Survivors’ Perspectives on Recovery From Commercial Sexual Exploitation Beginning in Childhood

This study explored the process of exiting and recovery from commercial sexual exploitation beginning in childhood, utilizing semistructured interviews with 11 adult female survivors who had been out of the commercial sex industry for at least six months. The narratives were analyzed using consensual qualitative research. Participants described a complex interface of internal motivation and external resources in the exiting process. They identified a need for comprehensive, nonjudgmental services across all stages of change, in order to support a profound reconstruction of identity and community. Subgroup comparisons revealed that women who were exploited at younger ages were more vulnerable to coercive and dehumanizing exploitation and required especially intensive services. These results support the methods of many survivor-led programs for sexually exploited youth. Implications of survivors’ perspectives for counseling, research, and advocacy are discussed.

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Uncovering Indicators of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260517723141 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (23-24) ◽

pp. 5607-5623 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dawn Bounds ◽

Kathleen R. Delaney ◽

Wrenetha Julion ◽

Susan Breitenstein

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Sex Trafficking ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Commercial Sexual Exploitation ◽

Sex Industry ◽

Commercial Sex ◽

Internet Site ◽

Online Comments ◽

Potential Activity

It is estimated that annually 100,000 to 300,000 youth are at risk for sex trafficking; a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or any such act where the person induced to perform such an act is younger than 18 years of age. Increasingly, such transactions are occurring online via Internet-based sites that serve the commercial sex industry. Commercial sex transactions involving trafficking are illegal; thus, Internet discussions between those involved must be veiled. Even so, transactions around sex trafficking do occur. Within these transactions are innuendos that provide one avenue for detecting potential activity. The purpose of this study is to identify linguistic indicators of potential commercial sexual exploitation within the online comments of men posted on an Internet site. Six hundred sixty-six posts from five Midwest cities and 363 unique members were analyzed via content analysis. Three main indicators were found: the presence of youth or desire for youthfulness, presence of pimps, and awareness of vulnerability. These findings begin a much-needed dialogue on uncovering online risks of commercial sexual exploitation and support the need for further research on Internet indicators of sex trafficking.

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Stop traffick: Tackling demand for sexual services of trafficked women and girls

Social Work and Social Sciences Review ◽

10.1921/swssr.v19i3.1190 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 42-60

Author(s):

Edward Keegan ◽

Nusha Yonkova

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Human Trafficking ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Sex Industry ◽

Commercial Sex ◽

Face To Face ◽

Eu Member States ◽

Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽

Women And Girls ◽

Sexual Services

The research focuses on the characteristic, knowledge, and experiences of buyers of sex, focusing on human trafficking and exploitation. Recognising that those trafficked for sexual exploitation are often exploited in the commercial sex industry, the research adopts an understanding of ‘demand’ in the context of human trafficking which includes demand for women in prostitution. In order to study buyers, a mixture of quantitative and qualitative research tools was used, including online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Through these methods, a total of 763 buyers engaged with the research, across four EU Member States (Ireland, Finland, Bulgaria and Lithuania). A number of important findings emerged in the research. Buyers interviewed were seen to have a complex view of sellers. They overwhelmingly viewed the sale of sex as a transaction between two consenting adults, but also saw sellers as different from other women. At the same time, although up to a third of buyers had witnessed or suspected exploitation, a gap emerged with regard to those who had reported such fears. Finally, irrespective of their knowledge of human trafficking, or measures targeting those who knowingly purchase sex from trafficked victims, buyers rarely considered trafficking when purchasing sex.Keywords: human trafficking; sexual exploitation; prostitution; demand; buyers

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On the Continuum of Exit: Understanding the Stages of Change Among Women in Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Gender Issues ◽

10.1007/s12147-017-9201-1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 98-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Bincy Wilson ◽

Thomas H. Nochajski

Keyword(s):

Stages Of Change ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Commercial Sexual Exploitation ◽

The Continuum

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Evaluation of a Multi-Session Group Designed to Prevent Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors: The “My Life My Choice” Curriculum

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260519865972 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 088626051986597

Author(s):

Emily F. Rothman ◽

Amy Farrell ◽

Jennifer Paruk ◽

Katherine Bright ◽

Megan Bair-Merritt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Design ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Commercial Sexual Exploitation ◽

Sex Industry ◽

Black African ◽

Dating Abuse ◽

Group Completion ◽

Design Changes ◽

Sexually Explicit

The commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of children is a consequential public health and criminal justice problem, but no CSE prevention programs have been evaluated. The Boston-based My Life My Choice (MLMC) program offers a multisession psychoeducation group to girls who are identified as “at-disproportionate-risk” for CSE victimization and trains other agencies throughout the U.S. to offer this curriculum. The curriculum was designed to improve knowledge about the commercial sex industry and shift-related attitudes and behaviors. The current project was a multi-year, multi-site evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the MLMC prevention group. Using a one-group longitudinal design, changes in participant behavior and CSE knowledge were measured at baseline ( n = 354), upon group completion ( n = 296), and 3 months after group completion ( n = 241). The sample was 95% female-identified, 28% Black/African American, 26% White/non-Hispanic, 25% Hispanic/Latina, and 22% other race. The mean age of participants was 15.6 years old. Approximately 28% identified as bisexual, and 10% identified as lesbian, asexual, pansexual, or other. In multivariable-adjusted models, participants reported fewer episodes of sexually explicit behavior at follow up as compared to baseline (relative risk [RR]: 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37-0.72 at Follow-up 1, and 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35-0.82 at Follow-up 2). Participants were 24% less likely to report dating abuse at Follow-up 2 as compared to baseline ( p = .06). In addition, as compared to baseline, participants were 40% more likely to have given help or information about CSE to a friend at Follow-up 2, and participants demonstrated increased knowledge and awareness about CSE and its harms over the follow-up period. Although additional evaluation using a comparison group and long-term follow up would increase confidence that observed changes are attributable to the group instead of other factors, results suggest that the MLMC curriculum may be effective in reducing the risk of CSE and improving other conditions for youth who are at-disproportionate-risk of CSE.

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INDICATORS AND CRITERIA OF THE PROBLEM OF INVOLVING ADOLESCENTS IN COMMERCIAL SEX

Scientific Bulletin of Uzhhorod University Series «Pedagogy Social Work» ◽

10.24144/2524-0609.2021.48.263-266 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 263-266

Author(s):

Victoria Melnychuk

Keyword(s):

Research Methods ◽

Experimental Testing ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Modern World ◽

Commercial Sexual Exploitation ◽

Sex Industry ◽

Commercial Sex ◽

Goods And Services ◽

General Scientific ◽

Sexual Services

The urgency of studying the problem of involving teenagers in commercial sex is substantiated in the work. The purpose of the article is to define and characterize the indicators and criteria of the problem of attracting adolescents to commercial sex. The research methods used involve the use of general scientific and empirical techniques of socio-pedagogical and social science, based on a systematic approach. In addition, general research methods such as generalization and comparison were used in the process. The concept of «commercial sex» is considered. Socio-psychological criteria and indicators by which a child can be involved in commercial sex are described. The concept of commercial sexual exploitation of children and its forms are defined. The structure of types of sexual services provided by adolescents involved in commercial sex in Ukraine is described. It is stated that the use of minors in the form of commercial sexual exploitation is an aspect of sexual exploitation of minors. The sex industry is considered as a sphere of human activity, which includes the production of goods and services of a sexual nature. A set of pedagogical conditions has been identified that will provide counteraction to prevent the involvement of minors in commercial sex. It is noted that the prospect of further research is to develop ways to implement certain pedagogical conditions and the creation, testing, experimental testing of the effectiveness of technologies for the formation of adolescents’ readiness to counteract involvement in commercial sex. It is determined that the involvement of children in commercial sexual exploitation is a consequence of the general socio-cultural situation in the modern world due to the rejection of traditional human values from man, man from culture, etc., and specific socio-economic, psychological, socio-pedagogical, normative legal reasons that are inherent in Ukrainian society.

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Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of Anxiety Before, During, and After a Standardized Patient Encounter

Athletic Training Education Journal ◽

10.4085/1947-380x-63-19 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 156-167

Author(s):

Brett Boddicker ◽

Zachary K. Winkelmann ◽

Elizabeth R. Neil ◽

Stacy E. Walker ◽

Lindsey E. Eberman

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Athletic Training ◽

Emotional State ◽

Clinical Skills ◽

Athletic Trainers ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Standardized Patient ◽

Consensual Qualitative Research ◽

Semistructured Interviews ◽

Before And After

Context Standardized patient (SP) encounters are an assessment technique in health and medical education that can improve participants' communication and clinical skills. Objective The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of postprofessional athletic trainers before, during, and after a SP encounter. Design Qualitative research. Setting Before and after participants engaged in the same SP encounter. Patients or Other Participants Athletic trainers enrolled in a postprofessional doctor of athletic training program (age = 24 ± 2, years of experience = 3 ± 3). Main Outcome Measure(s) Individual, semistructured interviews were completed before and after the SP encounter via teleconferencing software. Interviews were transcribed, and data were analyzed via the consensual qualitative research tradition using a 3-person coding team. Using a multistage process, the team identified common domains and categories to confirm a consensus codebook. Trustworthiness was established using member checking and external auditing. Results Four domains emerged during analysis: (1) emotional state, (2) design of encounter, (3) realism, and (4) conscious consideration. Participants identified an emotional state related to self-judgment and feeling overwhelmed by time constraints. The postprofessional learners felt the SP encounter created a safe environment for integrating newly learned skills. Contrastingly, they also expressed uncertainty, as the SP encounter was perceived as an unknown situation. Before the SP encounter, participants doubted their ability to suspend reality but were surprised by the authenticity. They mentioned using self-management strategies for their feelings. After the SP encounter, participants expressed a growth mindset related to improving clinical skills, while others lacked ownership through blaming. Conclusions Despite disbelief before the SP encounter, the design of the encounter provided an authentic learning environment for practicing athletic trainers to integrate and rehearse their clinical skills in a safe setting. However, participants expressed anxiety related to the SP encounter that altered their preparation and experience.

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Mothers’ Grief, Forgiveness, and Posttraumatic Growth After the Loss of a Child

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/0030222816652803 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 248-265 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lucia Martinčeková ◽

John Klatt

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Posttraumatic Growth ◽

Positive Association ◽

Negative Association ◽

Consensual Qualitative Research ◽

Semistructured Interviews ◽

Strong Positive Association ◽

Posttraumatic Growth Inventory ◽

Loss Of A Child ◽

Enright Forgiveness Inventory

The aim of this study was to investigate maternal grief after losing a child in relation to forgiveness and posttraumatic growth. A sample of 60 grieving mothers from Slovakia completed the following battery: The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, a modified version of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. The results showed a negative association between forgiveness and grief and a strong positive association between forgiveness and posttraumatic growth, which was not moderated by the time elapsed since the loss. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 mothers. The data were analyzed through Consensual Qualitative Research to gain deeper understanding of forgiveness and posttraumatic growth experiences after the loss of a child. Categories and subcategories are discussed.

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Refugees’ Meaning of Work: A Qualitative Investigation of Work Purposes and Expectations

Journal of Career Development ◽

10.1177/08948453211066343 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089484532110663

Author(s):

Laurence Fedrigo ◽

Marine Cerantola ◽

Caroline E. Frésard ◽

Jonas Masdonati

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Consensual Qualitative Research ◽

Meaning Of Work ◽

Qualitative Investigation ◽

Semistructured Interviews ◽

Material Benefits ◽

Meaningful Relationships ◽

Development Structure ◽

Over Time

This study explores the meaning of work for 22 young refugees aged from 18 to 35 from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yemen through semistructured interviews. Using consensual qualitative research, we sought to understand the purposes work fulfills, their work expectations, and how purposes and expectations might have changed over time. Results showed that work fulfills many purposes found in the literature, (e.g., development, structure, health, identity, and material benefits) as well as purposes in relation with others and the larger society. Participants expect their work to correspond to their selves (e.g., interests and personality), offer decent working conditions, and allow meaningful relationships and opportunities to help others. Illustrations of two participants’ paths provided insights into a possible change of meaning of work. In addition to implications for practice, the influence of relational and contextual factors is discussed.

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