Recent research conducted in Ireland reveals concerning attitudes towards sexual consent among men under 45. According to the study, 20% of this demographic admit they might not stop a sexual encounter if they believed their partner wasn’t enjoying it. The research, carried out in early this year, however, does indicate increased awareness and positivity around the issue of consent compared to previous years.
Almost half of the respondents claimed they understood consent better than they did the year prior. This sentiment was echoed with 48% expressing a more favourable attitude towards consent than they held a year ago. The study was the third part of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s We-Consent campaign.
The number of respondents stating they would halt a sexual encounter if they perceived their partner wasn’t having a good time grew from 76% to 84% over three years. Similarly, 76% of respondents strongly concurred with the statement that every individual has the right to withdraw their consent at any point during a sexual activity.
Although 88% of the 823 men and women surveyed agreed with this statement, it is alarming that 20% of men aged less than 45 conceded they could carry on even if they realized their partner wasn’t taking pleasure in the situation. Altogether, 12% of participants across all ages endorsed this viewpoint.
The survey also revealed that 20% of respondents agreed with the assertion that “no” might sometimes mean convincing is needed. Furthermore, 21% felt that there could be instances where sex isn’t completely consensual but shouldn’t be deemed rape.
A third of survey-takers concurred that sex can be a standard occurrence in long-term relationships even if you aren’t always in the mood for it. According to Sarah Monaghan, the We-Consent project manager, commonplace societal norms play a role in shaping men’s understanding of sex and relationships. The narrative that men need to be the initiators and leaders in sexual encounters has been historically entrenched, imbuing them with harmful misconceptions about women’s attitudes towards sex.
Misconceptions about sexual consent are utterly fallacious and deeply detrimental. It is crucial for every individual, particularly men, to strive for awareness and improvement in debunking these myths for themselves and others in their circles, as per her articulation.
Moreover, the role of pornography in shaping the perception of sex, power dynamics, relationships, and consent among young men under the age of 25 cannot be disregarded, as noted by Ms Monaghan. The lack of context and life experiences among this group impedes them from realising that such content does not mirror real sexual experiences or depict normal relationship behaviours.
Ms Monaghan emphasised on the importance of putting down the overly dominating sense of entitlement being propagated by certain male online personalities.
Since its initiation in the previous March, We-Consent has engaged approximately 1,000 individuals via conversation workshops incorporating a myriad of age groups, communities, and fields, detailed by Ms Monaghan. Even attendees initially confident in their understanding of consent acknowledged further learning and opened up to different viewpoints once they participated in these discussions.
Ms Monaghan voiced the necessity for more conversations around long-lasting relationships. Even within marriages and relationships, consent is not implicit and shouldn’t be assessed as a ‘one-time discussion’.
Every individual has a lesson to take away from this subject, irrespective of their age, background, gender, or relationship status, and “the ramifications of neglecting to engage and learn can have significant harm on others. Thus, it’s crucial that we all put forth the effort”, she concluded.