What is Sexual Exploitation?
This is when your needs/wants are being met, but only if you are doing sexual things.

Examples:
John needs a place to stay, but is only given one when he lets older men watch him in the shower.

Lee needs a lift home for free as he has no money, but only gets one when he shows the taxi driver his bum.

Tom wants a supportive and loving relationship, but only gets this when he has sex with other people.

Ben wants a new Xbox game, but only gets one when he sends someone naked photos of himself.

Mark wants a bag of weed, but only gets it when he lets other people watch him and his girlfriend have sex.

In the examples above John and Lee needed something, and Tom, Mark and Ben wanted something. Their needs and wants were being exploited by the people who offered them what they needed/wanted in exchange for something sexual.

Important Point to Remember About Sexual Exploitation
Boys can sometimes feel ashamed, guilty and embarrassed when they discover that they have been sexually exploited. It's important to remember that the people who have sexually exploited you know that it is wrong and that they are breaking the law. These people hope that the boys and young men that they have sexually exploited will feel ashamed, guilty and embarrassed and will try to make them feel this way and stop them from telling anyone.

Some boys and young men also don't want to tell anyone what's happened to them, because they think no one will believe them. If you tell someone that you have been sexually exploited you should always be believed and offered the right support.

Some boys think that only girls and young women can be sexually exploited. The truth is that boys and young men are groomed and sexually exploited by different people in many different ways every day.

The people that groom and sexually exploit boys and young men can be very clever and sometimes work with groups of people. They can often tell lies and do a good job of making you think that they are a safe person to be around. Click What is Grooming for more informtion.