Gender Differences among Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth in Israel

Author: Shilo, Guy; Preis, Heidi & Peled, Einat

Abstract: Research on commercial sexual exploitation (COMSE) of youth tends to focus on young females as victims, and much less is known about male and transgender commercially sexually exploited youth (COMSEY). Understanding the psychosocial background and past COMSE experiences among COMSEY is important to provide support for gender-specific or gender-inclusive interventions for COMSEY. The study included 57 cisgender females, 40 males and 23 transgender females who received services from a multi-module programme for COMSEY in Israel. Case managers provided data on the youth regarding background characteristics, health variables and COMSE experiences prior to entering the service. The youth had similar rates in most psychosocial background characteristics, including being a victim of abuse. Cisgender females were less likely than cisgender males and transgender females to be from an ethnic minority and more likely to have been in out-of-home placement. Past experiences of COMSE were also similar between genders, though cisgender females were less involved in street prostitution and more likely to have been sexually abused during COMSE. The findings provide support for a gender-inclusive approach to intervention with COMSEY and call for re-consideration of present gender-specific interventions in this domain. Further research on intervention with COMSEY is needed, specifically regarding male and transgender COMSEY.

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, sex trafficked youth, at-risk youth, gender differences