How prostitution affects boys vs. girls

Lois Lee, PhD, Founder & President of Children of the NIght, explains how boys and girls who end up as child prostitutes are affected differently after escaping the life of prostitution
How Child Prostitution Affects Boys and Girls Differently
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How prostitution affects boys vs. girls

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The effects of prostitution on girls involve post-traumatic stress syndrome, low self-esteem, trauma, nightmares, eating disorders, you name it, every kind of neurological, psychological problem, depending on the individual. For boys, the same is true, except it’s a little bit of double dimity because they have to struggle with sexual identity. Who are they? In some ways, boys are better off because of the fact that there is a community that is forgiving and understanding of the past sexual exploitation and the prostitution and they’re willing to allow these children in their community and provide them with jobs and forgiveness and a support system. That’s not true for girls. Girls who have been prostitutes have to spend the rest of their lives hiding it from their husbands, their children, their family members, their employers, and other people whom they come in contact as they progress through their adulthood. It’s very, very difficult for girls in that respect.

Lois Lee, PhD, Founder & President of Children of the NIght, explains how boys and girls who end up as child prostitutes are affected differently after escaping the life of prostitution

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Lois Lee, PhD, JD

Founder & President Children of the Night

Dr. Lois Lee is a pioneer and trailblazer in rescuing America’s sex trafficked children right here in the United States.  She is the founder and president of Children of the Night and has rescued over 10,000 children from prostitution—that is more children than all of the other sex trafficking organizations combined. Since 1979 she has raised more than $40 million in private donations to support her groundbreaking programs. Diplomats come from all over the world to observe Lee's ground-breaking work at the Children of the Night home. Dr. Lee has received countless awards for her humanitarian work, most notably the prestigious President's Volunteer Action Award, presented to her by President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1984, and permanent memorial portrait at the Frederick Douglas Museum honors her 1994 National Caring Award. Her life story was portrayed in a CBS Movie of the Week “Children of the Night” in 1985 and she was profiled on CBS “60 Minutes” in 1987. Dr. Lee was lauded by singer/songwriter Richard Marx in his song "Children of the Night," which appeared on his 1989 Repeat Offender album.

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Transcription: 
The effects of prostitution on girls involve post-traumatic stress syndrome, low self-esteem, trauma, nightmares, eating disorders, you name it, every kind of neurological, psychological problem, depending on the individual. For boys, the same is true, except it’s a little bit of double dimity because they have to struggle with sexual identity. Who are they? In some ways, boys are better off because of the fact that there is a community that is forgiving and understanding of the past sexual exploitation and the prostitution and they’re willing to allow these children in their community and provide them with jobs and forgiveness and a support system. That’s not true for girls. Girls who have been prostitutes have to spend the rest of their lives hiding it from their husbands, their children, their family members, their employers, and other people whom they come in contact as they progress through their adulthood. It’s very, very difficult for girls in that respect.