TY - JOUR
AU - Jane, Dodsworth,
AB - This book gives a clear overview of the past and more recent historical, attitudinal, legislative and policy context of child sexual exploitation. It identifies the need for increased awareness of its existence and impact, but also of the impact of how it is defined and the influence of this on policy and practice. The author offers some insightful reflections on the way forward for effective interventions by capturing and reflecting on the perspectives of young people and professionals directly involved. This echoes and expands on the approach taken by other research on this topic in terms of the voice of the young person being key to creating effective policy and interventions and the importance of recognising the agency of young people (Coy, 2008; Pearce, 2009; Melrose and Pearce, 2013; Dodsworth, 2015). A central premise considered by the author is that of ‘assuming a position in which children and young people exchanging sex for something is a problem’. Given that starting point, she asserts that we must ask what the nature of the problem is and for whom it is a problem. This seems to be a wholly helpful and holistic approach to the question of what is effective intervention. Having given a clear overview in the introduction of the aims and remit of the book, the first chapter considers the issue of definitions. The paradigm shift from ‘child prostitute’ to ‘victim of abuse’ is set in its historical context and the literature on this and on key models of involvement well explored. Where this binary positioning leaves the issue of children’s agency is raised and examined. Chapters Two and Three consider why CSE happens from the perspectives of young people and professionals with experience of this, with a clear focus on the key areas of vulnerability and risk and what is meant by these terms by each group. Effective use is made of direct quotes to ensure that the voice of those directly involved is central to the discussion. Lack of continuity, lack of security, lack of a sense of a safe place/a home, hiding away and lack of control are central to the experiences of the young people interviewed. Professionals were aware of issues of risk, of histories of neglect and sexual abuse, low self-esteem and lack of qualities of resilience, again themes echoed in other key literature on this topic. The impact of power at all levels is explored well as is the conceptualising of vulnerability as unmet needs. Consideration is also given to wider structural factors and their impact on perceptions of agency and the coping strategies young people develop to ‘cope’. The notion of young people as ‘empty vessels’ with a sense of self waiting to emerge and potentially become prey to numerous influences is unpacked in terms of professionals’ perceptions of involvement in child sexual exploitation being intrinsically to the risks inherent in being young. This, in turn, negates notions that young people exercise agency in response to complex circumstances in policy and in practice provision. The complex issue of agency in relation to child sexual exploitation is very well examined and takes our consideration of this issue a step further forward. Chapter Four explores definitional uncertainties and the current underpinning of definitions by the grooming model. The author argues that the issue is more complex, that grooming is not always present, and that the element of exchange is fundamental to our understanding of the issues and is what makes child sexual exploitation distinct from other sexual abuse. The author’s exploration of this complex issue from the perspectives of the young people involved and those of professionals grappling with what they understand the issues to be is illuminating and clarifying. Chapter Five explores issues of policy and interventions and what young people with direct experience of sexual exploitation and the services available to them have to say about their effectiveness. The importance of recognition, reciprocity and interdependency is identified as a key theme from the perceptions of both young people and professionals. The notion that child sexual exploitation is a part of much wider issues for which a holistic assessment and holistic provision is required beyond the child protection remit is identified and grounded in the experiences of the young people and of the professional participants in the study. The concluding chapter draws these central strands together, reiterating the complexity of the problem from a definitional, positional, policy and intervention perspective. The author argues convincingly that the current policy position is too simplistic and narrow, and focuses too exclusively on models of grooming. That issues of unmet need and of exchange must be recognised and acknowledged in order to go forward to create effective policy is a clear message from this insightful book. The central premise noted by the author at the beginning of the book of ‘asking what the nature of the problem is and for whom it is a problem’ is addressed well and the author’s critique furthers our thinking about these complex issues. References Coy M. ( 2008 ) ‘ Young women, local authority care and selling sex’, British Journal of Social Work , 38 , pp. 1408 – 24 . Google Scholar Crossref Search ADS Dodsworth J. ( 2015 ) Pathways into Sexual Exploitation and Sex Work: The Experience of Victimhood and Agency , Basingstoke , Palgrave MacMillan . Melrose M. , Pearce J. J. (eds) ( 2013 ) Critical Perspectives on Child Sexual Exploitation and Related Trafficking , Basingstoke , Palgrave MacMillan . Pearce J. J. ( 2009 ) Young People and Sexual Exploitation: It’s Not Hidden, You Are Just Not Looking , Abingdon, Oxon , Routledge . Warrington C. ( 2010 ) ‘ From less harm to more good: The role of children and young people’s participation in relation to sexual exploitation’ , Youth and Policy , 104 , pp. 62 – 79 . © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/about_us/legal/notices)
TI - Making Sense of Child Sexual Exploitation: Exchange, Abuse and Young People, Sophie Hallett
JO - The British Journal of Social Work
DO - 10.1093/bjsw/bcx119
DA - 2018-09-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/making-sense-of-child-sexual-exploitation-exchange-abuse-and-young-PNbMCpobWC
SP - 1822
VL - 48
IS - 6
DP - DeepDyve
ER -