Survey Reveals Young People’s Views on Non-Consensual Condom Removal
A recent survey conducted in the UK has unveiled a significant consensus among young individuals regarding the practice of “stealthing”—the act of removing a condom during sexual intercourse without a partner’s consent. The findings indicate that nearly all participants, who were aged 18 to 25, believe this act is morally wrong, with almost 90% categorizing it as sexual assault.
Interestingly, while a substantial number of respondents expressed disapproval, only about half supported the imposition of prison sentences for those guilty of non-consensual condom removal. The survey revealed that participants were more inclined to endorse such penalties when considering scenarios involving unplanned pregnancies resulting from stealthing.
This groundbreaking survey, published in the journal PLOS One, marks the first investigation of its kind in the UK, exploring attitudes towards this concerning phenomenon. Stealthing is not only a violation of consent but is also legally defined as rape in England and Wales, which has led to several court cases and prison sentences in the UK since 2019.
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The term “stealthing” refers to the act of removing a condom without mutual consent during sexual intercourse. This violation has led to significant legal consequences, with the first recorded case resulting in a 12-year prison sentence for a man in Bournemouth who removed a condom during a sexual encounter with a sex worker. Similar cases have emerged in countries like Germany and the Netherlands.
In this survey, over 1,700 young adults were presented with various scenarios involving stealthing and asked to share their perspectives. Dr. Geraldine Barrett, a senior author of the study and social scientist at University College London’s Institute for Women’s Health, expressed her relief at the findings, noting that most respondents recognized stealthing as a violation of consent. “I was really pleased to see that most people saw it as a violation of consent and that they thought it was wrong. That was very reassuring to see in the population,” she remarked.
The focus on young people is particularly relevant, as they are the demographic most likely to use condoms and generally seek to avoid unintended pregnancies.
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Do Negative Outcomes Influence Perceptions of Stealthing?
Respondents were given hypothetical scenarios to evaluate. For instance, one scenario depicted a man removing a condom during intercourse with his long-term partner, leading to two possible outcomes: the woman either becoming pregnant or experiencing emotional distress. The survey revealed that 52% of respondents believed the man should face prison time if the outcome was an unplanned pregnancy, while only 42% felt the same if the result was emotional distress.
This slight variation in responses prompted researchers to examine the factors that might shape opinions on the severity of stealthing. The authors pointed out that when victims are unaware of being stealthed, their reproductive health is jeopardized, as they may miss opportunities to seek emergency contraception and thus face an increased risk of unintended pregnancies. Additionally, condoms play a crucial role in preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections.
In another scenario, opinions varied based on the relationship status of the couple involved. More participants (54%) advocated for prison time in cases of casual hook-ups compared to those in long-term relationships (47%).
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Recognition of Consent Violation
Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England and Wales, highlighted the importance of the survey’s findings, stating that it provides “important data” showing that young people understand that stealthing “fundamentally erodes consent.” She emphasized that legal frameworks recognize this act as a form of rape, as consent given for a specific form of contraception, like a condom, is violated when one party removes it without the other’s knowledge.
The survey also indicated that female respondents, LGBTQ individuals, and those born in the UK were more likely to perceive non-consensual condom removal as sexual assault. Moreover, women were more inclined than men to support the idea of imprisonment for offenders.
However, the study did have its limitations, as the survey sample primarily consisted of university students and Instagram users, which may not fully represent the broader population. Additionally, most participants identified as White and cisgender. Dr. Barrett noted, “This is a first look, and this was about attitudes. I think the next step would probably be to look at who’s actually experiencing it and understanding that better.” A prior survey conducted in Australia in 2018 revealed that a third of women and nearly one in five men who have sex with men reported having experienced stealthing.