Compulsory consent classes for guys at York uni from next year.

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I think people are underestimating the problem of sexual assualt at universities - a survey of 1000 girls showed that 1/3 had been a victim of 'inappropriate touching or groping'. I know pretty much everyone agrees that rape is terrible, but many people have skewed ideas of consent, and whether something is sexual assault or 'just a joke'. I've heard lots of people say that they don't see a problem with things such as slapping a girl's arse or having sex with someone when they're completely wasted. Surely the conesnt class can't do any harm - even if the majority already are, plenty of people need to educated about what consent actually is. Anyway it's just one class (I think) so even if you are completely educated on consent then I don't see what the big deal is.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 21

ElspethC

There was a ridiculous number of guys (and girls for that matter) at my sixth form who didn't seem to realise that someone being so drunk they could barely stand wasn't consent to be groped or have hands shoved up their skirts/down their pants. Like, I know it seems like common sense, but apparently some people don't seem to have quite grasped the idea of consent - the fact that dancing with someone isn't agreeing to sex, accepting a drink at a bar isn't agreeing to sex, spiking someone's drink with extra vodka etc to get them to "lighten up a little bit and have some fun" (aka get them drunk so they'll sleep with me) isn't what you should be doing.

Most people probably know that dragging someone into an alley and forcibly raping them is, you know, illegal and a bad thing, but there's quite a few people who think that if it's not forcible, then it doesn't count as rape. Coerced consent ("I'll give you a lift home if you do A/B/C, but if not then I'm leaving you here without a way to get back") or deliberately getting someone drunk to have sex with them is apparently acceptable according to a (terrifyingly high) number of people that I've seen on TSR and in real life.

Reply 22

username2295565

This shows a disgusting lack of respect all male rape victims, if it truly is for males only.

Reply 23

ElspethC

Original post by fr0sr_

This shows a disgusting lack of respect all male rape victims, if it truly is for males only.

It's only the OP that's saying it's for males only - the article says that's it's for the "fresher's cohort". So no, probably not just for males only.

Reply 24

Elivercury

Having seen a documentary of 17/18 year olds being walked through a case study of a rape from several different angles, I think this is probably pretty necessary and not "too late" as some people are suggesting. Some of the guys seemed to think that if a girl got within 5m she was essentially giving them "consent".

Really though I do agree it shouldn't be up to the universities to do this, it should be part of school education. Likewise I question it being male only - consent works for both men and women and if you are presenting it to men only you may as well just call it "don't rape people classes".

Reply 25

SMEGGGY

Original post by TheGuyReturns

http://www.yorkvision.co.uk/news/compulsory-consent-classes-from-next-year/13/06/2016

If you firmed York I feel bad for you son, I've got 99 problems, being a ***** ain't one! :lol:

Classes for girls who have sex then regret it, then declare rape should br compulsory too. Feminism :rolleyes:

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 26

Josb

Original post by Izzebie

I think people are underestimating the problem of sexual assualt at universities - a survey of 1000 girls showed that 1/3 had been sexually assaulted.

Source?

Reply 27

user73867

The problem isn't that rapists don't know what rape/consent are.

They just don't care.

Reply 28

34908seikj

Original post by 1 8 13 20 42

Yorkannot be serious

You tried.

Reply 29

Elivercury

I'd suggest that people who don't feel this is necessary watch the BBC documentary "Is this Rape? Sex on Trial" (I believe it is that one).

It was very illuminating and several of the guys admitted that they probably hadn't bothered to get consent in the past after watching it.

Reply 30

dancing sloth

I don't see why it's patronising.
And at least it gets everyone talking about the issue....

Perhaps there will be some guys who are prevented from making a mess of their lives by this class too?

So everyone wins?? :yep:

I think so.

Reply 31

Izzebie

Original post by Josb

Source?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11767585/Sexual-assault-at-university-Why-wont-these-MPs-take-action.html

Reply 32

username2295565

Original post by ElspethC

It's only the OP that's saying it's for males only - the article says that's it's for the "fresher's cohort". So no, probably not just for males only.

I see. - In that case I guess it's OK, if not a little bit patronising. I guess it would help differentiate the line between consensual and rape, as many above have said some folk don't seem to understand where that line stands.

Reply 33

Elivercury

Original post by ElspethC

It's only the OP that's saying it's for males only - the article says that's it's for the "fresher's cohort". So no, probably not just for males only.

Good spot, I missed this. There is nothing indicating it is for men only.

Reply 34

ElspethC

Original post by fr0sr_

I agree that it does seem kind of patronising at first sight, but like you said I don't think some people quite understand what consent means.

In the article there was a second year criticising the scheme and said "No student arrives at a university not knowing if forcing someone to have sex is acceptable or not", but the whole point is that rape and sexual assault isn't just "forcing someone to have sex" - getting consent covers a whole host of other things (groping, coercing oral sex, carrying on when someone's already said that they don't want to) and a lot of people aren't aware of that.

Reply 35

999tigger

Original post by ElspethC

It's only the OP that's saying it's for males only - the article says that's it's for the "fresher's cohort". So no, probably not just for males only.

I did say id have less fo an issue if it was for both sexes.
TBF the picture they used looks like it's all male. Assuming it was a pucture of the lecture.
Does York have a particular problem?

Why shouldnt everyone have to undergo it including 2nd and 3rd years?
It seems even more uneven that postgrads have to do it.

Reply 36

ElspethC

Original post by 999tigger

I don't know about York having a particular problem or anything, but regarding the photo I thought it was probably just a picture of a different talk/seminar? It said the classes only apply from this next year onwards, so I thought it probably wouldn't be that specific class since they wouldn't have held one yet.

Reply 37

Dez

Original post by 999tigger

TBF the picture they used looks like it's all male. Assuming it was a pucture of the lecture.

It looks more like one of the SU meetings, that room definitely isn't a lecture theatre.

Reply 38

KRin

Original post by Izzebie

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11767585/Sexual-assault-at-university-Why-wont-these-MPs-take-action.html

Do you have a source for to actual survey itself and not the article? I'm just curious about what they classified as 'sexual assault' since the article seemed to make a distinction between that and eg. inappropriate groping.

Reply 39

Josb

Original post by Izzebie

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11767585/Sexual-assault-at-university-Why-wont-these-MPs-take-action.html

It says that "A third of female students in Britain have endured a sexual assault or unwanted advances at university". I find it disturbing that they mix sexual assault and "advances"...
I also faced "unwelcome sexual advances" at uni. I wouldn't call it sexual assault.

"around one in 20 had experienced more intimate but unwelcome advances or been pressurised into sexual activity." This seems to be a more correct number.