Young people’s first sexual experiences often involve coercion and a desire to demonstrate commitment to their partners, as stated in a report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The report, which is GSS’ 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey report, focuses on women’s empowerment, domestic violence, young people’s experiences of first sexual encounters, marriage, and sexuality.
Dr. Akosua Owusu Ansah, a senior lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, shared the findings in Accra on Tuesday.
She also indicated, “We had instances where the man said, ‘I touched her and she didn’t say anything, and I kissed her and she didn’t say anything.’ So, to the man, that is consent. Many men reported that men could not compel women to have sex. So, once I touch you and you are not saying anything, I come close and I keep coming close, and your acquiescence, that is consent for having sex.”
“And within marriage, the assumption was that consent was given automatically, regardless of your preference. Once you are married, sex is an obligation. So, what are some of the drivers of coercion at first sex? We realized that the type of relationship had an important effect on the level of coercion, and the highest coercion was mostly experienced when sex didn’t happen with someone you are in an established relationship with, and the lowest form of coercion was with people who were in established relationships where communication was high.”
Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No spam, just the stories that truly matter! #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital
