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When it comes to sexual assault, it is important for teens to understand that agreeing to certain sexual acts does not mean you’ve agreed to any or all sexual activity. Sexual assault is when another person has sexual contact with you without your consent. Sexual contact without consent is sexual assault even if you…
These rules apply to people who have never met before, people who are spending time together, people who live together and people who are married to one another. In fact, sexual assault is more common between friends and partners than it is between strangers. In 2019, for example, the victim knew the perpetrator personally in over half (52%) of the sexual assaults reported that year. However, many incidents of dating violence go unreported. Often people don’t think of dating violence as potentially criminal behaviour and may even blame the victim.
Statistics provided by Statistics Canada, Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC), and Canadian Women’s Foundation
Respecting someone’s boundaries is crucial, especially when it comes to sexual activities. Remember, only a clear ‘YES’ signifies consent. In Canada, consent must be affirmative and ongoing. The Supreme Court has ruled that consent cannot be implied. Affirmative consent involves clear communication of agreement through words or actions. Silence or lack of resistance is not consent.
It’s important to recognize that consent for one activity does not automatically apply to other activities. Each new level of intimacy requires its own consent. For instance, consenting to dancing doesn’t imply consent to physical touch, and consenting to touch doesn’t imply consent to more intimate acts. Continual and respectful communication is key to understanding and respecting each other’s boundaries.
In relationships, having the courage to discuss and express one’s desires and limits not only fosters mutual respect but also contributes to a safer and more fulfilling interaction for all involved.
Teens are not the only ones who may be confused about what constitutes sexual consent.
A 2022 study conducted by the Canadian Women’s Foundation found that 55% of Canadians do not fully understand what consent means when it comes to sexual activity. Only 45% of people said they would look for both indicators of consent (positive and ongoing) to ensure sexual activity is consensual.
Interestingly, people age 54 and under have a better understanding of consent (52%) than people 55 and older (34%).
