Lecture 10: The Sexual Exploitation of Young Men in (Western) Canada

Question 1

Sexual Exploitation

Answer 1

Abuse of children and youth by exchanging sexual activity for money, drugs, and/or basic needs.

Question 2

National Youth in Care Network

Answer 2

Organization run by youth and former youth from government care who advocate for youth in care.

Question 3

What is the demographics of sexually exploited young men?

Answer 3

• Mostly Aboriginal.
• Most involved with child protective services.
• Most didn’t finish high school.
• Most thrown out.
• Most sexually or physically violated.
• Most witnessed aggression.
• Most involved with police.

Question 4

What were some reasons that young men became involved in the sex trade?

Answer 4

• Physical, mental, and emotional health.
• Necessity and survival.
• Drug and alcohol dependency.
• Family history.
• Camaraderie and acceptance.

Question 5

At what age did most of the young men get into the sex trade?

Answer 5

Under the age of 18 (16-17).

Question 6

What is a potential economic problem when young boys are involved in the sex trade?

Answer 6

As adults, they lack employment skills and work experience. Don’t have transferrable skills.

Question 7

Sex work in and of itself is not illegal. However, why do most individuals involved commit crime when they hit older ages such as 24?

Answer 7

They must innovate to sustain habits.

Question 8

How long do most young men stay in the sex trade?

Answer 8

Over 2 years.

Question 9

Which gender tends to enter the trade earlier and stay twice as long?

Answer 9

Men.

Question 10

Why do men struggle exiting the sex trade?

Answer 10

There are very few exiting services. Women are offered exit when they birth children, which brings along state support.

Question 11

Where do male sex trade workers mainly work?

Answer 11

In cars, hotels, apartments, truck stops, abandoned buildings, parks. Rarely go to a home. Mainly unconventional spaces.

Question 12

How do male sex trade workers act and dress?

Answer 12

They act normal, and tend to walk and keep moving. Wear everyday clothing to remain undetectable.

Question 13

True or false? Male sex trade workers never make use of shelters.

Answer 13

False, most report staying in shelters.

Question 14

True or false? Male sex trade workers report negative experiences at shelters.

Answer 14

False.

Question 15

Dissociation

Answer 15

Majority did not enjoy working in the sex teamed but felt victimized and traumatized. Dissociating themselves from the sex acts the were performing.

Question 16

How are family relations strained due to involvement in the male sex trade?

Answer 16

Families generally disapprove of involvement in the sex trade, especially when they are aware that the customers are predominantly male.

Question 17

Gay Bashing

Answer 17

Humiliation and violence from the community and customers.

Question 18

True or false? Most male sex workers have experienced a bad date.

Answer 18

True.

Question 19

What are some common preoccupations of the male sex trade workers?

Answer 19

• How and when to exit the trade.
• Fear of never getting out.
• How to improve lives/lives of families.
• Moving on to a better lifestyle.

Question 20

How do male sex trade workers hustle safely?

Answer 20

• Do not hustle alone.
• Stay in safe/well-lit areas.
• Seek ‘sugar daddy’ relationship.

Question 21

How are drugs and the sex trade related?

Answer 21

Sometimes the trade introduces them to drugs. Most see drugs as a way of life, and drug use in private life fuels the need to work and enables them to remain in the trade.

Question 22

What are the 3 types of sexual orientations in the male sex trade?

Answer 22

1. Gay for pay.
2. Straight for pay.
3. Transgender.

Question 23

Gay for Pay

Answer 23

Make who is heterosexual in non-hustling/working life but will become involved in sexual activities with male customers during the period in which he is hustling/working.

Question 24

Straight for Pay

Answer 24

Gay male who will take on a straight personae during the period in which he is hustling/working.

Question 25

What are 3 reasons that young men stay in the sex trade?

Answer 25

1. Necessity.
2. Survival.
3. Addiction.

Question 26

What are services that would help young men exit the sex trade?

Answer 26

• Residential support services.
• Drug withdrawal support.
• Trauma support.

Question 27

What is the general message that service providers must realize when dealing with young men in the sex trade?

Answer 27

It is not easy to leave.

Question 28

What is the legislation in Alberta that deals with sexually exploited children?

Answer 28

Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act.

Question 29

How does the PSECA deal with the issue of sexually exploited children?

Answer 29

• Education.
• Risk assessment.
• Service provision.

Question 30

How are sexually exploited children dealt with under the PSECA?

Answer 30

May be confined for 5-7 days.

Question 31

List features of the previous anti-prostitution laws in Canada.

Answer 31

• Prostitution legal, but related activities are illegal.
• Cannot keep brothel.
• Cannot transport/direct person to brothel.
• Cannot solicit/procure sex, pimp or control someone.
• Pimping those under 18 is aggravating.
• Illegal to meet in public place for prostitution.
• Indecent act law.

Question 32

What was acceptable under the previous anti-prostitution laws in Canada?

Answer 32

• Meeting clients in hotel rooms.
• Advertising in newspapers or magazines.
• Speak over phone.

Question 33

Why was Canada’s anti-prostitution laws revised in 2013-2014?

Answer 33

The old ones made work for prostitutes unsafe.

Question 34

The Supreme Court of Canada ___ struck down current anti-prostitution laws at that time, taking an almost activist role.

Answer 34

Unanimously.

Question 35

Why did the SCC declare that current anti-prostitution laws were not sufficient?

Answer 35

The parliament has power to regulate against nuisances, but not at the cost of health, safety, and lives of prostitutes.

Question 36

Suspended Declaration of Invalidity

Answer 36

Gives parliament one year to make the necessary changes.

Question 37

What was carried over into the new anti-prostitution laws from the old ones?

Answer 37

• Brothel still illegal.
• Transporting/directing people still illegal.
• Public place still illegal.

Question 38

What are some of the changes the new anti-prostitution laws brought about?

Answer 38

• Obtaining sexual services for consideration is illegal.
• Aggravating factor if underage.
• Obtaining material benefit from sexual services is illegal.
• Procuring from a minor is illegal. Younger the more aggravating.
• Knowingly advertising is illegal. One can only advertise for self.
• Aiding and abetting.

Question 39

What are contentious aspects of the new anti-prostitution laws?

Answer 39

• What constitutes sexual service?
• Illegal to discuss in public causes trade to be pushed underground.
• Newspapers may be charged instead of ad posters.
• Aiding and abetting discourages collaboration.