Philippine Journal of Child Sexual Abuse – Volume 3, 2013

Hidden in Plain Site: A Baseline Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Male Masseurs in Metro Manila

Jarrett Davis, MA and Glen Miles, PhD

Abstract

This study is third in a series that explores the little-known lives and experiences, vulnerabilities and resiliencies of sexually exploited young men in Southeast Asia. It is a part of a small, collaborative movement among interested organizations who have both recognized and acted upon the neglect of boys and men in discussions of sexual abuse and exploitation. The studies utilized both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, merging careful fieldwork and extensive, one-on-one structured interviews to provide a better understanding of the lives of young men and boys in the sex trade industry and an information resource for service providers. The study drew male respondents from three major outlets of massage in the Metro-Manila area: massage establishments with only male masseurs (male-only establishments), massage establishments with both males and females (mixed-gender establishments), and independent (or freelance) masseurs. Nearly all, 95%, of respondents indicate providing sexual services and 70% indicate meeting clients for sex in the past week. Analysis of data revealed a strong contrast between masseurs coming from the various outlets of the massage industry, and similarly divergent levels and types of vulnerability for each respective group. While masseurs coming from mixed gender establishments had lower frequencies of meeting clients for sex, they also had highest rates of violence from their clients. Masseurs from all outlets of massage indicate low awareness (and practice) of sexual health. Respondents from Mixed Gender establishments demonstrated significant risk in this area with 40% of respondents indicating that they had never used a condom and nearly two-thirds indicating that they had never had any sexual health services.

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An Exploratory Study on the Background and Psychosocial Consequences of Webcam Child Sex Tourism in the Philippines

Guusje Havenaar, MSc and Terre des Hommes Netherlands

Abstract

Terre des Hommes Netherlands, a development organization aimed to stop child exploitation, is concerned about a new form of child exploitation online: Webcam child sex tourism. Through the internet, adults offer payment to view and direct live video footage of children in another country performing sexual acts. This research aims to investigate the scope and magnitude of this phenomenon in the Philippines, and offer insight into the psychosocial consequences it has on the children involved. Our research indicates that children engaged in webcam child sex tourism are less likely to go to school, and show a signifi cant educational delay compared to children from the same social circumstances, yet not involved in sex work. Additionally they suffer from psychosocial distress, presumably caused by their activities. They exhibit more symptoms of post-traumatic stress, low self-worth, self-destructive and sexualized behaviour. This research indicates that webcam child sex tourism is a growing phenomenon that causes signifi cant harm to the children involved. It must be stopped before more children get hurt.

COMMENTARY

Critiquing Law Reform: Prostitutes in the Philippines under the lens of Victimology

Cristina Sevilla, LL.M.

Amid calls for reform, the Philippine legislature recently enacted a law to amend the provision on the Criminal Code that criminalizes vagrants and prostitutes, by introducing the decriminalization of vagrants, but retaining the criminal status of prostitutes. In attempting to provide a holistic discourse to critically examine the status of prostitutes in the Philippines, the essay will fi rst outline the conceptual polemic feminist debates surrounding
prostitution as well as provide relevant historical background and analysis. Contemporary models, approaches and policies will be looked into and key debates on these approaches and models will be analyzed using the conceptual and historical debates to lay the foundation in critically analyzing prostitutes in the Philippines. Under the lens of critical victimology, the Philippine context will be discussed with a concluding analysis that policies must consider the conditions that give rise to prostitution, otherwise, the continued criminalization merely serves to compound victimization.