Introduction
Prostitution, in general, is a contentious topic in Canada and internationally. Although teenage prostitution has been repressed legally for thousands of years, it remains part of the bigger sexual industry and continues to flourish in various areas in Canada. Teenage prostitution distorts the existing line between the social and the personal (“Sex Work Laws in Canada,” 2022). Compared with other jurisdictions such as the U.S., technically, in Canada, prostitution is legal. However, most of its peripheral activities are penalized, with teenage prostitution being illegal and being termed as sexual exploitation.
Canada has reported an increased concern for children and youth engagement in prostitution. This concern has been reflected in news headlines all over Canada, with some of such headlines reading: A probe of human trafficking involving 31 young girls has resulted in the arrest of 10 (Paulo, 2020). Of late, one in Edmonton, Alberta read, a pair in Edmonton faces human trafficking charges after a teen girl has emerged with teenage prostitution accusations (Paulo, 2020). Such headlines serve as an exemplification of the existing problem of teenage prostitution in Canada. This paper seeks to explore the realities of teenage prostitution in Canada in an array of topics.
Types of Issues Leading to Concerns on Teenage Prostitution
Teenage prostitution is a major issue of concern in Canada. A significant contributor to the concern is the legislative responses and general attitudes towards the vice in the country (Gewirtz & Finkelhor, 2019). Broadly defined, prostitution is the cash remuneration in exchange for sexual services (Gewirtz & Finkelhor, 2019). Typically, the commercial trade for sex goes past street prostitution and involves escorting, massage brothels, strip clubs, outcalls, pornography, child prostitution, prostitution tourism, sex trafficking, phone sex, and lap dancing (Gewirtz & Finkelhor, 2019). Teenage prostitution denotes the sexual mistreatment of minors commercially.
At times, the argument is brought forward that the involvement of those under 18 in prostitution is sexual exploitation and illegal. However, the legal state in Canada concerning prostitution has been instrumental in the topic’s emergence as an area of concern. Prior to 2014, the country’s laws regarding prostitution were unstable (“Sex Work Laws in Canada,” 2022). However, this legal state later attracted immense attention as the country’s supreme court was challenged to strike down unconstitutional prostitution laws.
It was forecasted among the political class and lawyers that this challenge in the apex court would lead to prostitution in Canada being legalized, which would consequently permit further indulgence in teenage prostitution. Such implications would be grave, and the extent of the impact of the legalizations was not well discernable. A ruling would then be made on Bedford et al. vs. the Attorney General of Canada (Beverley et al., 2020). It struck down the previous federal law on prostitution, introduced the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, and Justin Trudeau, who led a liberal government, was elected (“Sex Work Laws in Canada,” 2022). Notably, enacting this new legislation increased international awareness of prostitution in Canada.
Nonetheless, prostitution’s legal status is mainly reliant on public opinion. Canada shows a severe lack of research in the area of public attitudes regarding teenage prostitution, with the vice’s occurrence being roughly estimated and the estimate’s accuracy questionable. One of the few publications regarding public opinion on teenage prostitution in Canada is by Nabugoomu et al. (2020). The scholars assert that public attitudes regarding the issue are part of a wide variety of legal issues concerning teenage prostitution and prostitution in general. Beverley et al. (2020) did a study that helps illuminate the issues leading to concerns about Teenage prostitution. They offered multiple polls on various matters of prostitution regulation in Canada.
The study established that females were more likely to support the illegalization of prostitution. At the same time, males were more inclined to select the decriminalization of specific illegal acts and only permit consenting adult prostitution (“Sex Work Laws in Canada,” 2022). By analysis of the legal development of prostitution laws in Canada, it is clear that these, coupled with the resultant public debate, lead to teenage prostitution and prostitution overall being a thorny issue. Of significant concern are the repercussions of such laws and the ensuing public discussion on teenage prostitution itself.
Cause and Effects of Teenage Prostitutions and Prognosis if Left Unattended
Teenage prostitution is linked to specific economic and social factors. Some of the most predominant factors include leaving home early, age, childhood sexual abuse, and economic conditions. Other associated factors include alcohol abuse by parents, unity of the family element, self-esteem, and substance abuse in an individual’s adolescent years (“Sex Work Laws in Canada,” 2022). Baird and Connolly (2021) also state that adolescent girls are especially at an increased risk of teenage prostitution due to gender expectations, power imbalance in relationships, and insecurity. Key factors have been established to significantly contribute to teenage prostitution in Canada, including in states like Alberta, as discussed below.
Leaving Home at an Early Age
When a child leaves home at an early stage, mainly due to adverse characteristics of the family, this is a significant contributor to teenage prostitution. A study conducted by Reeson et al. (2022) in Alberta found that sexual abuse, substance abuse, family dysfunction history, and physical abuse contribute to adolescents leaving their homes prematurely. Youth often respond adaptively to neglectful and abusive living by running away. A study by the Committee on Sexual Offences Against Children established that 97% of male and 93% of female prostitutes had, at a particular instance in life, run away from their homes (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). Such findings indicate that teenagers spend a considerable part of their lives or live entirely on the streets.
A variety of studies have been conducted in the area. A correlation has been established between the amount spent on the streets and increased participation in criminal activity, including youthful prostitution, theft, and drug abuse (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). Leaving home early necessitates that the young fend for themselves, with sex for survival being linked more to males than to females.
Age
Age is not a basis for determining if a person will become a prostitute. Instead, it is only an aspect linked with entry into prostitution. Several Canadian studies have found that most adults into prostitution commenced engaging in the act in their teenage years (Nabugoomu et al., 2020). According to a new University of Alberta study, the average age of female entry into prostitution was 14.8 years in Alberta (Levy & Willis, 2022). In Vancouver, entry into the sex trade by females was found to be at an average age of 16.3 years, while it was 15.5 years for males (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). However, a slight regional variation exists in the age at which persons commence prostituting in Canada.
The average age of entering teenage prostitution shows that older teens are more at risk. Generally, the Alberta Taskforce on Juvenile Prostitution established projected prostitute percentage under 18 years account for 10 to 13% (Flanigan & Watson, 2020). The typical age of men charged with offenses linked with prostitution is 27 years, while that of women is 35 years (Paulo, 2020). Adults continue to account for most of the individuals accused of crimes related to prostitution at 97%, while the remaining 3% are minors under eight years (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). If the Canadian Justice system is to leap a step forward, it should begin by acknowledging that teenagers involved in prostitution are not offenders but victims.
Childhood Sexual Abuse
A critical dominant variable intertwining sexual abuse with teenage prostitution is running away from home. Typically, children run from home as a sexual abuse defense or survival mechanism. In their sample of 130 prostitutes from the state of Alberta, Toombs et al. (2022) established that 57% had an experience of childhood sexual abuse, having about three abusers each. Moreover, almost half of the sample suffered physical abuse in their childhood. Another study was carried out revolving around sexual abuse among teenage prostitutes. In their study, Gewirtz and Finkelhor (2019) compared children who had and had not been abused sexually. They established that participants who had in their childhood been sexually abused were two-fold likely to engage in teenage prostitution. Such statistics indicate the effect that childhood sexual abuse has on indulgence in teenage sexual abuse.
Economic Conditions
Lack of work experience and age leaves few legitimate employment opportunities for youths. This deficiency in opportunity leads the majority of youth escapees to a poor financial state, leading them to indulge in the teenage sex trade as a way of survival. A study by Rahnavard et al. (2022) investigated the link between prostitution and various background factors. These factors include gender, hunger, age, unemployment, the number of times they have left home, got arrested, and the amount of time spent on the streets (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). The study established that shelter deficiency and unemployment were the most dominant predictors of indulgence in teenage prostitution.
Further to the dangerous lifestyle that prostitution, especially street prostitution, exposes teenagers to, the age group also suffers from a higher prevalence of long-term health and psychological effects. A study involving 130 prostitutes, including some in their teenage years, offered them a test aimed at determining if they have had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to the diverse risk factors that their work exposes them to. The study established that most prostitutes encountered sexual and physical violence (Flanigan & Watson, 2020). Of the sample, 83% had a weapon used to threaten them. 82% had experienced physical mugging, 84% had been homeless at a particular point, and 68% had been raped during work (Flanigan & Watson, 2020). 92% had some symptoms of PTSD, with 24% having partial PTSD and 68% being positive for full PTSD (Flanigan & Watson, 2020). PTSD denotes a psychological disorder that is a consequence of trauma.
Types of Intervention Approaches to Responding to Teenage Prostitution in Canada and Benefits of the Interventions
Each intervention approach seeking to respond to teenage prostitution is aimed at ensuring that the problem that teenage prostitution leads to is tackled. However, each has a diverse perspective on how to attain its goal. Globally, no jurisdiction, city, or country has adopted an approach that entirely legalizes teenage prostitution (Flanigan & Watson, 2020). Actually, owing to the fact that it involves minors, this makes it illegal in most jurisdictions, only transpiring under the legal lacuna of the wings that generally legalizes adult prostitution. Moreover, in other places, it happens entirely illegally and undercover.
Decriminalization
By definition, this is the total elimination of teenage prostitution and other prostitution-linked offenses from the country’s criminal code. The most targeted offense is communication for intentions relating to prostitution and owning a brothel (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). Decriminalization holds the view that teenagers engaging in acts of prostitution are victims who are vulnerable to abuse by those who will potentially utilize their services and that law enforcement officials harass them (Gewirtz & Finkelhor, 2019). Decriminalization as a suitable intervention approach to teenage prostitution is supported by youth advocacy groups, prostitution rights groups, and a majority of women’s groups.
They contend that teenage prostitution’s injurious side effects, including violence by pimps and exploitation, can be addressed by implementing other offenses already in the Criminal Code, including assault and extortion (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). For instance, the congestion and noise that teenage street prostitution often presents can be addressed through municipal and provincial laws. Thus, the significant benefit associated with decriminalization is that it tackles not only teenage prostitution but also addresses other vices that it presents.
Further Criminalization
Supporters of further criminalization of teenage prostitution offer a two-fold argument. One is that criminal law must reestablish traditional moral and religious values. Criminal law is seen as mirroring Christianity, and engaging in teenage prostitution is committing a sin against God and thus felonious to society. The intervention would seek to end teenage prostitution by aiming at clients, pimps, teenage prostitutes, and others who benefit from the vice (Sharon et al., 2022). This perspective, though, can resolve the ambiguous section of the law, which fails to permit disparity in moral opinion.
It would entail altering the Identification of Criminal Acts and the Criminal Code to allow photographing and fingerprinting of persons charged with communicating with the intention of engaging in teenage prostitution. By hybridization, the benefit will be achieved as johns would not be permitted to escape repeat offender identification by offering a varied identity or names (Sharon et al. 2022). They would not be able to evade court by appearing through agents. The Criminal Code currently allows this for persons charged with offenses of summary convictions.
How to Make A Change Among Teenagers
As a child and youth care worker, I will work with community agencies, government organizations, and school boards to help inculcate the knowledge among teenagers that their engagement in prostitution has negative consequences. Mainly, I would organize school sessions in partnership with school boards and educate the children on critical thinking, including how to cope with peer pressure and factors that may contribute to their engaging in vice (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). For non-profits and government organizations, I would engage them to offer funding that will help teenagers who are facing issues such as lack of shelter (Campbell & Sanders, 2021). The funding would be channeled to community agencies, including group homes that care for vulnerable teenagers.
As a responder to teenage prostitution, I would seek to entrench a legal environment that eliminates child sexual exploitation and abuse. This will guarantee a society that is founded on a children’s rights framework (Flanigan & Watson, 2020). I would engage in advocacy for both Canadian state and federal agencies among them, asking them to borrow valuable universal standards from international children’s rights conventions. I will be a change agent by working with community agencies, government organizations, and school boards and the engagement in advocacy. The school session will educate the teenagers on avoiding behaviors that will leave them vulnerable. The non-profits and government cater to essential services the age group may lack, such as shelter. These efforts together will help make a change among the age group avoiding, thus avoiding, prostitution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, with the statistics indicating the prevalence of teenage prostitution in Canada, it is clear that the country’s criminal code has failed to address the vice. Various factors and issues continue to lure minors to associate themselves with prostitution, leading to adverse and sometimes irreversible effects when unattended. For such reason, there have been arguments for decriminalization, further criminalization, and regulation of prostitution. Amid the debates, there is the need for effective and actual solutions. This has occasioned an amplified number of organizations that are devoted to ensuring teenage prostitution ceases. Kindred House in Edmonton, Alberta, is one such example. As a child and youth care worker and responder, taking part in advocacy to ensure a framework based on human rights and engaging different stakeholders, I will help make a change by eliminating teenage prostitution.
References
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