Johnston-Goodstar on team that researched sex exploitation of Minnesota youth

Katie Johnston-Goodstar, associate professor in the School of Social Work, was one of the researchers in a new study that found an estimated 5,000 high-school-age youth in Minnesota have traded sex for something else of value.

Johnston-Goodstar joined the team, led by Lauren Martin, associate professor in the University Minnesota’s School of Nursing after the two had collaborated on a project called, “Minnesota Girls Are Not for Sale,” sponsored by the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. Johnston-Goodstar’s experience with the Minnesota Student Survey and in doing participatory research with Indigenous youth will be instrumental as the project seeks to engage communities in developing meaningful responses to the study findings.

The team analyzed the results of a question added to the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey, “Have you every traded sex or sexual activity to receive money, food, drugs, alcohol, a place to stay, or anything else?” The study’s goal was to improve the understanding of sexual exploitation of the state’s youth and how it impacts their hopes and dreams.

The study found sexual exploitation involved youth of all gender identities and races across the state with Indigenous identified youth experiencing particularly high rates. It also found that boys and girls were evenly impacted, while youth in juvenile correctional facilities, foster care and unstable housing reported higher levels of sexual exploitation.  

Researchers note that the study most likely underestimates the number of exploited youth because of possible student reluctance to answer “yes” to the survey question. Additionally, the survey only counts youth who attend school and who were at school on the day officials administered the survey. Youth who are not in school are more likely to face sexual exploitation.

The study was funded by the Carlson Family Foundation, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Health, which is one of the departments that coordinates the student survey. More about the study is available on the nursing school website.

The Minnesota Student Survey is coordinated by the Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, and Public Safety. In 2019, 81 percent of public school districts participated. For more about the Minnesota Student Survey, see the Minnesota Department of Education website.