Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)

This is the removal of a woman's external genitalia for cultural or non-medical reasons. Women are expected to forego personal pleasure to maintain their cultural identity and adhere to specific societal ideals.

• “As a woman, I was forced to undergo female circumcision as a rite of passage in our community.”

• “I had to go through genital mutilation to “keep” my purity.”

Stealthing and the Deliberate Transmission of HIV-AIDS/STD/STI

This takes place when your partner stops using condoms or protection during the intercourse while unnoticed (Klein, 2014). It is great to remember that people may consent to engaging in protected penetrative sex with the "transmitter" but may be unaware of the unsafe nature of the encounter (Klein, 2014).

• “I just recently discovered that my partner stopped using condoms during our intercourse without my permission.”

• “I am anxious to get tested because my last partner sneakily took off the condom while we were having sex, and did not disclose their status.”

To read and understand more about these acts of gender-based violence, you may access this:

GBV Prevention & Response Materials