One In Five Teenage Boys Don't Believe Consent Is Necessary, Survey Finds

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, which surveyed 600 transition and fifth year students.

Friday reminder: You don't owe sex to anyone! Not even if:

*You're in a relationship with them
*They paid for your drinks/food/date
*You took them home
*You said you wanted to have sex
*You're already in bed together

Because #consentisOMFG - ongoing, mutual and freely-given! pic.twitter.com/svNS2WGo0u

— Active* Consent (@ActiveConsent) August 20, 2021

It found a significant gap between the perception of consent among males and females.

The report shows 93 percent of girls believe consent is a necessary precursor to sexual activity , while 79 percent of boys think the same.

The research is part of the the new Active Consent schools programme, which is being launched today.

Co-Lead with the initiative, Dr Pádraig MacNeela,  says many teenagers believe non-verbal consent is adequate.

He said some respondents believed a smile was a sign of consent.

"Even if there's no non-verbal consent coming from the other person the vast majority - mainly boys - think it's okay to proceed with that type of situation."

The Active Consent Programme aims to promote assertive, ongoing, mutual and freely given consent among teens.