This session will explore how our assumptions about gender can lead to us failing to protect young people from exploitation and harm and what we can do to overcome these in our practice and in our systems. Our assumptions, stereotypes and biases on issues of gender can impact young people’s experiences of exploitation, shape the way professionals perceive and interact with them, influence the support they receive and even the way we design our services. Gender is also fundamental to the way that young people think about themselves, their identities, as well as their experiences of exploitation and abuse.
In this session for professionals we will:
- Explore how gender and gender assumptions can impact a young persons experience of exploitation
- Challenge the way gender-based assumptions can influence our ability to recognise and respond to exploitation in children and young people
- Consider gender inclusive approaches to identifying, assessing, and supporting children and young people
- Demonstrate the value of a person-centred, holistic and inclusive approach to understanding and responding to exploitation and abuse