I know sexual consent is a sensitive subject but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth talking about. In a study conducted by the Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found that one in six women had experienced an attempted rape or a completed rape. Women should not be forced to experience that pain. Most girls don’t even report their rape if it occurred because they are scared and ashamed. They go through denial trying to justify what happened. They try to forget it or blame themselves and it’s a never-ending cycle of pain. However pain is not the only thing they experience. Their idea of trust is broken. It will take a long time for them to be able to trust another man again. But even when they finally are able to trust again, that trust can easily be broken, because trust is like a mirror. Once it's broken, you can try to put the pieces back together, but no matter how hard you try there will always be missing pieces.
Nobody should have to go through that. That is why when a woman says no, it really means NO. I don’t care if she let you get as far as almost having sex, she is saying no to having sex with you and just because you really want it does not mean she does. If you really like her you should respect her. You should respect her by waiting until she is ready. I know nobody wants to wait, but think about her for a second. Imagine somebody pressuring your younger sister, cousin, best girl friend or your future daughter. How would that make you feel knowing somebody took advantage of them like that? You would want to kill that guy. So, why be that guy? Don’t be that guy who pressures girls into doing something. Don’t be that guy who is too aggressive with girls. Don’t be that guy that hears "no" but makes them eventually say "yes." Listen to no the first time.
I know I sound like a broken record like Meghan Trainor in her song “NO,” but it’s the truth. Women around the world are being taken advantage of and just because it’s a sensitive topic, people tend to ignore it -- especially if it was with a famous person or professional athlete. I don’t care who you are, if a woman says no it means no.
So the next time you are with someone and you can tell she is uncomfortable, don’t pressure her. How would you feel knowing that happened to one of your loved ones? Don’t be the person who causes her pain.
