News Release

Blurring the line between wanted and unwanted sex
Brazilian women’s assumption that they must always refuse sex leaves them vulnerable to coercion

In Brazil, women’s beliefs about how men and women are expected to act the first time they have sex leave them vulnerable to sexual coercion, according to a new study by Ann M. Moore of the Guttmacher Institute.

Twenty-four focus groups conducted in two Brazilian cities in 2002 reveal that women feel they have to be passive because taking the initiative—including suggesting the use of contraceptives—might lead their partner to accuse them of having previous sexual experience. Women also believe they must say no to sex under all circumstances, so as not to appear to be "looking for" sex. As one woman explained:

"Even if she wants him to continue, for her to be conquered, she says, ‘No, no, no,’ and lets him come and grab her so that he doesn't think that she's easy, you know….."

In addition, women perceive men to have an urgent need for sex that, if not satisfied, can lead to abandonment or anger.

"It’s because women think like this, ‘Gosh, if I say "no" to him, he’ll get upset,’ because there are lots of women who are scared of losing the guy they like. …Lots of women pass through this. ‘If I say ‘no’ to him, he’ll leave me, so I’ll do what he wants’," explained one participant.

This dangerous ambiguity sets the stage for women’s refusals not to be taken seriously, Moore concludes. Programs and policies designed to reduce unwanted sex should focus on social expectations for both women and men. "Gender Role Beliefs at Sexual Debut: Qualitative Evidence from Two Brazilian Cities," appears in the March issue of International Family Planning Perspectives.

Also in this issue:

"Adolescents' Use of Maternal and Child Health Services in Developing Countries," by Heidi W. Reynolds et al. of Family Health International/Youth-Net, NC, USA.

"Women's Position Within the Household as a Determinant of Maternal Health Care Use in Nepal," by Marie Furuta of St. Mary's College, Kurume, Japan, and Sarah Salway of the University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.

"Reasons for Condom Use Among Young People in KwaZulu-Natal: Prevention of HIV, Pregnancy or Both?" by Pranitha Maharaj of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

"Reproductive Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior Among Adolescent Males in Tehran, Iran," by Mohammad Reza Mohammadi of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the National Research Centre of Medical Sciences of Iran, et al.