The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A study led by an instructor at the University of Manitoba's Northern Social Work programs is trying to shed light on the sexual exploitation of young women in northern Manitoba. Thompson-based Lori Oberdorfer, a social work instructor and student counsellor, is the principal investigator and says the exploratory study is meant to give sexual exploitation victims a platform and to inform the public about the issue. 'I think the key thing is it gives us a starting point to allow people's voices to be heard,' Oberdorfer says. 'It validates the fact that this is occurring.' The study will be based on interviews with women aged 18 to 29 who experienced sexual exploitation while living in northern Manitoba and who have not been involved with such activity for at least the past year. 'It's obviously a tough subject, very difficult for people to talk about even though it is confidential,' says Oberdorfer. 'You've kind of got to be at a certain place in your life and your healing that you're okay talking about it because there's a lot of shame and embarrassment. Having people call in and want to be interviewed, it takes a certain kind of person that feels compelled that they want to share and help make things better for other people.' While the interview subjects are young adults, it is likely that their experiences with sexual exploitation _ exchanging sexual acts for food, shelter, money, alcohol, drugs or anything else _ either happened or began while they were minors. The average age at which victims are first sexually exploited is 12 and a half to 13, says Sharon Kent, chair of Thompson's Sexual Exploitation Awareness Team (SEAT). The two-year study began about a year ago and officials anticipate they will continue conducting interviews until next June. For the public, the study should provide some insight into the extent of sexual exploitation in the northern region. 'A lot of people may have the conception or misconception that things like this don't happen up here,' says Oberdorfer. 'It's a very hidden kind of thing going on.' The investigators hope the study will challenge the perception of women who are involved in the formal or informal sex trade. 'The conception of the whole thing has always been that, 'Well, people choose to do that' and if they're going to exchange sex for money they should know right from wrong,' Oberdorfer says. 'Sometimes as the public we sweep it under the rug or almost kind of rationalize our thoughts on it when in reality we need to...start looking at it (as) these are young vulnerable victims who fall prey to people, predators, that are very savvy, very cunning.' Investigators encourage anyone who has been sexually exploited to get in touch with them, even if they aren't sure that they're ready to share their stories. 'They can call and whatever, wherever it goes, it goes,' says Oberdorfer. 'If they want to participate that's fine and if they don't, they don't. I've had chats with people and it never actually turned into an interview, but that's okay.' To contact Oberdorfer, call 204-677-1460. _ Ian Graham, Thompson Citizen
