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

BackgroundPublic 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.ObjectiveA 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.MethodsThe language of professionals in medical, legal, and social science peer-reviewed journals was assessed, encompassing the years 1985–2015.FindingsFindings suggest that the framing of these juveniles is slowly shifting away from a perspective of juvenile culpability and toward a perspective of juvenile exploitation.ConclusionsCurrent research efforts are imperative and should be focused on the reconceptualization of these juveniles as victims of abuse and exploitation.