The foundations of an excellent and healthy sexual relationship are built around mutual trust and respect for each other and if any of these traits are lacking it has the potential to create issues with regard to consent.
What is Healthy Sexual Relations
There are always boundaries when it comes to consenting to sex and when those boundaries are breached it raises the prospect of action being taken and even the services of a sex crime lawyer to deal with a situation that clearly got out of control.
It is important to have a good understanding of what implies consent so that you can enjoy a healthy sexual relationship and avoid a scenario where one of you feels that the other has crossed the line.
Ask every time
One of the major issues attached to the subject of sexual consent is a lack of understanding relating to the laws and general rules of engagement when it comes to undertaking a form of sexual activity with another person.
In general terms, agreeing to have sex at a certain point in time doesn’t mean an ongoing consent to continue having sex at different times and you always have the right to change your mind.
It might seem more than a little awkward to ask your partner whether it is okay to have sex with them but good communication is essential in a relationship if you want to avoid any misunderstandings.
What you are agreeing to
The level of sexual activity you agree to is another potential gray area that can cause problems if both of you are not on the same page.
A good example of this would be when you start getting intimate and are kissing each other.
There is a world of difference between a passionate embrace and agreeing to take your clothes off and having penetrative sex. You always need to know that your partner is happy and willing to take things to the next level with foreplay and sexual acts.
Consent comes in various forms and it would certainly spoil the moment if you produced a written contract for them to sign beforehand. Even if you don’t actually speak to each other to ask if the other person is happy to have sex with you, there are often physical cues that will suffice and these can usually be interpreted easily, such as touching or looking at the person in a way that confirms you are comfortable to have sex with them.
Red flags
There are certain assumptions that need to be avoided if you don’t want to be accused of not gaining consent.
If the other person is dressed provocatively, for instance, that does not mean they are agreeing to have sex with you. Also, pressurizing or intimidating someone into having sex is also a red flag when it comes to consent.
Even when you are married, this does not give you the right to take advantage of your partner in a sexual way and consent always has to be obtained rather than assumed.
