New figures suggest public understanding of sexual consent is improving – but there are still some ‘very concerning’ attitudes among young men.

A new survey from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has found that nearly half of people believe they now have a better understanding of consent than they did 12 months ago.

A large majority (76%)  of people agreed that “Everyone has the right to change their mind at any point during a sexual encounter, no matter how far it’s gone” while an even greater proportion (84%) agreed that they would “prefer to stop things if I suspect my partner is not enjoying a sexual encounter.”

The survey also highlighted some concerning attitudes however, with one-in-five men under the age 45 saying: “I’d probably keep going even if I suspect my partner is not enjoying a sexual encounter”.

Meanwhile, one-in-five said they believe that people say ‘No’ to sex when they want to be convinced and the same number said they think sex can lack full consent without being rape.

'Moving in the right direction'

On Breakfast Briefing this morning, DRCC ‘We-Consent’ Manager Sarah Monaghan said the survey shows the public is “moving in the right direction”, even if there is a “lot more to do in supporting some cohorts of the population”.

She said it is “obviously very concerning” to her that 20% of men under 45 would keep going even if they believe their partner was not enjoying a sexual encounter.

“That highlights for us that some men under 45 still need that additional support when it comes to understanding the dynamics and the crucial importance of consent,” she said.

“The safety and enjoyment of all parties needs to be equalized during any sexual encounter and the fact that one party would continue when they are aware that the other party is not enjoying the encounter really is not acceptable.

“Regular check-ins can so easily be built into any sexual encounter and rather than, I think what a lot of people see as ruining the mood, they will in fact, almost certainly ensure that everyone has a more enjoyable experience and crucially that is a safer experience.”

Consent

Ms Monaghan said historical social norms continue to impact on how some people view sex.

“I think men in particular, historically, have been told that they need to be the one to initiate sex, that they are the pursuer, that they need to be assertive and, you know push for a yes,” she said.

“They are also told that women will refuse and need to be convinced … I think it is about really realizing that these myths are 100% incorrect and they are actually deeply harmful.

“I think it is incumbent upon all of us and on every man in today’s society to learn more and to do better when it comes to disputing these myths with themselves and with those around them.

“So having conversations down the pub with their friends and also discussing this with their partners.”

'We-Consent'

DRCC’s ‘We-Consent’ campaign has now been running for a full year and will continue for the next two years at a minimum.

The campaign involves consent workshops and national communication initiatives aimed at helping to inform and engage the population on consent.

If you or anyone you know is impacted by the issues discussed in this article, you can contact the DRCC National 24-hour helpline on 1800 77 8888.