Screen Readers Skip to Content

Teen Boys Uncertain About Sexual Consent and Culture

Author: University of Surrey
Author Contact: surrey.ac.uk
Published: 30th Nov 2022 - Updated: 5th Jan 2023
Peer-Reviewed Publication: Yes
Additional References: Male Adolescence Publications

Summary: Article explores how boys are being taught about consent at school and how they relate to and interpret educational messages about consent.

Definition

Consent

Consent occurs when one person voluntarily agrees to the proposal or desires of another. It is a term of common speech, with specific definitions as used in such fields as the law, medicine, research, and sexual relationships.

  • An expression of consent is unmistakably stated rather than implied. It may be given in writing, by speech (orally), or non-verbally. Non-written express consent not evidenced by witnesses or an audio or video recording may be disputed if a party denies that it was given.
  • Unanimous consent, or general consent, by a group of several parties (e.g., an association) is the consent given by all parties.
  • Implied consent is consent inferred from a person's actions and the facts and circumstances of a particular situation (or, in some cases, by a person's silence or inaction).
  • Substituted consent, or the substituted judgment doctrine, allows a decision maker to attempt to establish the decision an incompetent person would have made if they were competent.
  • Informed consent in medicine is the consent given by a person who clearly understands an action's facts, implications, and future consequences. The term is also used in other contexts, such as sex, where informed consent means each person engaging in sexual activity is aware of any positive statuses (for sexually transmitted infections and diseases) they might expose themselves to.

Main Document

The research explores how boys are being taught about consent at school and how they relate to and interpret educational messages about consent.

The study involved classroom observations, individual focus groups with boys, and teacher discussions. Participating schools included a co-educational academy in a relatively middle-class, monocultural (white British) semi-rural area; a boys' academy in a socioeconomically deprived urban area serving predominantly black and minority ethnic pupils; and an independent boys' school in an urban area serving a relatively socioeconomically privileged cohort.

Dr. Emily Setty, the author of the study and Senior Lecturer in Criminology, said:

"Abstractly, most of the boys found these lessons helpful and provided a straightforward set of strictures for them to follow. Yet, it seemed they were often framed as initiators of sex, and it was clear that they struggled with some of the tensions and dilemmas that they faced, as initiators, to secure consent from a sexual partner."

"I believe we need to reflect on the premise and objectives of consent education. My discussions with the boys often explored the nature of 'choice' and the constraints on the choice that exists."

"Rather than hoping that knowledge will change behavior in a linear and desired fashion, we may need to consider why it doesn't. We can then start using consent education to enable young people to practice and develop the skills and emotional literacy required to uphold their and one another's rights to free and informed choice."

"Education must deal with the realities of ambivalence, ambiguity, and uncertainty, rather than trying to smooth this over through rationalized consent education. The road to consensual and affirming sex and relationships is far from smooth, and we need to go further in helping young people navigate the bends and bumps - both anticipated and encountered."

(Article continues below image.)

Colored silhouettes of people holding balls with yes and no symbols.Colored silhouettes of people holding balls with yes and no symbols.

(Continued...)

Educating young people about consent in schools in England is required as part of the now-statutory Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RHSE) curriculum.

School-related sexual violence, abuse, and harassment (SVAH) among young people is recognized as a global problem. In July 2020, the Everyone's Invited website was created, encouraging young people to share testimonials about their experiences of SVAH in schools. There are now over 55,000 testimonials, with over 3,000 schools named.

A rapid response report conducted by UK schools' regulator Ofsted followed this and detailed a worrying normalization of SVAH in state and independent schools and colleges. It was identified that girls and gender non-conforming young people are disproportionately likely to be victims of SVAH, while boys are more likely to perpetrate SVAH.

Dr Emily Setty continued:

"Typically, RSHE about sexual consent in England educates about the law and 'affirmative consent' - which places responsibility on initiators of sex to secure consent through clear and direct agreement. However, this presents consent as something to be obtained as a minimum requirement rather than to be 'enthusiastically' established, which often reduces the ability of boys to perceive themselves as having rights to their sexual consent. Furthermore, it was found that this often creates a sense of responsibility, even burden, that may manifest in resistant and hostile attitudes."

While the boys in the study believed that boys responsible for SVAH might have problems with impulse control and self-regulation, many articulated a personal lack of emotional literacy and self-knowledge. They perceived a lack of space to engage with and explore their feelings and found it difficult to know how they could express emotions during sexual interactions.

References and Source(s):

Teen Boys Uncertain About Sexual Consent and Culture | University of Surrey (surrey.ac.uk). SexualDiversity.org makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Content may have been edited for style, clarity or length.

Post to Twitter Add to Facebook

Latest Male Adolescence Publications

The above information is from our reference library of resources relating to Male Adolescence that includes:

Colored silhouettes of people holding balls with yes and no symbols. thumbnail image
Article explores how boys are being taught about consent at school and how they relate to and interpret educational messages about consent.
Publish Date: 30th Nov 2022 - Updated: 5th Jan 2023
Male at Birth Sexual and Gender Minorities Have Higher Odds of Partner Violence thumbnail image.
Young bisexual, transgender and low-income individuals are most at risk of psychological and physical victimization.
Publish Date: 14th Oct 2022 - Updated: 5th Jan 2023
When Doctors Ask if You Want to Circumcise Your Baby Boy thumbnail image.
Online reference includes guide and advice on how to talk to your doctor, and possible benefits, harms, and risks from circumcision.
Publish Date: 15th Sep 2017
Circumcision Survey Reveals Long-Term Harm and Human Rights Violations thumbnail image.
Survey of males circumcised at birth documents adverse adult outcomes and reveals considerable dissatisfaction and resentment about genital modification.
Publish Date: 2nd Mar 2017


1Transgender Reporting Guide
How to write about transgender people.

2Am I Gay? Questions to Ask
Think you may be gay or bisexual?

3Glossary of Sexuality Terms
Definitions of sexual terms & acronyms.

4LGBTQ+ Pride Flags
Symbols of Identity and Inclusion.

5LGBT Awareness Dates
Important LGBTQ community awareness days, remembrance dates, and coming pride events.

• Submissions: Send us your coming events and LGBTQ related news stories.


• Report Errors: Please report outdated or inaccurate information to us.



• (APA): University of Surrey. (2022, November 30). Teen Boys Uncertain About Sexual Consent and Culture. SexualDiversity.org. Retrieved November 9, 2024 from www.sexualdiversity.org/sexuality/adolescent/boys/1103.php


• Permalink: <a href="https://www.sexualdiversity.org/sexuality/adolescent/boys/1103.php">Teen Boys Uncertain About Sexual Consent and Culture</a>