Definitions of Consent

The content in this section was developed in partnership with Teach Us Consent, an organization dedicated to consent education.

• Consent: To give permission for something to happen, to agree to do something.
• Sexual Consent: A clear, freely given, ongoing agreement to engage in a specific sexual activity. It must be reflective of capacity and between two people who are legally of age.
• Affirmative Consent: Sexual partners must actively say or do something to check if their partner is into it. This can be done or shown verbally and non-verbally — like with enthusiastic body language, pulling someone closer, nodding, or reciprocating touch.
• Enthusiastic Consent: A way to ensure that everyone involved in a sexual encounter gives their genuine and voluntary consent to keep going.
• Informed Consent: When someone freely says “yes” after being given all the information they need to understand what they’re saying “yes” to, including anything to do with contraception and protection.
• Specific: Agreeing to one particular thing, not a blanket “yes” to everything. Consent to making out doesn’t mean consent to sex later.
• Voluntary: Not pressured, guilted, manipulated or forced in any way.
• Capacity: Conscious, sober enough to make clear and informed decisions, and old enough to legally consent.
• Ongoing: Involves continual check-ins, and isn’t treated as a one-time deal or a binding contract. People can change their minds and revoke consent at any point, and it’s on us to respect that.
• Verbal Consent: Using explicit, unambiguous words to confirm that everyone wants the same thing — e.g. “Do you want to keep going?” “Is this okay?”
• Non-Verbal Consent: Using and reading clear, intentional body language to check for consent, like leaning in, initiating touch, or responding enthusiastically. Because it can often be misread, it should be backed up by verbal consent if possible.
• Sexual Coercion: When someone pressures, manipulates, threatens or non-physically forces someone into sexual activity they don’t want or freely choose. It can include emotional pressure, guilt-tripping, persistent asking or exploiting power imbalances.