Consent. Consent is THE most important part of any sexual encounter. We must create a dialogue about consent to help people understand the importance of it when it comes to sex and the prevention rape culture. People have desensitized themselves to rape culture because it has become normalized in our society. The media has glamorized rape and people make a hobby out of victim blaming (holding someone accountable for their own mistreatment and not placing responsibility on the perpetrator).
What is consent? Consent is a VERBAL agreement to engage in sexual activity with someone. Consent should be sober and consent should include the word yes, and yes only. Body language is not consent. Body language is not consent. Body language is not consent. Someone can also withdraw consent at any time, which means that no matter how far you have gotten with someone, no still means no. We fail to realize that consent isn't just some made up construct, it is the right to our own bodies, a right to say no.
Consent culture starts at early childhood. We must teach our boys (I say boys because men are the main perpetrators of rape against men, young boys, girls and women) what consent is and help them understand that no consent means no sex. We need to teach our boys not to rape and tell them that no matter what a woman is wearing or how she is acting that never gives you the permission to take advantage of her sexually. There is no such thing as "she was asking for it" or "she could have escaped". It's time to stop thinking with your penises and use your brains and understand that YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO HAVE SEX WITH ANYONE. It doesn't matter if it is your girlfriend, wife, or baby mama... if she doesn't want it, respect her "no" and move on.
I really never understood why it's so hard for people to understand that consent is simple, it's just a series of questions you have to ask in order to engage in sexual relations with someone. It's not complicated, I promise. Many people have never heard of consent and here I am typing this post to promote consent culture. If you can spread the word or this message, please do. Maybe it could prevent sexual assault and rape.
Listen to this song by a brotha, Ro James, singing about *gasp* CONSENT!
***If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault please contact:
https://ohl.rainn.org/online/
1-800-656-4673 [24/7 hotline]
The Cottage Athens: http://www.northgeorgiacottage.org/ CRISIS HOTLINE 1-877-363-1912
Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault: Rape crisis centers in the state of Georgia
http://www.gnesa.org/page/rape-crisis-centers-georgia
Sources:https://rainn.org/statistics
