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Warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault.
The truth about consent is that it can change. Someone can give consent, but can revoke it any time they start to feel uncomfortable or unsafe. This is what happened in the case of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, who has recently been accused of assaulting a woman during their relationship. What started off as consensual encounters ended in violence. What this case highlights is the complexity of consent and how sexual misconduct can occur anytime regardless of whether or not consent was given in the first place. According to the woman, Bauer strangled and punched her during intercourse on two separate occasions. And because it happened more than once, many criticize and wonder why she agreed to see him again. But it’s much more complex than that. Some may consent to BDSM and rough sex at first, but if they start to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, they have the right to refuse at any time. Additionally, it’s common for women to consent to unwanted sex. In one study, researchers studied the relationships of college women and whether or not they would consent to unwanted sex with their partners. They found that the main reason why a woman would consent to unwanted sex is because they feared their partner would lose interest and leave them. Others believed that sex was a relationship obligation (Impett & Peplau, 2003). We don’t know for sure if the woman in Bauer’s case felt this way, but we do know that consent is not as clear-cut as we think. For a while, laws about consent and sexual assault were not favorable for the victim. They had to prove they actively resisted by yelling out or screaming, and had to have two witnesses testify. Additionally, marital rape laws were not established until recently. Back then, the thought was that married women lost their rights to refuse sex from their husband, and that their husbands couldn’t commit rape in the eyes of the law (Smith, 2001). Today, anyone can be charged with this crime no matter the relationship or situation. The definition of consent has also changed where now, consent must be verbally given throughout the entire process. In the case of Trevor Bauer, the fact that he did not repeatedly ask for her consent should be accounted for. References
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Building on last week’s topic of boundary setting, consent is the result of setting specific boundaries. To give consent means to give approval of something. Not limited to intimacy, consent can be given in all aspects of life. It’s important that we always ask for consent when requesting something of another.
Consent revolves around power over one’s own body. This can be sexual, medical, and even organizational. We know that with sex, each party should be vocalizing their consent before initiating intercourse. Consenting and asking for consent are all about setting your personal boundaries and respecting those of your partner. Both people must agree to sex — every single time — for it to be consensual. In terms of doctor and patient relationships, consent should always be given by the patient. When medical care or treatment is provided, medical practitioners are required in many situations to obtain a patient's informed consent. A physician must tell a patient all of the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives involved in any surgical procedure, medical procedure, or other course of treatment, and must obtain the patient's written consent to proceed. It makes sense - we should have the right to choose what happens to our body and health. From an organizational perspective, consent can be given for companies to access personal data. In this new age of technology, personal information is a valuable product that many companies are after. Whether it be as a consumer or an employee, releasing personal information must come after receiving consent. Many companies like Facebook and Google have received backlash for collecting and selling personal data without users’ consent. This caused many, including me, to stop using these platforms. No matter the situation, being denied consent is extremely harmful and offensive. It’s as if we’re being robbed and violated of our basic human rights. If you’re not sure if a situation calls for consent, ask anyway - it never hurts to ask. References:
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