Potential impediments to the recognition of the sexual exploitation of young males under 18
Date
2018
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University of Bedfordshire
Abstract
A growing body of research has shown that the discourse on child sexual exploitation (CSE)
continues to be female-centric despite some attempts to raise the plight of young males as
victims of this phenomenon. This thesis addresses this gap by examining the potential
impediments to the recognition of CSE in young males under the age of 18. The central focus of
this study is to identify barriers to disclosure by young males and inhibitors to identification by
professionals, encompassing an exploration of the existence of any relationship between the two.
The research took the form of a mixed methods approach, obtaining both quantitative and
qualitative data from young people and a range of professionals. This consisted of: 91
respondents to a survey for professionals; 1,158 respondents to a survey for young people; 10
interviews with young males; and 30 interviews with professionals. The study is underpinned by
the theoretical framework of ecological systems theory, supporting the notion that the sexual
exploitation of young males as a phenomenon is not simply a manifestation of the individual male
victim operating in a vacuum, but contextual to the prevalence and impact of other factors. This
allows for the integration of all levels of human ecology, including the environment and diverse
cultural contexts, as responsible for the cause of and solution to the problem. Application of this
theory was facilitated by using Sorsoli et al’s (2008) three domains model as a practical
framework, enabling examination of barriers to recognition within each of the systems (or
domains) at play, and the interplay between them, demonstrating the complexities surrounding
the recognition of this phenomenon.
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Keywords
International Resources, United Kingdom, research, male victims, exploitation
Citation
Montgomery-Devlin, J. (2018). Potential impediments to the recognition of the sexual exploitation of young males under 18. University of Bedfordshire.