Consent is a conversation
How clear, voluntary and ongoing agreement works—and what consent is not.
Consent has to be clear
Consent is a freely given and informed agreement to a specific activity. It should be communicated clearly; silence, freezing, previous intimacy or being in a relationship is not automatic permission.
It must be voluntary
Pressure, threats, manipulation, repeated asking, intoxication or a serious power imbalance can remove a person’s ability to choose freely. A person who is asleep, unconscious or unable to understand what is happening cannot consent.
It is specific and reversible
Agreement to one activity does not mean agreement to another. Anyone can change their mind at any point—even after saying yes, even if intimacy has already started. When someone says stop, pulls away or seems uncertain, stop and check in.
If you are unsure
Pause. Ask a direct, pressure-free question and accept the answer. Enthusiastic participation and honest communication matter more than assumptions or “reading signals.” Laws differ by location, so this lesson is not legal advice.
Keep these three points
What to remember
- ✓Consent is active, not assumed.
- ✓It must be voluntary, informed, specific and reversible.
- ✓When in doubt, pause and ask.
Sources & further reading
External guidance can change. Use the linked health authority for the latest detail.
Planned Parenthood — Sexual consent↗