Nonconsensual Condom-Use Deception: An Empirically Based Conceptualization of Stealthing

Abstract

In recent years, the act of stealthing, also termed nonconsensual condom removal (NCCR), has become an emerging important topic related to nonconsensual sexual experiences. We performed a rapid review by searches in Web of Science (245 articles), Medline (157 articles), and PsycINFO (72 articles). The studies, in English, French, Italian, or Spanish, that reported empirical data on stealthing were included, except for those focusing on the legal response to the phenomenon. The final sample of 16 articles of various design is analyzed. According to this review, more than 10% of women experience stealthing in their lifetime, and men having sex with men also experience stealthing. The article describes the empirical research literature in the field, explores terminological and conceptual challenges, and proposes a new and more comprehensive term (nonconsensual condom-use deception), and a revised definition and categorization of the behavior, according to the concrete manifestation of consent breach, the associated practices, or the underlying motivation. We argue that research, as well as policy and practice responses to this growing problem need to be guided by a conceptual framework that uses information gathered directly from those who experienced it.

Stealthing: Nonconsensual condom removal in same-sex and opposite-sex intimate relationships.

“…Similar to statistics in recent reviews (Davis et al, 2024; Gómez-Durán & Martin-Fumadó, 2024), a significant minority of our sample of U.S. adults had experienced stealthing. Nearly one in five men misled a partner about his condom usage during sex, roughly half of their stealthing victims never found out it happened, and most men who stealthed had multiple victims.…”

“…Recently, researchers have examined the prevalence and perceptions of stealthing. Recent reviews by Davis et al (2024) and Gómez-Durán and Martin-Fumadó (2024) reported victimization rates between 8% to 43% for women and 5% to 19% for men who had sex with men (MSM) and perpetration rates of 5%–10% (only men). In recent U.S. studies, 12%–19% of women and 5% of men reported stealthing victimization, and 6%–10% of men reported stealthing perpetration (Bonar et al, 2021; Davis, 2019; Davis et al, 2019).…”

Alcohol intoxication, condom use rationale, and men’s coercive condom use resistance: The role of past unintended partner pregnancy.

“…Replicating this study in our current reproductive health environment, particularly in states with abortion bans, would be beneficial to understanding if women’s inability to access abortion services changes men’s condom use behaviors. Additionally, coercive CUR strategies are intertwined with sexual risk-taking and sexual violence, and researchers are working to understand where CUR strategies, particularly coercive CUR strategies, fit in the continuum of reproductive and sexual violence (Gómez-Durán & Martin-Fumadó, 2022; Tarzia et al, 2020)—with some arguing that the intention behind CUR is focused more on men being sexually entitled rather than seeking to control women’s reproductive autonomy (Chen et al, 2023; Gómez-Durán & Martin-Fumadó, 2022; Tarzia et al, 2020). As the field continues to examine coercive CUR strategies within the context of sexual risk-taking, reproductive coercion, and sexual violence, we will need to understand the individual-level (e.g., motivations) and contextual-level (e.g., sociopolitical environment) behind coercive CUR strategies to better inform intervention and prevention efforts.…”

Alcohol-involved rape: Limitations of the “rape exception” for abortion access.

“…Another form of sexual violence relevant to rape exceptions is nonconsensual condom removal (NCCR), which has also been referred to as “stealthing” (Gómez-Durán & Martin-Fumadó, 2022). NCCR occurs when one partner puts on a condom but then removes it either before or during sexual intercourse without the other partner’s consent (Davis, 2019).…”