Kan vi möta barn som utsätts om vi inte frågat om utsattheten? – En kvalitativ studie om yrkesverksammas perspektiv på arbetet med kommersiell sexuell exploatering av barn

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to explore professionals' perspectives on their work and responsibility in relation to children who are exposed to commercial sexual exploitation. The method chosen for this study was qualitative semi-structured interviews, that included a vignette, with professionals working with children, both social service workers and counselors. The findings of this study were analyzed with Goffman's frame theory to understand the professionals' views on their work and knowledge. Additionally, we used Brante's concepts on competence fields, social regulation, and social interaction, to help us understand the difference between the professional's course of action in working with children exposed to commercial sexual exploitation. This study found that there is a lack of knowledge among professionals when it comes to commercial sexual exploitation of children, however, the knowledge and experience that professionals have with children in difficult situations in general makes them feel secure in working with this issue. The study also found that it’s hard for professionals to reach the topic of commercial sexual exploitation when working with children if they don’t ask about it. There were no standardized questions regarding this subject and the responsibility of asking about it, was in the hands of the professionals. The last finding was that it is a challenge for social work professionals to have specialized knowledge of each problem area children might face, because of the width of the topics they cover in their work. A dilemma with the absence of standardized questions is, that if is there no indication of commercial sexual exploitation, there is a risk that the problem is left in the dark. However, the study showed that the most important thing about commercial sexual exploitation is that we ask children about it.