What is consent?

There’s been lots in the news recently about consent, and loads of conversations on YouTube about the topic, so Jimmy from the 4:01 Show has asked some of his musical friends – Jack & Dean, and musicalbethan – about the subject to see what their thoughts are.

It can seem tricky but actually it’s pretty easy – if you aren’t completely sure you have consent to take things further in a relationship then you need to be really clear and check! Jack & Dean wrote a really good song about this because they were kind of appalled with the Robin Thicke song and others like it where the lyrics are all “I know you want it” and stuff. Well… *holds up hand* Stop. Right. There. How do you know? Consent is about the other person explicitly giving their permission but not any kind of assumption or entitlement. Jimmy also chats to Glen at the Well Centre in Streatham, and he makes loads of good points about consent needing to be clear every time you have sex, and how obvious consent is when you do have it. If there’s any doubt – you have to check!

So watch this video and have a think about consent before you have sex. Pressure to have sex is not what anyone wants – so make sure you understand and communicate with your partner every time!