Ability Increase Odds of Minor Sex Exchange among Adolescent Males in the United States

Franchino-Olsen

Silverstein

Kahn

et al. 2022

Journal of Child Sexual Abuse

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Disability is a well-established risk factor for sexual violence victimization among both male and female children. Some research indicates that adolescent females with disabilities are at higher risk of experiencing minor sex exchange (a form of minor sex trafficking victimization) compared to females without disabilities, but there is a dearth of similar research among adolescent males. This study investigates whether physical disability and low cognitive ability are related to sex exchange among minor adolescent males. This cross-sectional analysis using data from a nationally representative cohort study, The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), included 4,401 male participants who were age 18 or younger at Wave II. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models estimated the odds of adolescent experiences of sex exchange by physical disability and cognitive ability. Both severe physical disability and low cognitive ability in adolescent males were significantly associated with increased odds of exchanging sex, results similar to those found in studies of adolescent females. Because of these associations for both males and females, disability should be taken into account when designing and implementing prevention and intervention programs related to sex trafficking. These results underscore the importance of addressing system-wide gaps contributing to the relationship between disability and the involvement of minors in commercial sex exchange.

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“…In keeping with the emphasis of this journal, we focus our examination on the trafficking of women and girls. Women and girls are not the only victims of trafficking-persons of all sexes and gender identities are trafficked (Crawford, this issue; Dennis, 2008;Jones, 2010;Miller-Perrin & Wurtele, this issue;Rivers & Saewyc, 2012; Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls, 2014). However, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), "In forced sexual exploitation and in domestic work, the vast majority of victims are women and girls.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%