Sexual consent is an agreement to participate in a particular sexual activity. Consenting and asking for consent are all about setting personal boundaries and respecting the boundaries of others. Both people must agree to sex – every single time – for it to be consensual. Sexual consent must be:
- Freely Given: Consenting is a choice made without pressure, manipulation, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Reversible: Anyone can change their mind about what they feel like doing at any time.
- Informed: Consent is only possible when everyone has the whole story and everyone is honest. For instance, if someone says they’ll use a condom and then don’t, that’s not consent.
- Enthusiastic: When it comes to sex, people should only do things they really want to do.
- Specific: Saying yes to one thing (like making out) doesn’t mean you’ve said yes to other things (like having sex).