By Michael Nedelman
"Some people call it 'stealthing' -- a practice where men secretly remove or damage condoms without their partners' knowledge. Others call it sexual assault.
But giving it an official name could be a major support for survivors of sexual assault, many of whom face an uphill battle in the legal system, according to an article in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law. Taking action may also add a new layer to the ongoing discussion about consent and sexual assault, the author said.
'I worry that victims (of stealthing) might struggle in court using current laws,' said Alexandra Brodsky, who authored the article when she was a student at Yale Law School. She is currently a fellow at the National Women's Law Center.
Survivors of sexual assault may face a number of 'myths and biases' in court, Brodsky said. For example, jurors may refuse to see a crime as 'serious,' or simply not believe the victim, in cases where the victim has had a relationship with an alleged rapist, or when their prior sexual activity is called into question."
Read the full article here.
