Consent
What is Consent?
CUE's Sexual Violence Policy provides the following information about consent:
The voluntary agreement to engage in the sexual activity in question. For consent to be voluntary, a person must be able to freely articulate a choice, which includes the possibility of refusal. Consent is not voluntary when a person has been threatened or coerced into engaging in the sexual activity
The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE)'s "Five Points of Consent" lists the following:
Consent can't be obtained if someone else says yes.
Consent can't be obtained if there is an abuse of power, trust, or authority.
Consent can't be obtained if someone says, or implies, "no" through their words or actions.
Consent can't be obtained if someone is incapable of giving consent (e.g. unconscious, sleeping, alcohol/drugs).
Consent can't be obtained if someone changes their mind (before or during).
What Does Consent Mean for Me?
It is important that students make themselves familiar with our Sexual Violence Policy and Procedure and also remember that no one policy, law, or educational video can fully capture every factor that could go into consent in specific circumstances.
Here's what consent really means for all of us: We need to be sure that someone wants to have sex with us, however we are defining sex, before we do have sex (and through the whole time we are having sex). This means all sexual contact - not just "standard" penetrative sex.
If we are not completely certain that the other person or people really want to engage in a sexual act, we need to not do that sexual act until we are certain.
At the end of the day, our goal should not be "do the minimum amount necessary according to a law or policy" - our goal should be "make sure that everyone involved in a sexual act really wants to be part of that act and will enjoy themselves."
Free Online Gender-Based Violence Workshops
Supporting A Survivor - Receiving a disclosure can feel intimidating if you don't know how best to respond, which is why the Anti-Violence Project has designed this workshop to address how we can all support the survivors in our lives. Various dates available.
Understanding Consent Culture - At the Anti-Violence Project, we believe in striving to create a culture of consent and care where everyone is free from violence. Be part of the conversation about how we can build this world together! Various dates available.
Resources
Online Written Resources
Landed Newcomers Booklet: Relations and Consent in Canada by Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) | Click here
Sexual Violence and the Law Information Series by Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) | Click here
Books
Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement by Tarana Burke | MacMillan | Amazon
They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up by Eternity Martis | Penguin Random House | Amazon
Resilience is Futile: The Life and Death and Life of Julie S. Lalonde by Julie S. Lalonde | Between the Lines | Amazon
Gender-Based Violence Reading List by CUE Library | Reading List
Podcasts
Peace by Piece by Anova Future | Click here to learn more and access this podcast
Prevent, Resist, Support by the University of Windsor | Click here to learn more and access this podcast
Possibility Seeds Podcast by Courage to Act | Click here to learn more and access this podcast
Healing Comes in Waves by Consent Comes First at Toronto Metropolitcan University | Click here to learn more and access this podcast
Specific Podcast Episodes
UNBOUND with Tarana Burke on Glennon Doyle's We Can Do Hard Things | Spotify Part One & Part Two | Apple Part One & Part Two
What to do When Your Friend Has Caused Harm with Robyn Ocean on UWindsor's Prevent, Resist, Support | Spotify | Apple | Anchor
Special Series: BDSM on Anove Future's Peace by Piece | Spotify | Apple
Did you miss the thought-provoking presentation on stalking? Click here to watch the recording.
Questions about reporting violence and counselling? Contact: Dr. Carmen Arth, Vice-President, Campus Life