1. Understanding the Impact of CSEC
Module 3:
Understanding the Impact of CSEC
“It’s an emotional thing when you’re in the life, it’s an emotional thing when you get out. I’m struggling with PTSD, every night I have flashbacks, it’s hard to sleep”
- CSEC Survivor

2. Understanding the Impact of CSEC
Objectives…
To understand the psychological and physical impact of trauma and exploitation on CSEC victims and therefore, the challenges in exiting.
To become aware of the specific subcultures of commercial sexual exploitation including rules, norms, and street terminology.
Develop knowledge of the trauma bonds between victims and perpetrators.
Apply an understanding of Stockholm Syndrome to behaviors common to CSEC victims.

3. Impact of CSEC on Society

4. Brainstorming Questions: Who is effected by CSEC
Brainstorming Questions: Who is effected by CSEC? What are some of the ways that CSEC impacts our society?

5. CSEC… Impacts the local economy Decreases safety in neighborhoods
Links to other types of crime: guns, drugs, organized crime
Glorifies the commercial sex industry and promotes negative images for children
Creates demand, a need for supply, and increased recruitment of children
Directly exposes children to CSEC locations
Creates danger for children
Costs resources of social service and healthcare systems
Costs resources of law enforcement and court systems
Contributes to long-term impacts of prostituted adults and costs to systems

6. Studies of adult women in the sex industry report that…
62% of respondents had been raped in prostitution
73% had experienced physical assault in prostitution
72% were currently or formerly homeless
92% stated that they wanted to escape prostitution immediately
78% of 55 women who sought help from the Council for
Prostitution Alternatives in 1991 reported being raped an average of 16 times a year by pimps, and were raped 33 times a year by johns.
Melissa Farley, Isin Baral, Merab Kiremire, Ufuk Sezgin, "Prostitution in Five Countries: Violence and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" (1998)
Feminism & Psychology 8 (4):
Susan Kay Hunter, Council for Prostitution Alternatives Annual Report, 1991, Portland, Oregon

7. Activity: The Violence of CSEC

8. Activity: The Violence of CSEC
Debriefing Question:
What impact does this level of violence and abuse have on children?

9. Psychological/Emotional Impact of CSEC
Disruption of healthy psychological development
Self-concept, intimacy, beliefs and goals
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Impulse to revisit traumatic events,
intrusive emotions & memories, flashbacks, hyper arousal,
exaggerated startle reaction, panic symptoms
Self-injurious and suicidal behavior
Dissociative disorders
Anxiety
Paranoia
Clinical depression
Explosive outbursts
Sleep disturbance & nightmares
Bond with perpetrators
Hyper-sexualization
Spiritual Impact of CSEC
Despair
Hopelessness
Lack of belief in humanity
Lack of faith in spiritual power
Physical Impact of CSEC
Continuous physical abuse
Rape & gang rape
STDs & STIs
HIV & AIDS
Loss of bowel control
Pregnancy (wanted and unwanted)
Sterility
Facial/dental reconstruction
Tattoos & branding
Brain damage
Substance abuse/addiction
Self-cutting
Suicide/Death
Social Impact of CSEC
Isolation from peer group
Disconnection from community
Isolation from mainstream society
Homelessness
Incarceration/Criminal record as obstacle
Disempowerment
Lack of life skills
Trust issues/Difficulty maintaining relationships
Obstacles to vocation
Lack of access to legal economies, lack of job experience/skills
Educational deprivation
Missed school, disconnection with school system
Emotional Impact of CSEC
Anger and rage
Deep emotional pain/grieving
Feelings of humiliation/shame
Stigma of exploitation
Self-blame/Self-loathing
Loss of sexual desire, feelings, or response

10. Reflection Question: If the violence and abuse are this severe, why don’t children just leave or call out for help?

11. Coercion and Control
Working Group Question: If you were going to brainwash someone, make a person compliant, loyal, and too afraid to run away, what would you do?

12. Film: No Bigger Lie Out There Produced by Adults Saving Kids

13. Film: No Bigger Lie Out There
Debriefing Question:
What are your reactions to the practices of the exploiters you hear described in the film?

14. Demonstrating “omnipotence”
Enforcing trivial demands
Isolation
Degradation
Monopolization of perception
Pimp Tactics
Of Coercion and Control
Demonstrating “omnipotence”
Induced debility & exhaustion
Occasional indulgences
Threats

15. Activity: Rules of the Game

16. Activity: Rules of the Game
Imagine the situation printed on your paper interrupting your life as you know it:
How would you feel?
What impact would this have on your life?
How would you react or cope?
Can you relate?

17. Activity: Rules of the Game
Now try to imagine trying to cope with all of this at once…
Constantly having to lie about your age
All of your identification is taken away
Having to change your name
Constantly moving wherever someone else wants to
Being kidnapped
Being raped, repeatedly
Being beaten for not making enough money
Having to give all the money you make away
Having threats made against your family
Having to completely change your appearance
Getting a tattoo on your neck of the name of the person who constantly abuses you
Being constantly threatened with violence
Living with a group of people you call “family” who you could never depend on for support
Feeling trapped in an abusive and violent situation

18. Activity: Rules of the Game (continued)
Not being allowed any contact with the world outside of your abusive situation
Not being able to make eye contact with men other than the one who abuses you
Having to call a man who is not your father, who abuses you, “daddy”
Being punished and beaten when someone else breaks an abuser’s “rules”
Having to meet a nightly quota based on how much money you make for having sex
Having to compete for attention from your from your abuser with five other girls
Having sex with strangers every night
Getting an STD
Getting arrested again and again
Having to trade sex with a police officer in exchange for not getting arrested
Being beat up by a group of 5 pimps for looking one in the eye
…at only 13 years old.

19. Film: Polaris Project Pimp Circle

20. Stockholm Syndrome & Trauma Bonds
What is your immediate response to this story?

21. Stockholm Syndrome & Trauma Bonds
What needs to be present for Stockholm Syndrome to occur?
The presence of a perceived threat to one's physical or psychological survival and the belief that the abuser would carry out the threat
The presence of a perceived small kindness from the abuser to the victim
Isolation from perspectives other than those of the abuser
The perceived inability to escape the situation

22. Stockholm Syndrome & Trauma Bonds
How is Stockholm Syndrome displayed?
Positive feelings by the victim toward the abuser/controller
Negative feelings by the victim toward family, friends, or authorities trying to rescue/support them or win their release
Support of the abuser's reasons and behaviors
Positive feelings by the abuser toward the victim
Supportive behaviors by the victim, at times helping the abuser
Inability to engage in behaviors that may assist in their release or detachment

23. Stockholm Syndrome & Trauma Bonds
Who can suffer from Stockholm Syndrome?
Abused Children
Battered/Abused Women
Prisoners of War
Cult Members
Incest Victims
Criminal Hostage Situations
Concentration Camp Prisoners
Controlling/Intimidating Relationships
CSEC/Trafficking Victims

24. What does Stockholm Syndrome look like with CSEC victims?

25. Stockholm Syndrome & Trauma Bonds
CSEC victims often form “trauma bonds” with perpetrators. This can be the biggest obstacle in their recovery.
How are trauma bonds formed?
Violence and threats of violence.
Alternating violence and kindness increases bonding.
Believe if they even think a disloyal thought, exploiter will know and retaliate.
Isolation increases bonding.
Shame and stigma associated with prostitution, rape, losing virginity increases bonding.

26. Stockholm Syndrome & Trauma Bonds
What are the major indicators of trauma bonding?
Shows ongoing symptoms of trauma or PTSD
Intensely grateful for small kindness
Denies violence when violence and threats of violence are actually occurring
Rationalizes violence
Denies anger at exploiter to others and to self
Believe they have some control over abuse
Believe if they control situation it lessens pimps/customers/traffickers control and abuse
Self-blame for situation and abuse

27. Major indicators of trauma bonding (continued)
Hyper vigilant to exploiter’s needs
Seeks to keep exploiter happy to decrease violence
Tries to get inside pimps/traffickers/ customers heads
Sees world from exploiter’s perspective
May or may not have own perspective
Experiences sense of self through pimps/traffickers/customers eyes
Sees outside authorities/people trying to win release (escape) as bad guys
Sees pimp as good guy, protector
Sees exploiter as victim
Is thankful and grateful pimp/trafficker/customer have not killed them

28. Reflection Questions:
Why don’t we normally recognize Stockholm Syndrome in CSEC victims?
Have you heard of any other cases of Stockholm Syndrome?

29. Elizabeth Smart & Shawn Hornbeck
Victims were kidnapped and abused
Victims had an opportunity to escape but didn’t
Victims developed strong bond with their abuser
Experts agreed they suffered from Stockholm Syndrome
Media and public were sympathetic

30. Discussion Question:
Why do you think the media and public were sympathetic to Elizabeth Smart and Shawn Hornbeck, but are often not sympathetic to CSEC victims?

31. Debriefing Questions:
Before entering this training, what was your understanding of why children stay in the sex industry?
Has your understanding changed? If so, how?