Read the signs. If someone’s not into you, it's not an indication to try harder. You should never make someone feel obligated to interact with you and you should never feel obligated to interact with someone else. It’s important to always communicate openly. Whenever in doubt, consider asking, “is this okay?” And if you ever see someone violating someone else’s space, say something. Creating a consensual future is something we have to do together.
No matter what signals you think you’re getting, never assume you have consent. The best way to ensure both parties are comfortable in any situation is to talk about it. Don’t worry, getting consent is not a turn off. If your partner is already into you, it’s a turn on.
Anyone can withdraw consent at any point and for any reason. To ensure both parties are comfortable, it’s important to always keep the lines of communication open.
Below are a handful of simple ways you can join the cause and help spread awareness about consent. Click the icons to download each social card.
Designed to be sent over Airdrop in places where the lines of consent can get blurry, this action simulates both asking for consent to enter a stranger’s space while also setting one’s own boundaries. If they consent to our message, we approach them for further conversation. If they do not, we respect their boundaries and move on. We’ve had success with this technique everywhere from Coachella to SF Pride and NYC’s Adweek. To share this message, click on the icon to download this social card, then Airdrop it to strangers in times and places where consent should be top of mind.
We’ve transformed the stereotypical phone charging experience into one that demonstrates the value of consent. Once you plug in your phone, rather than ask, “Do you trust this device?” it asks, “Is this a consensual hookup?” If the answer is no, the connection cannot proceed. If the response is yes, the hookup can continue. We’ve successfully used this interaction to spread consent awareness everywhere from the UN General Assembly in NYC to Lollapalooza in Chicago to the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in France. Want to host The Hookup Station?
By speaking a language students can relate to, we can make consent a natural conversation for students everywhere. But rather than create a formal lecture, we created a toolkit that utilizes technology to facilitate the conversation. Talking to young adults about consent in a way that’s easy to understand can have a deep impact and lay the groundwork for interactions that come about later in life, sexual or otherwise.
Sending unsolicited or inappropriate photos/words is a form of sexual harassment. To spread awareness about digital sexual harassment, click the icon to download this image and post it on your feed. Once you do, it becomes a tool your followers can use to support consent awareness. Of course, feel free to send it in your DM’s too.
The way you look, whether online or in person, should never make you a target. If you’d like to spread this message, click the icon to save this image to your phone and post it in a carousel on Instagram next to any picture of you.
When it comes to sexual harassment and assault, we need to stop victim blaming and instead put the responsibility on the perpetrators.
Yet in society, an overwhelming majority of prevention efforts are focused on getting women to protect themselves from these crimes (go out in groups, be aware of your surroundings, text when you get home, be careful with what you wear). As such, the responsibility is being put on women to prevent something they can’t control.
Our mission is to take a stand and educate everyone about consent in the moments where it matters most. By spreading consent awareness, we can start to solve the problem before it becomes one.
Sexual harassment and assault shouldn’t be a woman’s problem. They’re an everyone problem and we all have a responsibility to be part of the solution.
A Call to Men is a global violence prevention organization and respected leader on issues of manhood, male socialization and its intersection with violence. Embracing and promoting a healthy, respectful manhood prevents violence against women, sexual assault and harassment, bullying and many other social ills. ACTM has 20+ years of experience working with and training men and boys, including the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Hockey League, the United States Military, the Department of Justice, the United Nations, corporations, organizations, and educational institutions across the United States and abroad.
Resources:Principles of Healthy ManhoodYouth DevelopmentCampus Culture TransformationTraining Institute
NO MORE is dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault by increasing awareness, inspiring action and fueling culture change. They’re powered by the largest coalition of allied organizations, local community campaigns, schools and individuals committed to ending and preventing violence in the United States and around the world.
Resources:The Consent GuideShare Your StoryBystander Tips & ScenariosSupporting SurvivorsHow To Get Consent + How To Ask For It
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Resources:Understanding ConsentSelf Care After TraumaTips for Talking to SurvivorsSteps to Prevent Sexual AssaultGet Involved
