Child Pornography: - Center for Problem-Oriented Policing

coupled with extortion, can make rehabilitation or separation from the pimp extremely
difficult. 123 Furthermore pimps may use pornographic pictures to advertise the children they
prostitute or sell within a child pornography distribution ring. Patrons of prostituted children
also may take pictures for their own later gratification.
In one study of adult female prostitutes, 38 percent of the women reported that they had
sexually explicit photographs taken of them, while they were children, for commercial
purposes or the personal gratification of the photographer. 124 Ten percent had been used as
children in pornographic films and magazines, and all were younger than the age of 13 when
victimized. 125 In 22 percent of those cases the offender reportedly used pornography, including
both adult and child subjects, prior to the sexual act for sexual arousal, to legitimize his
actions or to persuade the child to participate. 126 Another study conducted by a Jefferson
County, Kentucky, Task Force in the early 1980s found similar statistics. Of 239 juveniles, of
whom 36 percent self-reported involvement in prostitution, 18 percent of the nonprostituted
group reported involvement in pornography while 37 percent of the prostituted youth admitted
to involvement. 127
Other factors increasing the vulnerability of children to commercial sexual exploitation
worldwide include inequitable socioeconomic structures, lack of economic or educational
opportunities, dysfunctional families, and urban-rural migration. 128 Growing consumerism and
the concept of sex as a commodity for sale may also be contributing to an increase in the
sexual exploitation of children. 129
Effects of Child Pornography on the Child Victim
While little is known about the specific long-term effects of use in child pornography, the
immediate trauma and effects of sexual abuse on children is well documented. 130 Because
child pornography is a clear record of child sex abuse, its victims would therefore experience
the same emotional and physical consequences in addition to any harm resulting from the
pornography.
Child-sex-abuse victims experience symptoms of distress during the period of sexual
exploitation, at the time of disclosure, and in the post-traumatic phase. 131 In addition to any
physical injuries they suffer in the course of their molestation, such as genital bruising,
lacerations, or exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, child victims experience depression,
withdrawal, anger, and other psychological disorders. 132 Such effects may continue into adulthood.
For instance women abused as children have statistically significantly higher rates of
nightmares, back pain, headaches, pelvic pain, eating binges, and other similar symptoms. 133
Child victims also frequently experience feelings of guilt and responsibility for the abuse
and betrayal, a sense of powerlessness, and feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem. 134
These feelings are often expressed through increased fearfulness and changes in sleep patterns
including re-occurring memories, flashbacks, dreams, and nightmares associated with
post-traumatic stress. 135 Younger children tend to externalize stress by re-enacting sexual activities
through play, while adolescents may experience negative effects on their growing
sexuality as a result of inappropriate early sexual experiences. 136
Many psychological and emotional effects manifest themselves through self-destructive
and socially aberrant behavior. 137 Psychological scarring and emotional stress of child-sexual
10 - CHILD PORNOGRAPHY: THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE-SYSTEM RESPONSE