Internalized racism and commercial sexual exploitation of children

Author: Hurst, Tamara

Abstract: The commercial sexual exploitation of children involves the exchange of sex with a child or teen for tangible or intangible goods. Extant research has identified multiple risk factors associated with this phenomena including age, socioeconomic status, and histories of child maltreatment. This article explores the influence of internalized racism or colorism as a potential risk factor for youth who might be vulnerable to sexual exploitation. These constructs involve defining personal self-worth or placing a value on members of one's own ethnic group, based on comparisons of skin color or other features associated with a privileged race. Belsky's ecological perspective is applied as a framework for understanding how internalized racism might increase the vulnerability of certain youth to sexual exploitation.

Keywords: internalized racism, colorism, child sexual exploitation, sex trafficking