In most countries around the world, girls are disproportionately at risk of, and harmed by, both sexual abuse and exploitation. But we also know that all genders experience sexual violence. And every trauma victim and survivor deserves tailored treatment and care. So what do we know about how boys experience sexual exploitation? What are the unique stigmas and burdens that they bear? How do we tailor interventions to address their specific needs? And how do we ensure that every victim of every gender gets the help that they need to heal? 

Topics in this episode: 

• Origin story (1:25) 
• Not much research about boys (3:10) 
• The survey (8:55) 
• Positive examples (16:18) 
• Three specific findings (23:58) 
• Policy implications (31:15) 
• What’s next in research (36:04) 
• For more information (38:51) 

Links: 

Mark Kavenagh, Ph.D., founder and director of Evident Consulting (LinkedIn) 

“Sexual exploitation of children: Barriers for boys in accessing social supports for victimization,” Mark Kavenagh, Nicholas Hua, Christine Wekerle, part of a special issue of Child Abuse & Neglect: Global Insights on the Sexual Exploitation of Boys, Vol. 142, Part 2, August 2023 

ECPAT International 

Global Boys Initiative  

“A global systematic scoping review of literature on the sexual exploitation of boys,” Corrine Moss, Savanah Jordan Smith, Katherine Kim, Nicholas Hua, Noella Noronha, Mark Kavenagh, Christine Wekerle 

“Frontline support services for boys who have experienced child sexual exploitation: A thematic review of survey data from seven countries,” Marie Nodzenski, Jarrett Davis 

Sunflower Centers in South Korea

Jordan Greenbaum, MD, previously appeared on One in Ten: “The Trauma They Carried,” Season 3, Episode 10 (July 15, 2021) 

Thorn study, Self-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material: Youth Attitudes and Experiences in 2021 

“Growing Up Online: Addressing Child Sextortion,” with Katie Connell, MSW, (FBI); Season 5, Episode 5, of One in Ten (April 7, 2023) 

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