NSPCC Learning: Why language matters: why we shouldn’t talk about the ‘risky behaviour’ of young people experiencing abuse
5 December 2023
Taking risks is an important part of growing up. It helps young people discover who they are, expand their skills and develop their independence.
Case reviews often identify professionals focusing on the ‘risky behaviour’ of teenagers experiencing abuse or exploitation. This includes a case in which a teenage girl who was sexually exploited was described as, “leading a lifestyle that puts her at serious risk of significant sexual, physical and emotional harm",1 and another in which a boy experiencing criminal exploitation was consistently referred to in assessments as, “placing himself at risk of harm”.2
In the context of abuse and exploitation, a professional focus on risk-taking behaviour can imply that the young person has a level of responsibility for what has happened to them – when in fact abuse is never a young person’s fault.
Read the full article here: