Sexual+Consent

Nick Shine CMN 368: Sexual Communication April 8, 2011 ** Sexual Consent ** ** Definition of Sexual Consent ** Sexual consent is not a concept that is easy to define. Scholars Susan Hickman and Charlene Muehlenhard note that consent is neither exclusively mental nor exclusively physical. Rather, it is a mix of both. If sexual consent was purely mental, they argue that nobody would ever completely know if their partner really wanted to engage in sexual activity. On the other hand, sexual consent cannot be thought of as purely physical, either. Nonverbal signs like nods or touching can often be misinterpreted by men as a “yes” for sex, and some people feel that verbal signs are not always appropriate during intimate situations that may lead to sex (Hickman and Muehlenhard, 1999, p. 258). Using this information as a general guideline, these scholars define sexual consent as “To engage in sexual activity as the freely given verbal or non-verbal communication of a feeling of willingness” (Hickman and Muehlenhard, 1999, p. 259). This definition is referenced in multiple subsequent scholarly articles and it seems to be the most widely-accepted.

** Importance of Sexual Consent ** In an era when countless media outlets are dishing out misleading sexually suggestive programming, it is becoming more and more important for society to understand the definition of sexual consent. Without this knowledge, people can be taken advantage of or sexually assaulted. According to the //Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network//, someone is sexually assaulted in the United States every two minutes. The U.S. Department of Justice defines sexual assault as “ Unwanted sexual contact that stops short of rape or attempted rape” and it includes sexual touching and fondling (U.S. Department of Justice, 2007). Furthermore, around two-thirds of all reported sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. Rape is defined as “Forced sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration”. This definition also notes that penetration may be by a body part or an object (U.S. Department of Justice, 2007). As far as rapists go, thirty-eight percent are friends or acquaintances of their victims (U.S. Department of Justice, 2007). For these reasons it is vital that people use the information available about sexual assault, consent and rape to respect each other before and during sex and to avoid committing such heinous crimes.

** Common Misconceptions and Gender Stereotypes ** A man is in a dark alleyway with a woman he met in a club. He tells her he wants to have sex. She says no. He grabs her and tries to take advantage of her. She says no again, but this time she sounds a little less sure of herself. Soon she is eagerly participating in some sexual activity, forgetting that she ever said no. This happens all too often on television and in movies, and it promotes the same idea: //no matter what she says about having sex with you, she secretly wants it.// In reality, this is quite the opposite of what is happening in real life. In reality, studies show that women are not just sexual fiends, but in fact are more cautious about mutual consent than men are (Humphreys and Herold, 2007). Movies and television programs often depict sex between a man and a woman as consensual, even if the man is being forceful and violent towards the woman. This “assumed consent” goes hand-in-hand with gender representations on television. Cecile Arquette and Julie Horton argue that television shows perpetuate gender stereotypes because networks believe that shows with these stereotypes will appeal to the largest audience. In turn, larger audiences yield the most profit from advertisers. The authors then go on to claim that these stereotypes “reinforce ‘appropriate’ gender roles and strengthen hegemonic attitudes”(Arquette and Horton 3). Despite a suggested increase in sensitivity to gender issues, shows that negatively portray women or perpetuate damaging ideologies surrounding non-consensual sex continue and even flourish. The U.S. Department of Justice statistics above show that people can be sexually assaulted or raped by almost anyone, no matter what type of relationship the rapist previously had with the victim. This dispels the idea that sexual assault or rape only occurs in dark alleyways at four am by strangers. More often than not, the situation is exactly the opposite. As previously mentioned, the definition of consent itself is also vague and obscure. The lack of a concrete definition may lead to a higher occurrence of sexual assault in relationships.

** Sexual Coercion ** While obtaining consent from one’s partner is a hugely important prerequisite for engaging in sexual activities, many couples fail to do it. //Sexual coercion// is defined as “making another person engage in sexual activity despite his or her unwillingness to do so” (Brousseau et al., 2010, p. 363). This is an important concept because it shows a reckless disregard of the importance of consent before engaging in sex. According to a study done in 2009, over fifty percent of participating couples reported that some type of sexual coercion was occurring in their relationships. More importantly, forty-five percent of these couples noted that female victimization was taking place, while only thirty percent reported male victimization, and twenty percent reported victimization on both sides (Brousseau et al., 2010). Studies show that coercing someone into sex without first obtaining their permission can have many negative consequences on him or her. Some of these effects include but are not limited to low self-esteem, negative sexual self-evaluations, depression and anxiety (Brousseau et al., 2010). All of these things are detrimental to individuals in their day-to-day interactions, and they offer yet another reason why obtaining sexual consent is so important. ** Organizations ** There are countless organizations and sources of information one can turn to when looking for more information on consensual sex, sexual assault, and rape. Some useful sources that offer a massive amount of information and support for sexual assault victims include [|www.rainn.org] (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) and [|www.takebackthenight.org]. There are countless similar sites, but these are two of the more popular destinations. Furthermore, there are many opportunities to get involved in sexual assault prevention and consent promotion. One can research clubs and organizations that focus on informing about sexual consent in his community or on her college campus. Many schools, like Indiana University, are creating revolutionary programs with the intent of teaching incoming freshman about sexual assault ([]). In addition to joining a local group, one could create his/her own website. The opportunities are endless. Getting involved just may save someone’s life.

** References ** Arquette, Cecile M., and Julie Horton. "The Influence of Current Television Programming on the Maintenance of Female Gender Identity." (2000): //ERIC//.EBSCO. Web. 1 Apr. 2011.

Brousseau, M., Bergeron, S., Herbert, M., & McDuff, P. (2010). Sexual coercion victimization and perpetration in heterosexual couples: a dyadic investigation. //Archives of Sexual Behavior//, //40//(2), 363-372.

The Sexual Violence Center. “Consent is What’s Sexy.” Advertisement. //Sexual Violence Center’s Blog.// 26 May 2010. 11 Apr 2011. <[]>

“Have Sex with someone who Hasn’t Said Yes to it, and the Next Place You Enter Could be Prison.” Photo ad. //Sex Info Online.// 07 Jun 2007. 11 Apr 2011. <[]>

Hickman, S. E., & Muehlenhard, C. L. (1999). "By the Semi-Mystical Appearance of a Condom": How Young Women and Men Communicate Sexual Consent in Heterosexual Situations. //Journal of Sex Research//, 36(3), 258-272. Retrieved from EBSCO//host//.

Humphreys, T., & Herold, E. (2007). Sexual Consent in Heterosexual Relationships: Development of a New Measure. //Sex Roles//, 57(3/4), 305-315. doi:10.1007/s11199-007-9264-7

U.S. Department of Justice. //2007 National Crime Victimization Survey.// 2007.