ABSTRACT
There are a number of things evident within both of these quotes above. Helen is not presenting as a vulnerable victim groomed into abuse. Indeed, she felt that she was more vulnerable to problem drug use than to sexual exploitation. This does not deny that grooming is not a risk, but presents a different account of vulnerability in this particular situation. Each and every person understands and defines their own vulnerabilities in different ways depending upon a range of issues including their self-awareness, their previous experiences of abuse and their current attachments, strengths and confidences. That is, individual risks and resiliencies cannot be generalised. Helen also recognises the shift from the time when she wanted a relationship with Jim, an older man on her estate who encouraged girls to sleep with his friends, to a later time where she feels used by him. She knows her estate and friends well. She is aware that Kath is vulnerable to exploitation and wants to do something about this. The only way that she felt able to stop Kath from becoming further exploited was to challenge her outright, a challenge that resulted in a fight which got out of hand. Helen’s words illustrate an awareness of different people’s individual risk
factors (she’s vulnerable, very), of environmental risk factors (because of the area where I live, loads of kids use smack), of an understanding of abuse (I feel
a Nicola is demonstrating a clear understanding of the relationship between
vulnerability, knowledge, choice and power. Without knowledge of your choices, you cannot act and therefore you are vulnerable to those who have the power. In her eyes, knowledge of choice brings power. She later went on to explain that it was through involvement with the dedicated project for sexually exploited young people that she began to learn about other choices available to her and, therefore, began to feel more powerful, less vulnerable and less at risk. In this chapter I draw on young people’s experiences to identify some of the
risks that can be faced by sexually exploited children and young people. I also look at some of the resilience factors that can equip them to avoid, withstand or minimise the impact of the harm. In so doing, I consider whether risk assessment models can help us to identify how to protect and support young people in their transition towards adulthood. I do this by questioning the motivation to protect young people: is it driven by a desire to divert them from harm or from behaviour that offends moral sensitivities? With this question in mind, I explain the definition of sexual exploitation that has been developed to encompass the full range of risks that young people might face and refer to a model risk assessment framework for protecting the young people concerned.
