Rethink Resources

Yesterday I had the chance to lead a group at a transitional living program for teens run by Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center talking with youth about teens and the sex trade.

The youth were amazing and we covered a lot of ground in a short time on why youth get involved, what happens, how to know if you’re being taken advantage of and how to stay safer if you are involved in trading sex for money.

I’ll be reflecting on what the youth shared and the whole discussion for a little bit. But I wanted to share something from one youth and agreed on by everyone in the group. She said that is was just so unusual to be talking about the sex trade with an adult, even though youth talk about the sex trade all the time with each other.

At school, on the block, with friends or whoever, youth talk about this girl doing that, who makes their money with what guy, which grown people will give you money or let you stay at their house, what they’ve heard about dancing for cash, and that one on the bus who wanted to take your picture with no clothes on at their house.

But youth get around caring, ethical adults like teachers or social workers and they don’t say a word about it. Youth pick up on ethical adults’ discomfort around the issue. I say ethical adults because there are plenty of unethical adults who talk up teens about the sex trade. But ethical adults don’t know what to say usually or don’t listen to youth without rushing to judgment.

Meanwhile teens are talking about it plenty and caring adults need to get a whole lot more comfortable talking about the sex trade with youth.