Consent and how it matters

When it comes to discussion about sexual harassment and violence, consent is something that is often discussed. Our ex-Vice President Joe Biden, currently travels around to various colleges and universities talking  about informed consent and how to not take advantage of individuals. Though I think these conversations are very important, I think that we often exclude children from discussions and lessons about consent. Our society is known to sexualize everything to the point where almost anything regarding sex is regarded as an "adult topic." Yet I argue that if we were to teach children from early on the importance of asking someone before touching them and not tolerating hitting or touching another person without talks of consent, much of the mentality that leads to sexual harassment, assault and even bullying can be prevented. 

In Roxanne Gay's essay "What We Hunger For" she discusses her middle school boyfriend. She writes, "When we were together, he'd tell me what he wanted to do to me. He wasn't asking permission. I was not an unwilling participant" (142). The story of her first encounter with sexual assault was in middle school. Just let that sink in. These was not a story of consenting adults, this was about children who didn't understand what it meant to ask someone for permission to do something to another. There is also a clear flaw in the fact that Gay didn't think that she could express her discomfort. It is ignorant for us to exclude children from these conversations because they then grow up with the mentality that you don't have to ask for permission to touch another human being. Children also pick up on the fact that no adult intervenes or educates them that this is wrong and so they feel that they are in the wrong if they speak up on how they feel uncomfortable. Of course it is native to think that teaching children about consent will eradicate the issues surrounding sexual assault and harassment, but it will be one step in the right direction that can make a very big impact. 

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