I find it sad that in this day and age there is still a discrepancy when it comes to consent. To me, it's pretty cut-and-dry. No means no. But there still exists a disconnect between people.

At its purest form, consent is defined as "permission, approval, or agreement." When it comes to engaging in intimate actions with others, it is an agreement between two parties to participate in an intimate activity.

Just because someone says yes to one activity, it does not mean they are saying yes to others.

Too many times we hear abusers say that they didn't know "not now," "I'm not sure," or "not right now" means no.

News flash: it does. Relaying any sense of doubt is more than enough reason for an activity to stop.

If someone says yes to kissing, it does not give the other party carte blanche to assume they want to have sex. Being aware of boundaries is key to understanding the importance of consent.

Just because a girl is dancing or even flirting with a guy, it does not mean she wants it to move any further than that. Without the approval from her, anything further is assault.

The consumption of alcohol does not mean consent. A girl drunkenly flirting with a guy at a bar does not give that guy permission to have sex with her. In this case, the girl wasn't even able to give consent because he took that right away from her. He assumed.

When it comes to consent, never assume. If you're unsure of whether or not the person with you wants to continue, ask.

If replying "yes" or "no" is simple, why is consent always misconstrued?

It starts at home during childhood. Little kids are taught to not fight back against their parents or superiors. Saying no, oftentimes ends up in time out. But what are we teaching our kids by doing so?

We are teaching them that saying no is a bad thing.

When at a family dinner, children are urged to go hug their family members, even if the child does not want to.

Although miniscule at the moment, this leaves children with a skewed idea of what "no" means. If everytime they say no they end up sitting in timeout or being scolded, children will be discouraged from saying it.

These children then grow up into people who are scared to express their feelings. But expressing one's feelings should not be frowned upon, it should be emphasized and supported. We should not grow up with the notion that saying no is rude.

When it comes to consent, physical cues are just as important as verbal ones.

We are all able to tell when someone seems uncomfortable. If someone starts backing away, it does not mean they want you to pull them in closer, it means they want to pause or even stop. If someone nudges you away, back up and give them the space they are asking for.

Consent is not determined by how you were acting, what you were wearing, or what you were saying. It is all about clear communication and understanding between two parties.

Anyone can say no, not just women. We are often skewed by TV shows or even the news that show mostly girls being victims of assault. But men have the same right to say no. Couples have the right to say no as well. Just because you said yes to something in the past, it does not mean you are saying yes to it in the present.

Consent is imperative when it comes to interacting with others. Whether it is verbal or physical, it's important to express how you feel. Don't be afraid to say no.