“Consent is not just a buzzword”

We all know what consent is, but do we actively practice it? Do we talk about it with our friends? Our kids? Do we see positive examples of consent played out around us? In the movies we watch. In the music we listen to. Consent is not just a buzzword, but a crucial aspect of healthy relationships and a fundamental human right. There are pressing reasons why consent needs to be a topic of conversation. We dove deep into the data and found that this was multi-dimensional, focusing on gender, sexuality, caste politics, popular culture, and technology.

Consent is the foundation of all healthy relationships and social dynamics.

Do you know around 31% of married women aged 15-49 have experienced spousal violence, and 99% of these women reported that their husbands did not seek their consent before engaging in sexual activity?

#MeToo movement brought attention to sexual harassment/assault, sparking conversations about consent.

Increased awareness and activism around enthusiastic consent, affirmative consent, and consent in various contexts.

Consent is crucial in fostering healthy relationships, promoting gender equality, and preventing sexual violence.

Empowers individuals, promotes respect and cultivates equality in all human interactions.

But do we actively talk about consent in our everyday lives?

Are we having conversations about it with our friends, partners, and even with our kids?

According to a survey conducted by the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW), 92% of Indian women aged 18-49 reported experiencing sexual harassment in public spaces, including unwanted touching, groping, and stalking.

Research suggests that in India:

Only 36% of young people aged 15-24 have reported discussing sexual matters with their friends.

Only 32% of young people have talked to their parents about sexual health and relationships.

The lack of open communication about consent, and not just restricting it to private bedroom talk, furthers the ignorance and creates an opportunity for debating something that is non-negotiable.

A study by Love Matters India found that only 26% of Indian women and 30% of Indian men believe that consent is essential to sexual relationships, indicating a lack of active consent practice in Indian society.

Do we talk about consent with our friends and kids?

A survey conducted by Breakthrough India revealed that 78% of Indian parents do not talk to their children about sexual consent. However, 53% of girls and 46% of boys have experienced some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18.

The data indicates a significant gap in communication and education on this crucial topic among families in India.

Discussing consent with partners, friends, & kids early on is crucial to empower each other with the knowledge and skills to understand and respect boundaries. Teaching children about consent helps them develop healthy relationships, understand their rights, and recognise when their consent or the consent of others is being violated. It's our responsibility to educate and empower our & next generation to understand and practice consent from an early age, creating a culture of respect and consent.

But is there enough to learn from what we consume from entertainment?

Positive examples of consent are crucial in shaping our understanding of this concept. Pop culture often portrays unhealthy and non-consensual relationships as romantic or desirable. We often see blurred lines around consent in movies, music, and other media, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and attitudes. Challenging these narratives and promoting positive examples of consent is critical to ensuring that it permeates all sections and age groups of society.

A content analysis of popular Indian movies conducted by Oxfam India found that only 8% of movies depicted consensual acts, while 52% showed acts of harassment or violence against women, indicating a skewed representation of consent, which isn’t what we society should be consuming if we want to move further in the direction of practising consent.

According to a survey by Save the Children India, 63% of young people in India believe that social media platforms influence their perception of relationships and consent, highlighting the need for the responsible portrayal of consent in popular culture and technology.

Is consent a grey area?

Some people may argue that it is, but in reality, consent should never be ambiguous or open to interpretation. It should always be enthusiastic, informed, and ongoing.

A study by The Indian Express found that 44% of Indians believe consent can be a grey area, indicating a lack of clear understanding of consent and its importance in relationships.

Consent cannot be assumed or implied and should be freely given without any pressure or coercion. It's a pressing need to dispel the myth of consent as a grey area and emphasise the absolute pre-requisite of explicit and affirmative consent in all relationships.

Consent Through Various Lenses

Understanding consent through different lenses is crucial to addressing the complexities and nuances of this topic.

Consent intersects with various aspects of our lives, including gender, sexuality, caste politics, governance, popular culture, and technology. Recognising and discussing these intersections is essential to comprehensively understanding consent and its implications in different contexts.

Gender and Consent

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 88% of reported rapes in India are committed against women, indicating the gendered nature of sexual violence and the need for understanding and promoting consent in gender relationships.

Sexuality and Consent

A study conducted by the Naz Foundation International found that only 18% of LGBTQ+ individuals in India have experienced positive examples of consent in their relationships, indicating the need for greater awareness and acceptance of consent in diverse sexual orientations.

Caste Politics and Consent

A study by the Centre for Social Research found that 47% of women from marginalised castes in India have experienced sexual harassment, indicating the need to address the caste dynamics and power imbalances in the context of consent.

Technology and Consent

A study by the Centre for Social Research revealed that 38% of Indian women and 27% of Indian men have faced online harassment, including non-consensual sharing of intimate images or "revenge porn."

Governance and Consent

A survey by the Association for Democratic Reforms highlighted that 31% of female voters in India feel pressured to vote according to their family's or community's choice, indicating a lack of free and informed consent in the political process.

And the list goes on

In conclusion, consent is a vital and timely conversation that requires active practice, open communication, and positive examples.

By dispelling the myth of consent as a grey area and examining it through different lenses, we can create a culture that prioritises healthy relationships, respects boundaries, and promotes affirmative, enthusiastic, and continuous consent.

This initiative aims to highlight the pressing need for conversations around consent. From statistics showcasing the prevalence of sexual harassment to the lack of education and open discussions on consent, we highlighted the gaps in understanding and practice of consent in various aspects of society. We emphasised the importance of consent through the lens of gender, sexuality, caste politics, popular culture, and technology. We aim to promote consent as a positive and proactive practice in all relationships and encourage open discussions, education, and awareness about consent