Their voices matter : how intersectionality and systems of oppression play a role in understanding the sexual exploitation of youth

The sexual exploitation of youth is a complex social issue that is receiving growing attention in today’s literature. Research suggests there is a significant overrepresentation of Indigenous and 2SLBTQIA+ youth who are impacted by sexual exploitation. This paper uses an intersectional and anti-oppressive framework to further explore individual and systemic risk factors that increase the possibility of youth becoming sexually exploited and further analyzes how systems of oppression and intersecting identities play a role in the sexual exploitation of youth today. Suggestions are made for ways to deliver trauma-informed intervention and prevention programming to youth in a way that recognizes power imbalances when working with service providers to help better understand how essential it is for survivors’ voices to be heard the loudest when making decisions and creating goals. The impacts of media discourse and how these narratives influence systems of oppression, racism, stereotypes, stigma and awareness on the issue of youth sexual exploitation are also analyzed. Finally, future research is suggested to increase awareness, address oppressive policy and prevent a homogenizing understanding of this social justice issue.