One in five teenage boys do not believe it is always necessary to gain consent before engaging in sexual activity.
That's according to new research from NUI Galway.
It has surveyed 600 transition and fifth year students.
Researchers found a significant gap between the perception of it among males and females.
It found 93% of girls believe that's necessary.
However, 79% of boys think the same.
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Start Here.
Check out our website for resources and supports available to survivors of sexual violence 👇 #StartHere #IBelieveSurvivorshttps://t.co/uELjnw8IN3— Active* Consent (@ActiveConsent) April 11, 2021
Non-Verbal Consent Or None At All
Dr Pádraig MacNeela, co-lead of the Active Consent Programme at NUIG says many teenagers believe non-verbal consent is adequate:
“We would definitely like to see an improvement in those figures.
"When we give people kind of real-life stories then we can see them struggling a bit."
“Thinking for example a smile is enough for different types of sexual activity or even if there is no non-verbal consent coming from the other person, a significant proportion of people – again mainly boys – thinking that is OK to progress with that type of situation.”
He said the study highlights the need for a more systematic approach to this in education.
In response, the Active Consent programme for schools is launching today.
