Consent is the agreement freely given to a sexual activity. To be valid, it must be free, meaning without coercion or pressure, informed, enthusiastic, specific to a given act, and reversible at any time. The absence of a “no” does not amount to a “yes,” and agreement given once does not hold forever or for everything. Consent is checked and asked for again throughout the encounter, through words as much as through attentiveness to the other person. Making it a habit of communication, rather than a formality, contributes to a safer and more respectful sexuality.
Definition