“That’s not what was originally agreed to”: Perceptions, outcomes, and legal contextualization of non-consensual condom removal in a Canadian sample

Abstract

Non-consensual condom removal (NCCR) is the removal of a condom before or during sexual intercourse without one’s partner's consent. Despite considerable news and media attention devoted to the trend (as stealthing ), little empirical research to date has examined people’s views of the practice. The present study aimed to contribute toward generating empirical evidence to guide the discussion surrounding NCCR. We asked participants about whether or not they felt NCCR is wrong, whether there should be consequences for its perpetration, and contextualized responses within legal context. A total of 592 undergraduate students took part in an online survey inquiring about their experiences with and views of NCCR. We used descriptive statistics to determine sample prevalence and outcomes of NCCR and qualitatively analyzed responses to open-ended questions asking about perceptions of NCCR. Of participants who had engaged in penetrative sexual intercourse with a male partner using an external condom, 18.7%, 95% CI [14.4, 22.7] reported that they had NCCR perpetrated against them. The majority of these participants reported that they experienced NCCR negatively and encountered related consequences; several reported contracting an STI, experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, or both. Nearly all participants expressed that NCCR is wrong, citing reasons that included the lack of consent, possibility of unplanned or unwanted outcomes, and a betrayal of trust. In this study, we found that there was agreement that NCCR is wrong, but variability in responses regarding the circumstances under which there should be consequences for the action. These perceptions reflect the current uncertainty in law. We recommend researchers refer to the phenomenon as NCCR (rather than stealthing ) and discuss related issues to encourage future research to adopt consistent and accurate labels and definitions for NCCR. We hope that our findings will guide future research and spur public and legal discussion on NCCR.

Young Women Subjected to Nonconsensual Condom Removal: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Sexual Self-Perceptions

“…Despite the ethical misgivings inherent in NCCR, there is ongoing debate surrounding the severity of the behavior and whether it should be recognized as a form of sexual assault (Czechowski et al, 2019). The behavior is also yet to be widely criminalized, with ongoing discussion around which legal framework should be applied to see NCCR cases prosecuted (Clough, 2018).…”

“…What is certain are the potential health consequences of NCCR, as there is considerable evidence that condom-less sex increases risk of unintended pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs; e.g., Stover et al, 2017). Furthermore, as NCCR can occur without the victim’s knowledge during or after the act (Czechowski et al, 2019), they may be prevented the opportunity to protect their sexual health through preventive measures, such as the morning-after pill (for pregnancy) or postexposure prophylaxis (for HIV transmission). Given these associated health risks, more research into NCCR is critical to improve public awareness about the phenomenon, particularly among populations who are identified as being at a higher risk.…”

“…They found the behavior was widespread in their large sample of adult women (>1,000 female participants), with almost one third reporting having NCCR perpetrated against them by a male sexual partner. Two subsequent studies which focused on a more general population reported the prevalence of NCCR was around 19% among undergraduate students (Czechowski et al, 2019) and 18- to 24-year-old women (Bonar et al, 2019). This prevalence rate disparity may reflect differences in the samples of each study, given the STI clinic population in the first example may be considered an elevated sexual risk group (Latimer et al, 2018).…”

“…. [partner] took it off during sex without you knowing it”), whereas Latimer et al (2018) and Czechowski et al (2019) conceptualized the act as occurring when the participant was either unaware or aware of and not consenting to the condom removal. These variations may affect the comparability of the studies, and highlight the difficulty with NCCR not having an agreed definition.…”

“…Common narratives that emerged highlighted that the emotional impact of NCCR is multifaceted and included fears around physical risks as well as feeling that their bodily autonomy and trust had been grossly violated and disregarded (Brodsky, 2017). Two subsequent studies examined the emotional toll of NCCR and found 67 and 56% of women who had experienced NCCR reported the incident caused them emotional distress (Czechowski et al, 2019; Latimer et al, 2018). While a sizable proportion of respondents denied experiencing psychological distress following NCCR, this may reflect difficulty recognizing themselves as being a victim in the encounter (Lévesque & Rousseau, 2019), given NCCR’s status as a crime is not well established (Ebrahim, 2019).…”