Reproductive Coercion Inflicted on Women

From UBC Wiki

Defining Reproductive Coercion

Reproductive coercion is the act of an individual controlling the reproductive health of another, which is typically seen in men doing to women. Coercion can occur through pressuring[1] an individual's decision about their reproductive health, or controlling the ability for a victim to exercise their reproductive rights. Behaviour's of an abuser can include attempts to impregnate a partner, controlling pregnancy outcomes, forcing a partner to have sex unprotected and/or interference with a partner's methods of contraception.[2] Up until recently, reproductive coercion is beginning to be acknowledged as a form of gender-based violence,[1] since women's reproductive capabilities are more vulnerable, in that they carry and deliver offspring.

Forcing Pregnancy

Reproductive coercion resulting in impregnation tends to be for purposes of establishing power by the abuser.

Impregnation

Manipulative tactics are often used by abusers to convince their partners to get pregnant, but not with the goal of having children, but rather the purpose of establishing control and dominance in the relationship. Pregnancy pressure arises when a women gets pregnant although she does not want to be,[3] continues a pregnancy even though she wants to terminate it, or ends a pregnancy that she wants to continue.[4]

Sexually coercive behaviours can include pressuring sexual intercourse, threatening to end the relationship if sexual intercourse isn't provided, persuading an individual to not use their preferred birth control method, and/or intentionally exposing a partner to a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) or refraining from disclosing they have an STI.[4] Reproductive coercion in impregnation of partners can also be exerted through psychological and emotional pressure[5] which can lead to verbal and/or physical abuse.

Coercion typically occurs between partners who are in committed relationships such as boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife, etc., so the acceptance that reproductive control is a form of abuse, in comparison to abuse that is more visually apparent, such as physical abuse, is difficult to come to terms with. This is seen in the 75%[5] of women who have experienced domestic violence also reporting some degree of reproductive control by their male partners. Additionally, after impregnation, some partners force abortions[5] afterwards, as a manner of displaying power in the relationship. Both carrying out a pregnancy and terminating a pregnancy, without a say on either matter is emotionally damaging[6] since pregnancy itself can be a high-risk time. Termination of pregnancy can be seen in partners forcing attendance to abortion consultations,[6] imposing physical abuse, such as hitting or kicking a woman's stomach,[6] to even spiking a woman's food or drink,[7] if the pregnant partner does not comply agree with having an abortion. It is also important to note that coercion can occur for cultural reasons[6] due to in-laws or parents trying to have a say on impregnation or abortion decisions. Of particular vulnerability are young women and ethnic minorities[6] with wider family networks perpetrating the coercive abuse.

Oral contraceptive pills can be hidden, withheld, or thrown out by abusive partners in hopes of impregnating the victim.[8]

Birth Control Sabotage

Birth control exists in many forms, such as the oral contraceptive pill, condoms, copper or hormonal IUD (intrauterine device), the patch, vaginal ring, MPA shot, or implant. The ability to freely use or not use these methods is the reproductive right of an individual and is not up to their partner to decide for them. Reproductive coercion with contraption occurs when partners hide or destroy birth control pills, break condoms, refuse to withdraw, pull out an IUD[5] or vaginal ring, or remove a contraceptive patch.[4]

Often to maintain power and control in a relationship,[2] male abusers can alter the reproductive health of women by sabotaging their methods of contraception. Examples of this include, having control over finances and health insurance, and invading privacy or controlling means of transportation.[1] This makes it difficult for women to access their preferred forms of contraception due to the cost of receiving such services, and an inability to visit clinics or pharmacies that can provide certain forms of contraception.

"Stealthing"

Stealthing[9][10] is a new term that is coined to males secretly removing their condom during sexual intercourse, without the knowledge of their partner. Stealthing can also include a partner lying about using a condom in the first place, or purposely placing the condom incorrectly, with the intention of it falling off during intercourse.[10] The danger of stealthing is that it can lead to unwanted pregnancies and/or unwanted sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Whichever the reason for a partner requesting the use of condoms, they help in the prevention of infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea , syphilis, HIV and genital herpes.[10] Being stealthed does not only cause physical consequences but emotional ones as well since it is a form of sexual violation that can impair a victims emotional well-being with regards to trust.[10]

Steps to Take if Stealthed[10]

  1. Take an emergency dosage of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) which can reduce the chances of contracting viral infections
  2. Take Plan B (morning-after pill) to avoid an unwanted pregnancy
  3. Get tested for any sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
  4. File a police report in case legal action is required in the future
  5. Seek therapy or talk to a counsellor
  6. Reevaluate sexual activity with the individual

'Silent' Intimate Partner Violence

Abuse

One in four women[7][11] are victims to reproductive coercion, with one in five being adolescent girls.[11] Only recently, (in 2010),[7] has this type of coercion been defined and acknowledged as abuse. Due to perpetrators being close to the victims, the abuse appears and comes off in passive and subtle manners than other forms of domestic abuse.[7] Thus, subtle coercion causes female victims to not notice the offence taking place and grow accustomed to it, while their partners also conform to the continuous power[7] they get from it. Regarding the younger population of women who are victimized, it is possible for them to misinterpret a partner's controlling behaviours as expressions of love, not recognize behaviours as abusive, and be more vulnerable to coercive tactics.[11]

Additionally, reproductive coercion, in which the perpetrator stealths, can be convicted as a rape, since deliberately ejaculating without a partner's knowledge of condom removal/sabotage falls under the statutory definition of rape.[12] More women have been filing complaints against their perpetrators of reproductive coercion. The court system has been advocating more for the whole consensual[13] process of sexual intercourse when considering sexual assault claims, due to a violation in the initial agreement (needing to wear a condom).[3] Specifically, consent regarding every aspect of the intercourse process is evaluated in court, rather than putting the blame on women for consenting to sexual intercourse in the first place.[13]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Black, Devon (14 January 2020). "Reproductive Coercion: What it is, and How to Stop it". Canadian Women's Foundation.
  2. 2.0 2.1 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (February 2013). "Reproductive & Sexual Coercion". Obstetrics and Gynecology. 121: 1–5 – via Clinical.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lévesque, Sylvie; Rousseau, Catherine (11 April 2019). "Young Women's Acknowledgment of Reproductive Coercion: A Qualitative Analysis". Journal of Interpersonal Violence: 1–24 – via SAGE.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Reproductive Abuse and Coercion". WomensLaw.org. 13 January 2020.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Voss, Gretchen (29 July 2011). "'I Was Forced to Get Pregnant'". Redbook. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Oppenheim, Maya (23 March 2019). "One in Seven UK Women Forced to Have Either a Baby or An Abortion, Study Shows". The Independent. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Freeman, Hilary (9 Jan 2019). "Reproductive Coercion is Abuse. But Many Women Don't Even Know It". The Gaurdian. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  8. "Reproductive Abuse and Coercion". WomensLaw.org. 13 January 2020.
  9. Sumano, Karina. "4 Things You Should Know About Reproductive Coercion". One Love. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Corlis, Nick (10 May 2017). "Stealthing & Sabotaging Condoms: What You Need to Know". STDcheck.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Miller, Elizabeth; Jordan, Beth; Levenson, Rebecca; Silverman, Jay (14 April 2010). "Reproductive Coercion: Connecting the Dots Between Partner Violence and Unintended Pregnancy". Contraception. 81: 457–459 – via JSTOR.
  12. "England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions". BAILII. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Robinson, Matthew (20 Dec 2018). "Police Officer Found Guilty of Condom 'Stealthing' in Landmark Trial". CNN. Retrieved 24 July 2020.