A group of Chilean deputies They presented this Tuesday a project that declares it illegal to remove the condom without verbal consent in a sexual relationship, a practice known as “stealthing“and that has just been punished in California, the first state of USA in doing it.
“It is violence against women for a man to remove the condom without warning during sexual intercourse. Yes gentlemen, that is a sexual assault even if you do not like to hear it“, the opposition deputy said at a press conference Gael yeomans, from the leftist bloc Wide Front (FA).
The legislative initiative seeks to change the Chilean Penal Code and punish the “stealthing“(stealth, in Spanish) with penalties between 61 and 540 days in prison.
“Some will surely think that we are exaggerated. The truth is that it seems then that various parts of the world are: Spain, Switzerland, Germany and the state of California have prohibited it or already have sentences that punish the practice.“, he pointed for his part Maite Orsini, also from FA.
Among the reasons for presenting the project, Orsini pointed out sexually transmitted diseases (STD), unwanted pregnancies, psychological and physical damage that could be caused to the victim or “protection of consent”.
“It is not no, and when you say yes, you say it under certain conditions. It is not right for men to pressure to remove the condom and even less for them to do so without consent and in secret.“added the parliamentarian.
California became a few weeks ago the first state of USA to penalize this practice, which affects mainly homosexual women and men, according to experts.
What is stealthing?
Stealth is when a man deliberately removes or damages a condom during sexual contact without telling his partner.
Although there are some differences in the way people define stealth, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) says it doesn’t matter if the couple sees the act or not. The key question is whether they agree to remove or damage the condom.
Why are men stealthy?
Men often report being stealthy because they find sex without a condom more enjoyable. But there may also be a psychological excitement when dominating or taking advantage of a partner, or wanting to transmit their genetic material through semen.
Some research shows that men who feel and behave in a more hostile and sexually aggressive way towards women are more likely to be secretive. And, unsurprisingly, men who sneak around are more likely to have an STI or cause an unplanned pregnancy.
What are the health risks of stealth?
The sex without a condom can expose a woman to a possible pregnancy. It also makes it easier for both members of the couple, regardless of sex, to contract or transmit sexually transmitted infections (ITS).
In addition, there is a risk to the mental health of the partner who has been cheated on, cheated on or coerced. Women often report a feeling of being treated with disrespect, along with feelings of confusion, anger, and betrayal. The AAFP says it could even cause lasting physical, emotional and psychological trauma.
Some scholars see stealth as a form of sexual violence, especially when couples agree in advance to use a condom.
