Having sex without consent is rape
Sexual violence has several forms. It can be rape, incest, sexual harassment, digital violence, or prostitution. Having sex without consent is always rape. Rape is one of the most serious crimes there are, whereas only murder is considered more serious. Repercussions of rape can last a lifetime.
Consent means that both individuals agree to have sex. It is never OK to insist or force a person to have sex, regardless of whether people are in a relationship or not. Consent is key.
What does consent mean?
- Consent is to ask instead of assuming you have permission to do something.
- That you keep asking if the person likes what you're doing and what they would like, even if you've slept together before. People don't always want to do the same things.
- That consent can be shown with physical or verbal expression. If the other person is silent, hesitant, or says maybe, that is not consent.
- It means that the other person is always conscious. Whether the person is drunk, unconscious, or sleeping, they cannot give their consent.
- Consent means yes, but you can always change your mind and withdraw your consent.
Nothing justifies rape, because the rapist alone is responsible for his actions. If you are raped, it is never your fault.
If you've experienced some kind of coercing or your boundaries have been crossed during sex - it is worth a second thought. You can always contact Bjarkarhlíð to get counseling. It does not matter how long it has been since the incident.