Date of Award

1997

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Social Work

Keywords

Sociology, Criminology and Penology.

Supervisor

Maticka-Tyndale, Eleanor,

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The literature surrounding child sexual assault is expansive, but most of it focuses on either the victim, the offender or one specific type of assault (i.e. incest). Few studies examine the social context in which sexual exploitation develops. The purpose of this research was to fill this gap by examining what routine activities, aspects of lifestyle and presentations of self facilitate access to and the sexual exploitation of children. Criminal events theory guided the analysis of 49 child sexual assault case-files from the Victim-Witness Assistance Program in Windsor, Ontario. While many of the results support the findings indicated in the literature on child sexual assault, this research has moved beyond previous work, in that it explores both the victim and the offender within the physical and social settings of sexual exploitation. Simply by engaging in everyday routines, children are at risk of exploitation by individuals who abuse their social roles and positions in order to gain access to children and coerce them into sexual activity. These individuals take advantage of children's naivety and natural curiosity as they groom them for more serious exploitations. The summary and discussion offer suggestions of how this knowledge can be used toward developing preventative strategies.Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1997 .Y68. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0139. Adviser: Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1997.

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