Learning Consent
March 2023
Hi Caddyshackers,
Well consent is certainly having a moment (heck yes!) that we trust is not only here to stay but will also have long lasting ramifications. Scanning media, we are seeing a lot of attention on consent, and not just sexual consent, any consent. Read on for more…
Quick recap
We have talked about consent in our previous blogs but let’s start with a quick recap. The 101 of consent.
According to the plain talking folks at The Line;
Consent is an agreement that happens without manipulation, threats, or head games.
Consent is mutual – everyone has to agree, regardless of their gender.
Consent must be continuous – anyone can stop at any time and can change their mind at any point.
Consent isn't all-encompassing – just because someone's into one thing doesn't mean they're signing up for everything.
Consent is definite – it isn't a 'maybe' or an 'I think so'.
Consent can only be given voluntarily – so don't be trying the old 'You would if you loved me', 'Everyone else is' or 'But I want it so bad it huuuuurts...' Consent can't be given through pressuring someone, or any bargaining or threats... even if you think those tactics might lead to you getting what you want.
A petition to the Classifications Board
In September 2022, not-for-profit organisation Consent Labs partnered with TBWA Sydney and Eleven to petition the Classifications Board to introduce a classification to call out “Lack of Consent” in film and television.
The new classification aims to support Australians to make informed decisions about the content they’re consuming and ultimately educate them on the difference between consensual and non-consensual acts. Here a ten examples of when consent was normalised in films:
We love their work and hosted them for a webinar in 2021. You can pledge your support for the campaign here.
ok so a little bit of back story about consent
In case you didn’t catch it along with 10 million other viewers here is the ‘Tea Consent’ video.
To quote journalist/ author Sophia Smith Galer she cites an academic paper addressing the Tea Consent video published in Children & Society.
“Conversations with young people are important, but they need to address the complexity of sexual consent, coercion and gendered social norms.”
We, dear reader, were one of those 10 million views, because, at the time, a few years back, it was such a great metaphor for sexual consent.
According to Galer, we need to complicate consent not simplify it. The Tea video, while stating the basics also implies that consent is so simple it doesn’t need any discussion, anyone can understand it, instead of opening up a conversation around social norms or cultural context.
The Tea Consent video was a good start though, now consent is getting necessarily complex and nuanced.
Aaaaaand it’s a lot better than this Australian campaign that was pulled by the Federal government back in 2021.
Where to from here then?
Young people deserve and require foundational consent education so they can make informed decisions about sex and their bodies. Robust education is the key to empowerment.
Founder & CEO of Learning Consent Dr Joy Townsend is a Sociologist whose area of expertise is in the field of gender and sexualities. Her work centres on the lived experiences of young Australians.
Joy founded Learning Consent to bridge the gap between the research and evidence base for teaching sexuality education effectively, and what was happening in the classroom.
Joy is one of Australia’s leading researchers and educators on sexual consent. Her research portfolio is focussed in the area of critical sexuality studies and includes a number of empirical qualitative studies with young Australians on sensitive and complex topics.
Joy completed her doctorate at UNSW in 2019. It was a qualitative research project based on in-depth interviews with Australian young people. The study brings the lived experiences of young people into dialogue with existing theoretical arguments concerning agency.
Joy speaks and writes extensively on complex issues such as sexual consent, pornography, sex education, pleasure and agency.
Join us!
We are thrilled to be hosting Joy On The Couch Tuesday 12-1pm on the 14th March. Fun fact: Joy went to Figtree High School, so she’s originally from the Gong!
See you there!
What We Are Loving Right Now
This Book: Tomorrow, Sex Will Be Good Again: Women And Desire In The Age of Consent.
It's a provocative exploration of women's pleasure, autonomy and imagination in the 21st century. And crucially, it's a nuanced investigation into the subject of consent.
As featured in our ‘what we’re reading’ page
Check out what else we are reading and send us your sex positive book recommendations!
Browse here
Angel asks why do we expect desire to be easily understood?
Why is there not space for the unsure, the tentative, the maybe, the let's just see?
In contrast to the endless exhortation to know what we want, Angel proposes that sex can be a conversation, requiring insight, interaction, and mutual vulnerability—a shared collaboration into the unknown.
Catch you next month.
Peace, Love & Protection
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