About Sexual Exploitation

What is Sexual Exploitation

• it is not a choice
• Includes the trading of sexual favors for money, drugs or alcohol, food/shelter or other necessities
• Sexual Exploitation includes: Phone sex, massage parlors, prostitution, exotic dancing, and pornography

People at risk of being Sexually Exploited

• People who are unable to get needs met
• Low self esteem/ self confidence
• Family problems
• Financial problems
• Being a runaway or throw away
• Substance abuse
• History of sexual abuse, family abuse, incest and dating violence
• Emotionally needy
• Family history of sex trade involvement
• Negative self image

Recruiters and Recruitment

• A person who seeks out to hook another into the sex trade on behalf of a pimp
• A recruiter exposes youth to people or situations, which make them vulnerable to sexual exploitation
• Recruiters are being exploited by the pimp as well, yet they have more seniority –"the pecking order"
• They recruit by introducing a different lifestyle, an exciting one; partying, drinking, cars and nice things
• Recruiters often offer friendship and the image of an exciting and glamorous life to lure youth into the sex trade
• Recruitment is a slow process, a recruiter makes sure they have your trust, and then invite you into their lifestyle, which is very deceiving

Who are Pimps and Johns?

What does a pimp look like?

• A pimp is a male or female of any age, but usually between the ages of 16 – 45, any race, not rich, not educated, owns the sex trade worker and controls what he or she does and earns.
• A Pimp is someone who advertises and sells a man or a woman for sexual favors, he/she profits from the work done by the prostitute.

What does a John look like?

• A john is any age, any status, any profession, male or female.
• A john is someone who buys sexual favors from a prostitute.

Understanding Life in the Sex Trade

• An ugly and demeaning job
• The everyday life is being exposed to violence, drug and alcohol addiction, and sexually transmitted diseases
• Pimps and Johns can be violent
• Major emotional trauma: as a youth becomes entrenched in street life the drug use increases in order to cope with it
• Many youth become addicted to street life, and prostitution is a way of quick cash, which means a quick fix
• At risk for STDs such as HIV – some johns will pay more for unprotected sex
• Days are long and hard, prostitutes do not get the choice to say no to a john if she is uncomfortable or not attracted to him
• Prostitutes turn to drugs and alcohol to feel better… What do you do to make yourself feel better?

Why Life on the Streets is Hard to Leave

• Accepted into another group
• It is a new world that has become there new home
• There is a sense of understanding with people (acceptance)
• A shared language, shared beliefs, shared interests, shared sense of what’s "normal"
• Addiction to the lifestyle as there are some alright times: a sense of family, fun, acceptance, freedom
• It becomes a way of life!
• They believe they have power and in turn want more, yet they do not realize they have NO POWER
• Getting the money is power!
• A prostitute may be under the control of a pimp who threatens violence if they leave the "life"
• Can’t just "forget" about drug and alcohol addictions – lack of detox centers
• Without the numbness provided by substances there is miles of grief from being sexually exploited
• Loss of Family Support: families are ashamed and embarrassed No one to turn to
• Poor self-esteem and lack of education leading to the belief of no other choices than the sex trade
• Feelings of worthlessness and embarrassment