Below
are the responses to the open-ended question:
'Is
there anything else you would like to tell us about the risks that young people
face in relation to people who might try to take advantage of them sexually?'
Note: Responses were
only edited for grammatical reasons, if necessary. Square brackets indicate where
editing occurred. Number in parantheses indicates frequency if the same response
was given more than once.
1. A girl in my school got attacked by
a man walking home from school by herself in a public area. I don't think it's
safe to go anywhere by myself now.
2. A lot of teenagers who get drunk
in clubs or the street, are left just to lie there, therefore, anyone could take
advantage of them. This is very common and dangerous as it could be anyone lifting
you/them and you may not come back at all. Even though its illegal to consume
alcohol, lots of us still are being able to access it and most teenagers don't
act responsible.
3. Alcohol is a huge factor young people can get a hold
of it very easily which causes them to get involved in bad situations.
4.
All hese questions were about the adult 'bonding wi9th the young person before
anything happened. That's not always the case. When I was 8 a man called me over
to his van and sexually exposed himself to me. Then when I was 15 a Polish man
grabbed my breast whilst walking past me in town and followed me home.
5.
As there are not many activities for young people to do. They often resort to
drugs, alcohol and sex. A lot of the times its girls who get sexually abused whilst
under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
6. At the age of 16 people begin
to feel that they are older than they are so this puts a very negative image to
others, a couple of years older. This is due to the advantages they begin to receive
at home and from the Government however when they abuse these this results in
a negative outcome. These priviledges are EMA, learning to drive etc.
7.
Being on your own on a night out.
8. Better security needs to be placed
amongst social network sites e.g. facebook. Checks should be made before and thoroughly
to reduce chance of grooming etc.
9. Blackmail.
10. Children and
young people in general should be warned about the danger of the inherent, there
are sites where people can talk to strangers and sick people can be their to take
advantage of young valuable people.
11. Children my age can't go out or
can't go to a certain place because there are creeps out there who do these things
to us. If they didn't exist we would all be safe!
12. Date-rape seems to
be more common. Young people are not well educated enough about the dangers of
this i.e. leaving your drink etc.
13. Depression. Fear. And in worse cases
it may lead to attempted suicide.
14. Don't trust anybody outside your
home.
15. dont know how to defend themselves
16. Drinking with other
peer's with your boyfriend that might put pressure on you to have sex with him
or someone telling you they really like you and have always forced you all just
to have sex with them, so drunk you wouldn't have hard sex sober.
17. Drug
abuse, rape/sexual abuse and sexual transmitted diseases. Alcoholism, Self harming,
social abuse & Suicide.
18. Education is essential for protecting youths
against these crimes.
19. Emotional abuse may be caused to the young person.
They may have to speak to a councilor etc.
20. Emotionally, physically
traumatised, social problems and trust issues.
21. Facebook and other websites
are the main risk in today's society.
22. Foreigners have a reputation
of sexual assault as a female I feel scared.
23. Get pregnant fall out
family catch an STD forced to drop out of school (pregnant) Rape.
24. Have
had awareness talks within school. Aware of dangers but never been exposed.
25.
I believe adults have become overly paranoid about "grooming" and this is limiting
adult's ability to care for children and support them.
26. I believe that
risks of most young people, like me getting taken advantage of is when they are
out with friends and there is alcohol involved in this situation I believe is
when most young people don't realise they are being taken advantage of sexually.
27. I can't think of anything that you have not already mentioned or described.
28. I don't know! don't think so.
29. I don't think the police take
the risks of those who might take advantage of the serially as I personally had
a male who used to watch my bedroom window but the police would not do anything
about it.
30. I don't think they're warned enough about people + how some
people can act. They need to be told about it and what to do if it happens to
them.
31. I know a lot of people who have got drink and then guys taking
advantage of them while they are out of it. Though a lot of girls nowadays tend
to sleep around anyway at a young age, and know full well what they are doing.
32. I know they exist but I have never been exposed to them personally.
33. I personally don't think young people are fully aware of what all this
covers and don't know what is considered to be taken advantage of sexually. Young
people, generally, drink a lot and this sort of thing can happen without them
knowing. I know this isn't the care for all young people such as myself but it
is for others.
34. I think that there should be more done for the children
and make sure that people that are suspected that they are talked to and make
sure they are judged and that the children have there say as the people would
think the children are making it up and that people around them believe their
story.
35. I think the risks are high. There is an increasing amount of
people out there who would try to sexually abuse children and young people.
36.
I think they face having their life ruined as they won't tell anyone what is happening
in case the person who is taking advantage of them is threatening them.
37.
I think young girls especially are at risk; and especially at 17-18 years of age
and going out clubbing with friends. I think drinks can be spiked for too easily
and something should be done about this.
38. I understand that there are
some innocent people who get have to deal with sexual harassment but in most cases
it has been the result of the young person doing something stupid e.g. going to
a club underage. Making yourself open and easy accessible on the internet or getting
involved in the wrong crowd. If you keep yourself safe then it is most likely
no-body will bother you.
39. I was witnessed to a rape the boy who commited
the crime was only 2 years older then his victim but because we all hung around
as a group he was integrated & respected & therefore the victim felt unable
to report him.
40. I would believe that many girls would be targeted on
nights out, usually because they are dressed in very little, and it dose not help
that they are usually drunk. Thankfully not all girls are like this, like my friends
and I, but for those who dress badly, I would imagine they're sending out the
wrong message and putting themselves at higher risk.
41. If it were a female
she could possibly become raped and in serious conditions killed. Affects the
mind intellectually, Affects the person physically, e.g. Self harm, lose weight,
Pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (if intercourse was involved).
42. If someone is really out to take advantage of you they will usually try there
best and when it is over the internet it is hard to know if the person is genuine
or not usually it is easy to tell but that is only the blatant fake's there are
some that are smart. Also sometimes the grooming isn't obvious and isn't harmfuland
not seen in the victims eyes as grooming rather a 'crush' on you.
43. if
you are out at night and someone is under the influence of alchol and you aren't
they may take advantage of you sexually if they really wanted to.
44. In
my view, unless the issue of under age drinking is addressed in a more effective
manner, the problem will not come close to being solved.
45. Internet sites
and social networking is particularly dangerous in this sense.
46. It's
clear that in today's society girls especially, at least I know that I don't always
feel 100% safe and it is very wise to be an guard/careful there are numerous men
about who would try to talk to you I say inappropriate things. A girl essentially
should not be on her own if possible and fact.
47. It's the ones closest
to you, you need to be cautious of also. A family member is just as likely to
approach you with a sexual motive as just a stranger on the street.
48.
It's usually not adults who take advantage of young people but people in their
own friendship groups.
49. It is mostly older guys (17-21) that would pray
on younger girls - not adults.
50. It is probably more common between people
in the same age group.
51. It may wreck their lives as they may be faced
with unwanted pregnancies which in turn leads to the thought of abortion or the
pressures of keeping the child alive i.e. food, clothing & heating.
52.
It mostly happens to someone who is drunk although. Society has moved on, people
are more aware.
53. Just that as you probably know, it would be girls that
affected by this and not boys, and that it is very often.
54. Make people
more aware of what they can do if it happened from a younger age! Like maybe people
telling the young people out school in primary or secondary school!
55.
Many young people find it hard to say no and think its okay to give in to pressure
and it will make them fit in.
56. More and more young people drink alcohol
and so this could leave them venerable, esp. on a night out in a strange town
or area.
57. More and more young people today can get access to alcohol
and drugs. Because young people have it fully developed sexually or mentally they
become wearable to each situation peer pressure is a big issue today most people
have sex before they actually plan to and that one mistake or carelessness can
cause pregnancy or even worse.
58. Most people have little or no sex education
and know little about drugs which could be used against them.
59. N/A.
(8)
60. Nightclubs and large panties are when we feel we are meet at risk
very easy to be taken advantage.
61. No-one ever feels like they can say
if something happens. Everyone feel like it's their fault and it's too embarrassing
to tell anyone.
62. No - not at the minute but I'll let you know.
63.
no (117)
65. No as I am fortunate enough not to have experienced anything
like that.
66. No everything has been said.
67. No Thanks.
69.
No, but I think they should stop having naked babies (nappy advertisements etc)
on TV, because although it seems harmless, it is kind of sick because some perverts
probably get off on it.
70. No, can't think of anything.
71. No,
I have never seen or experienced this or haven't heard stories of people my age,
in my area that this may have happened to.
72. No, if you put your hand
in a fire of your on choice then it will get burned.
75. None (3)
Nope.
79. (7)
Not sure.
80. Not that I can think of, no.
81. Not
that I know of.
82. Nothing to say on this
83. Now a days police
and organisations which help young people should be more aware because relationships
are getting more voilent and sometimes can lead to one or another being forced
for any type of sexual relationship which is not wanted. That is why there are
more young teenagers pregnant! 84. obcession
85. Often feel that they are
to blame, but they are innocent and have done nothing wrong.
86. Peer pressure
to take part in sexual activity because other people have.
87. People not
properly police checked.
88. People on social network sites should have
prop of who they are by showing ID in order to stop grooming.
89. People
who hang around bus station with no intention of getting a bus on mondays to fridays
should be watched 90. possible sexual diseases and physical harm
91. Predators
take advantage of young teenagers through social networks such as facebook or
bebo these young children need to be taught about this event that takes place
daily at year 8 instead of them learning at year 9/10 and it could be too late.
92. Pressures from young boys to be more experienced than you are.
93.
Probably presents.
94. Sacredness not wanting to tell anyone. Make the
feel disgusted to what's happenings. Physically and emotionally sick.
95.
Sexually transmitted infectious disease. Unable to move forward with their lives
(scored). Feel variable and find it have to trust people after such experience.
96. Social networking sites should be highly monitored. There should definitely
be some form of help for children and teens who have experienced this or who are
going through it.
97. Some of the encounters can be avoided using plain
of common sense. Bars should be more harshly regulated for ID checking. Honestly,
some of these bars are serving alcoholic beverages to people who are - obviously
- underage.
98. Some people get too obsessive.
99. Some young people
scared to say "No" and are influenced by the media and friends.
100. spiking
drinks seems to be a big problem
101. STD's, STI's, pregnancy and emotional
problems.
102. Strangers on social sites such as facebook.
103.
Taught what to do if someone ever experienced this.
104. Teenagers are
frightened to talk about because they can be taken for children.
105. That
not all adults want to have sexual relations with young people.
106. That
they are putting themselves at risk when they go out and get drunk on the streets
or when chatting to people online that they don't know.
107. The fear of
the person starting to spread roumers, or tell your family or friends about this.
You feel like the things they tell you to do, must obey or bad things may happen
to you. Something it feels as though there is no way out of it.
108. The
place where most people get groomed is on the internet. Social networking sites
such as facebook are very dangerous, especially younger, vulnerable people.
109.
The problem today is that any stranger, whilst being seemingly friendly and decent,
maybe only putting on a facade of innocence. Not being able to trust only unfamiliar
member of the public is saddening.
110. There's this guy who lives opposite
a friend of mine who stands near our school and stares at all the girls legs as
they walk past. It's really creepy and then he would come home and follow my friend
around like some stalker. But we can't do anything about it because technically
he's not doing anything wrong.
111. There are actually a lot more people
of the same age taking advantage of each other, especially males. It may be good
idea to do more for the victims and make the idea of help through counseling more
appealing/less shameful.
112. There are many risks faced by young people
in relation to people who might try to take advantage of them sexually, especially
due to social networking sites. On these sites people can pretend to be someone
else or a differet age to try and get close to someone and take advantage
113.
They become quiet, and don't talk to anyone they then become scared to bring new
people into their life they feel they can not trust anyone.
114. They can
risk obvious blackmail, and the attacker may make threats if they don't do it
again. In relation to young girls, they are most at risk because there is nothing
they can do if a grown man attacks her. I understand that boys can get attacked,
but this is in the clear minority.
115. They could be scared and worried
for life. Might not get the bad ideas out of their mind.
116. They could
end up with trust issue, or low self esteem no confidence anxiety stuff like that.
117. They could get pregnant.
118. They don't understand what can
of things that can happen and need more information about this matter. Being sexually
active and not knowing consequences is a massive issue!
119. They just
tell you what you want to hear then the young person does it and regrets it.
120. They may believe that they are genuinely interested in them so may be emotionally
hurt. May be abused when trying to make them have sex with them.
121. They
may face bullying from more person or other people.
122. They should deal
with it more better to stop it from happening.
123. They will feel devalued
and have low self-esteem and some may relate in suicide in young people. May think
this is what they have to do survive. Pregnancies. Alcohol and drug misuse. STD's.
124. They will have emotional problems with regards to what happens to
them.
125. This man rooms free around our area he used to walk past bus
stop at school times and stare at us all. He never touched me out always made
me feel nervous. He touched himself granting beside me in taxi office I went out
and told mum but the man walked off.
126. This question is written in the
wrong context. If someone has had a sexual relationship with someone who is taking
advantage of them, this could mean charges of 'statutory rape' should be given
to that person. However young people who are sexually active with another person
are usually fully aware of what they are doing.
127. This type of grooming
is becoming more and more frequent due to the increase of people using social
networking sites such as twitter bebo and facebook.
128. Threatening.
129.
Through texting someone can pretend to be a girl and deceive you.
130.
Too many teenagers are under the affect of alcohol, sex & drugs. No one does anything
about it!
131. Uhh. not particularly, as you can see, I'm not well versed
in the love of sexual abuse of young people and as such I have nothing to draw
from for advice. No.
132. Underage drinking puts more young people at risk.
133. unless it physically forced most of these incidents are due to carelessness
134. We are warned a lot about these sorts of events. Young people that
attend school should be well aware of these dangers.
135. Well men can
take advantage of girls that are drunk.
136. When young girls dress up
for a night out, older men think they are asking for a hard time or if a girls
skirt is too short or wear too much make up or even look at an older man in the
wrong way.
137. When young people are out and they have consumed alcohol
they don't know what they are doing and anything could happen.
138. Yes
I feel that too many girls get raped these days because they meet people on internet
and because of drink I feel that all social websites should be cancelled and the
illegal age to drink to be increased to 21.
139. Yong people need to made
aware of what can happen if they start talking and all with older people (adults).
140. You can never be too careful; people are not what you first think.
If you hear of anything suspiciously!! Contact Police.
141. You hear a
lot of stories in our city. This makes me feel unsafe and scared to go out. I
understand we should be warned but it's frightening all the same.
142.
Young girls are very vulnerable to older men, and by that I mean like a year of
two. They just seem more experienced, confident and cool. It's far two easy to
get with younger girls. Somebody should teach them to respect themselves a bit
more start by stopping them sending pictures.
143. Young girls run the
risk of being "used" by boys. Boy's who won't do any harm but just trick the girl
into doing sexual things by treating her well and saying things that he doesn't
mean i.e. I Love You, your the one. This then may cause the girl to getting a
bad name for herself. Her view of what is responsible may be misconstrued, which
may lead to her "sleeping around" & acting inappropriately.
144. Young
people are susceptible to these risks and they are often gullible and give in
they also may not be aware of what is happening and the extent if causes.
145.
Young people can be at risk mentally so appropriate counseling should be available
to all children no matter the level of abuse they have been subject to.
146.
Young people need to realise that they are at risk. The I know it won't happen
to me' attitude leaves some young people at higher risk. Awareness should be raised
and methods of protecting yourself as best a possible. Young people should be
made aware of those in their area and who could pose a threat.
147. Young
people should be made aware of what to look for and what to do and given more
information on what exactly sexual abuse is.
148. Young people should be
taught how to be aware as someone taking advantage as them sexually and taught
haven't avoid this.
149. Young people under the age of 15 should be supervised
at all time while on social networking sites e.g. MSN & Facebook.
150.
Total
