Sexual exploitation of boys over-looked

The sexual exploitation of boys is being over-looked by schools and other front-line services because of a mistaken belief that they are less vulnerable than girls, according to new research.

The children’s charity Barnardo’s said such attitudes are leaving thousands of boys at risk even though up to a third of reported victims were male.

Its report into the findings recommended schools teach boys about the dangers of grooming by adopting age-appropriate sex and relationships education. 

This should show that boys can be victims just as easily as girls, even though males are often portrayed as the perpetrators of sexual violence.

The study said: “Relevant examples should be given and discussions facilitated about the impact of masculine/hyper-masculine cultures and attitudes. Teachers should also highlight where boys can go for support.”