Youth Sex Work Along the Gender Spectrum

• In Event: Sex Work and Demand for Commercial Sex

Abstract

A growing body of exceptional qualitative research has shown that gender conforming girls are not the only group of youth who engage in sex work. (Dank et. al. 2015; Dank et. al. 2016).

Objective. The objective of this study was to use a large survey data set to document the populations of youth who have accumulated prostitution charges in the state of California.

Methods. The authors of this paper collected 4044 surveys from California juvenile halls, ranches, and/or camps. The survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, analyses of variance, and bivariate logistic regression tests.

Results/Findings. The authors found that straight and gender conforming boys and girls are at the same low risk of being charged for prostitution (approximately 1%). However, gay and gender non-conforming boys are at higher risk of picking up prostitution charges than lesbian and gender nonconforming girls. With 10% of girls and 21% of boys, gender nonconforming youth pick up prostitution charges at the highest rate.

Implications. Youth advocates must take youth across the gender spectrum-- particularly gender nonconforming boys-- into consideration when developing support programs for youth engaged in sex work.

Authors

• Angela Irvine, Impact Justice

• Aisha Canfield, Impact Justice