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Biography

Debra Boyer, PhD, is a Cultural Anthropologist whose career focus has been cultural norms related to systematic violence against women and children. She has over 35 years experience as the Principal Investigator of studies on runaway and homeless youth, and commercially sexually exploited youth and adults. Dr.. Boyer is also co-founder of the Committee for Children, which implements abuse prevention and social and emotional learning curricula across the globe. Dr. Boyer is an Affiliate Faculty member in the Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Washington. She has served as Research Director and Associate Director for YouthCare in Seattle, Washington. She joined the Organization for Prostitution Survivors as a consultant in 2013 and was the executive director from 2014-18. She currently operates her research practice, Boyer Research, in Seattle, Washington.

Abstract

The impact of COVID-19 on sexually exploited individuals provides an opportunity to advance the Nordic Model approach and create lasting change. Although subject to gender-based violence and denied safety net services, commercially sexually exploited women are seldom seen as a “vulnerable” group in the pandemic. Interviews from social service agencies in Seattle, Washington show women are experiencing more physical and sexual violence from sex buyers and women who have exited prostitution are finding their stability and security in jeopardy. Advocates can make the case to address disparities with safety net guarantees and structural change with the adoption of the Nordic Model.


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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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