She/He Said Yes The Last Time, Is That Consent?

She/He Said Yes The Last Time, Is That Consent?

According to the Oxford English dictionary, CONSENT (To Something) is “Permission to do something, especially given by someone in authority.”

Sexual consent is agreeing to participate in sexual activities. Sexual activities include kissing, smooching, sex, etc. When it comes to your body, YOU have the authority! Sexual activity without consent is sexual assault or rape. So if she said yes, then yes, she gave consent THAT TIME.

Understand that consent isn’t a one-time thing and this is where it gets confusing for some people. A girl can agree to kiss you one day and not the next. She can agree for you to touch her but not kiss her. That a person agreed to one form of sexual activity doesn’t mean they agreed to ALL forms of activity and that’s why there’s the phrase NO MEANS NO comes in.

Here are some things to know about consent;

Partner in this article refers to the other individual involved. It may be your girlfriend/ boyfriend/ friend with benefits etc.

• Have honest, clear conversations with your partner about what your boundaries are, what you want, and do not want.
• Consent should be articulated verbally. Do not rely on body language, you may be wrong.
• Respect your partner’s boundaries.
• Ask for consent “Is it okay if I …” “Are you okay with this? Or would you like me to stop.”
• Help your partner feel comfortable “It’s okay if you don’t want me to … I’ll like you to be comfortable.”
• Do not put pressure on your partner to agree to what you want. Consent must be given freely.
• Consent under the influence of drugs or alcohol does not count.
• You and your partner are allowed to change your minds about an activity. If anyone decided they are no longer interested in an activity, it should be communicated immediately and clearly.