Shifting the Narrative and Ending the Silence: Juvenile Prostitutes or Juvenile Victims?

Abstract

Background Public perceptions of juveniles involved in commercial sexual activity are heavily shaped by media and communication frames, and these perceptions influence the direction of public policy priorities. Objective A systematic critical analysis of trends in the literature was conducted to evaluate the framing of this population as either deserving of policy aid or undeserving of policy aid. Methods The language of professionals in medical, legal, and social science peer-reviewed journals was assessed, encompassing the years 1985–2015. Findings Findings suggest that the framing of these juveniles is slowly shifting away from a perspective of juvenile culpability and toward a perspective of juvenile exploitation. Conclusions Current research efforts are imperative and should be focused on the reconceptualization of these juveniles as victims of abuse and exploitation.