Why Mutuality Changes Everything About How We Teach Consent
In this segment of a presentation on consent education, the speaker highlights two critical concepts that are often missing from traditional consent literature: mutuality and oral communication. The speaker explains that "mutuality"—the idea that consent must be a shared, mutually desired agreement—has been largely omitted from books and curricula, leading to a focus on unilateral permission rather than joint desire. The speaker contrasts phrasing like "Did I get your permission?" with a truly mutual approach that asks whether both parties want to proceed. The second point addresses the need for consent to be communicated orally, not merely "verbal" in the colloquial sense. The speaker clarifies that "verbal" technically includes both spoken and written forms, but for consent to be reliable, it must be spoken in real time, eliminating guesswork. The overall message urges educators and practitioners to incorporate explicit mutuality and spoken consent into teaching and practice, thereby improving clarity and safety.
