How to recognize sexual abuse and exploitation
Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation occur when someone is forced, pressured or tricked into taking part in any kind of sexual activity with another person.
This can be online or in person.
Sexual abuse
- being pressured or forced to engage in sexual activity or have sex
- someone flashing or exposing themselves to you in person or online
- being pressured or told to share naked or partially naked images of themselves
- being pressured or encouraged to share sexual activity such as masturbation online or in person
- being sent, shown or given sexual pictures and videos, including porn
- being given things or made to feel like you owe someone something sexual
- doing anything sexual without clear consent
Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation is a form of child abuse. This happens when a child is manipulated, intimidated, coerced or deceived into exchanging sexual acts by an individual or group of people for something they want, need or are fearful of happening, such as threats to family and friends.
Often a child does not recognise that they are being exploited and may think they are in a relationship with the perpetrator/s. Exploitation can happen through technology or physical contact.
Six things you should know about child sexual abuse
- Sexual abuse is never the child or young persons fault
- Sexual abuse can happen to anyone regardless of their gender or sexuality
- Sexual abuse happens to people from all different backgrounds
- Sexual abuse can happen by a stranger, someone you know, someone you consider a friend, or someone you are in a relationship with
- Sexual abuse can happen online or in person
- Sexual abuse can leave someone feeling confused about what has happened
How to spot possible signs of sexual abuse and exploitation
The symptoms below are possible indicators and each child’s experience can be looked at within the context of their lives and circumstances.
Emotional:
- Fears / phobias, e.g. dark places; certain smells, sounds and places
- Guilt Self-blame
- Confusion
- Insecurity
- Loss of confidence and self-esteem
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Helplessness
- Mistrust
- Self-loathing
- Fear of intimacy and closeness
Behavioural:
- Anger, aggression, tantrums or bullying
- Sudden mood swings
- Soiling / wetting / smearing
- Sexually inappropriate behaviour or play
- Display sexualised behaviours
- Express inappropriate / not age-appropriate language
- Not able to concentrate
- Withdrawal / isolating themselves
- Compulsive behaviours
- Clingy
- Dissociation – zoning out or ‘mental flight’
- Self-harm
- Panic attacks
- Altering the clothes they wear, e.g. not wanting to wear underwear / having something tight round their crotch
- May not want to see certain people / groups of people
- Poor self-care
- Starts talking about their body in a negative way, e.g. it is dirty, repulsive
Physical:
- Tiredness and exhaustion
- Hyperactivity
- Diarrhoea / constipation Ache and pains – stomach aches / headaches / muscle tension Constant colds Asthma / eczema Dizzy spells
- Eating problems: eating more or less than is normal for them
- Flashbacks
- Unusual memory loss / poor memory
- Soreness in the genital area Regular occurrence of UTI’s Unexplained bleeding from the genitals or anus
- Unexplained discharges from genitals or anus
- Regular or persistent pain when urinating or emptying bowels
- STD’s Pregnancy
- Bedtimes: Not wanting to go to bed Insomnia
- Bed wetting
- Nightmares or night-terrors
- School: Not want to go to school Truancy Difficulties concentrating and learning Overachieving or underachieving
Advice for concerned professional
It is important that professionals use appropriate language when talking about children and their experience of sexual exploitation.
Refer a child or young person
If you are concerned about a child or a young person, get in touch