Media Awareness Initiative about Sexually Exploited Youth

The Media Awareness Initiative about Sexually Exploited Youth (MAISEY) is a working group comprised of individuals working with, or concerned about, young people who are sexually exploited.

Marymound spearheaded the development of this group in response to its experience with media depicting sexually exploited youth using terms such as "teen prostitutes," or "teen hookers."

MAISEY's main goal is to change the language used to describe youth, some as young as 13 years of age, who end up trading sex for basic necessities such as food or shelter. Use of the terms "prostitute" or even "sex trade worker" lead to the conclusion that sexual exploitation is a "lifestyle" choice. Indeed, it is because some youth have so few choices that they come to believe exploitation is their only option. Sexual exploitation of a child by an adult is sexual abuse.

On April 7, 2005 , MAISEY launched a language guide for use by the media when reporting on issues related to the sexual exploitation of children and youth. This guide was distributed to media outlets throughout Manitoba .

MAISEY hopes to become a resource for media outlets seeking information on the issue of the sexual exploitation of children and youth. Collectively MAISEY members have decades of experience in the areas of providing care, therapeutic intervention and education /training for sexually exploited youth. Some MAISEY members have also been lobbying legislators around policy affecting this vulnerable group.

View the MAISEY Media Package to learn more about the group and its members.

Backgrounder Download a PDF copy here.

Fact Sheet Download a PDF copy here.

Language Guide Download a PDF copy here.

You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the file.

To contact the Marymound Co-Chair of MAISEY e-mail info@marymound.com .

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