A year ago, legislation was passed in California in an attempt to battle the rampant sexual assault problem, particularly on college campuses. This law emphasizes a "yes means yes" policy when it comes to thoroughly investigating cases of sexual assault, meaning that active, mutual consent is required at all stages of sexual encounters.
This past week, they took another step in the direction of the universal understanding of the importance of consent by introducing and requiring "yes means yes" based sexual education in many school districts. Not only that, but the bill also states that the aforementioned curriculum must be "research-based and appropriate for pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds," thus creating an important barrier against niche style teaching, and fostering inclusive mindsets.
"California must continue to lead the nation in educating our young people — both women and men — about the importance of respect and maintaining healthy peer and dating relationships," said Assemblyman Rocky Chávez, vocalizing the hopes and visions of those in support of the bill.
It goes without saying that this bill is important - no - vital to the potential of a future without, or at the very least, with significantly fewer sexual assaults on college campuses. California has four colleges on the list of 55 that are under Title IX investigation. As sexual assault continues to grow as an epidemic, it is in the state's best interest to have their high school graduates, who make up a majority of the student body at these schools, informed on these issues and sexual health values.
While this is, again, a step in the right direction, what good will this education do on all college campuses if the only students who have been taught a comprehensive curriculum on consent come from one state?
Students from California can't be the only ones armed with this information; it cannot stop with California.
This integration of consent into the sexual health curriculum is a good start, but it should start before high school. It should, in my opinion, be taught in the home from an early age. Fostering respect for elders and authority figures is implied in parenting, but what about respect for your fellow human beings? About respect for the people you are close with and love and are intimate with?
It seems like common sense to me.
Consent is non-negotiable. It's been said hundreds of thousands of times by survivors of sexual assault, feminists, politicians, scholars, bloggers, or some combination of these, and yet it still remains a gray area for some.
Some bounce around the phrase "consent is sexy," and they're right: there is something incredibly attractive about a human being who respects your inherent dignity as a human being, your body, and you in general.
What a concept.
California is heading in the right direction: by opening the conversation of the vitality of consent and healthy relationships in teens, those who are forming their idea of what sex and love is supposed to be, we are planting the seeds of a better world.
It can't end there, for the sake of the one in four women who are reportedly sexually assaulted during their time in college. For the sake of the survivors who are brave enough to tell their story and use their experience to aid those they can, education is just the first step.
