#LookCloser: Overcoming gender assumptions to tackle child exploitation

This session will explore how our assumptions about gender can lead to us failing to protect young people from exploitation and harm and what we can do to overcome these in our practice and in our systems.

Drawing on The Children’s Society’s recent youth voice consultations on gender and exploitation throughout England and Wales, this session will explore how assumptions, stereotypes and biases on issues of gender can impact young people’s experiences of exploitation, the way professionals perceive and interact with them, the support they receive and the way services are designed.

In this session for professionals we will:

• Explore how gender and gender assumptions can impact a young persons understanding of their own identity and their experience of exploitation

• Challenge the way gender-based assumptions can influence our ability to recognise and respond to exploitation in children and young people

• Consider gender inclusive approaches to identifying, assessing, and supporting children and young people

• Demonstrate the value of a person-centred, holistic and inclusive approach to understanding and responding to exploitation and abuse

This session will focus in particular on:

• Exploitation risks for transgender, non-binary and gender

diverse young people

• Girl’s experiences of criminal exploitation

• Boy’s experiences of sexual abuse

Please note, that although we value the importance of a safe and non-judgemental learning space, The Prevention Programme and The Children’s Society as a whole are committed to anti-oppressive practice and will not tolerate any intentional transphobia during this learning session.