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Attractions and aversions: exploring attitudes and perceptions of sexually procured youth in the Downtown Eastside Scott, Suzanne

Abstract

The entrenchment of children and youth in the sex trade is a pervasive and troubling social issue. Youth procured for sexual purposes are a highly vulnerable and at-risk population. These youth continue to be victimized, exploited, and abused by adults in the community. Listening to the voices and life experiences of youth involved in the sex trade offers valuable insight into what keeps youth entrenched, the risks that place them in danger, and programs and services that may assist them in exiting this lifestyle. This exploratory study was designed to elicit personal appraisals of the attractions and aversions of sexually procured youth. The sample consisted of 15 youth (N=15), 1 male, 2 transgendered, and 12 female youth, aged 16-24 who self-identified as having worked in the sex trade within the past year. Participants for this study were recruited from the Youth Action Centre (Y.A.C.), a drop-in for street entrenched youth in Vancouver, British Columbia. A single, semi-structured interview was conducted which asked youth about their attitudes and perceptions of the attractions and aversions of working in the sex trade. The qualitative data was coded utilizing content analysis and descriptive statistics were subsequently calculated. Results indicated that while 'Money for Clothing' was the most prevalent early benefit (64%), the overwhelming current benefit for youth in the study was 'Money for Drugs' (100%). 'Physical Assault' was identified by over half of the sample as the most common early risk (57%) and all participants recognized 'Physical Assault' (100%) as a current risk. The categories of 'STD/HIV and 'Being Murdered' saw dramatic shifts from early to current risks with increases from 29% to 71% and 7% to 64% respectively. Participants identified 'Drugs' (100%) as the most prevalent reason for most youth being involved in prostitution, while they said that 'Money' (92%) was the main reason for their own involvement. Participants in the study also indicated that they believed most youth in the sex trade wanted to leave due to 'Physical Assault' (40%) and being 'Bored/Tired of It' (40%). When asked why they, personally wanted to leave, the majority gave their reasons as 'Wanting a Different Lifestyle' (73%) and 'Getting Off Drugs' (73%). Youth in the study were asked about interest and involvement in recreational activities and identified their preferences in this area. The study also explored participants' awareness, willingness, and ability to participate in these recreational activities. Finally, the limitations and implications of the study are explored and the connections between the research findings and theoretical framework are considered.

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