Back when I was an incoming freshman, my college orientation included a required session that discussed sexual consent. Throughout the presentation some students began to laugh, talking about consenting to sex in a joking manner. Although I understand that the subject may be uncomfortable for some, the lack of understanding of what consent actually entails still remains.
The following video perfectly explains sexual consent through a tea analogy:
Yet as straightforward as it sounds, studies led by Kristen N. Jozkowski at the University of Arkansas of heterosexual students found that men and women indicate consent differently. The study showed that 61 percent of the men surveyed interpreted a woman’s consent by body language. Meanwhile, 50 percent of the women said that they gave consent verbally, but 47 percent of the women would indicate consent only after being asked.
Ask! Be straightforward with your intentions. Open communication before sex can prevent any of this confusion and ensure your safety. To put simply, consent is getting verbal confirmation before engaging in any level of intimacy. It is crucial to understand that decisions about sex are not always concrete and someone can change their mind (and has every right to).
It is that simple.
