Words as simple as yes and no can drastically impact a person’s life, in terms of sexual consent. Although some claim that the lack of verbal sexual consent within movies and TV does not affect societal standards surrounding sexual consent, the lack of representation creates an incorrect image that consent is not needed to order to perform sexual activities and encourages the trivialization of unwanted sexual acts and advances.
The lack of verbal sexual consent within movies may not affect societal views on sexual consent. Society has always endorsed the sexualization of women, getting rid of the humanity of sexual acts. Pop culture has always shown that “Women are always and everywhere objects of sex,” and the lack of consent in movies would …show more content…
For example, in Divergent, a teenage dystopian movie, the main character Tris finds herself in a situation she is not comfortable with, and she voices these concerns with her love interest, Tobias. Tris illustrates proper consent here, noting to Four what she wants, putting up her boundaries, and avoiding any kind of miscommunication (Zimmerman, Amy). This scene in the movie is a prime example of proper sexual consent, and it has encouraged many to follow in Tris’ footsteps. However, this does not occur often in real life. In a 2016 Esquire survey,“56% of men think that verbal consent should not be required, because not every relationship [requires sexual consent].” (“Sex and America”). However this is the very issue that has crafted the societal wrongs in terms of consent. More than half of the men think that consent is not required, which is not correct. Most movies, including Fifty Shades of Grey, and TV shows like Riverdale and Pretty Little Liars miss this topic, all feature scenes of nonconsensual sex, which lead to the misinterpretation of sexual themes by the group who needs them most, adolescents. The lack of verbal sexual consent in popular TV shows and movies further adds to the issue that many believe consent is not needed in order to perform sexual …show more content…
“82% of women think that pop culture is demeaning towards females, through missed opportunities of consent, and glorification of rape culture,” and this number is far too large for such an influential force in society (“Sex and America”). Romantic stalking, sexual violence and even in extreme cases, rape can be reinforced as okay because of the society’s constant surrounding the public with example of poor relationships. These “toxic love stories can also normalize coercion,” and can rid sexual consent of its value (Beck). An example of this story would be the highly influential 2000’s young adult TV show Gossip Girl. In the pilot episode, high school junior Chuck Bass attempts to sexually assault two students at a party; his friend and a younger student. However, this plot point is quickly overlooked, and Bass becomes a main protagonist and love interest for the rest of the series. Although he threw himself onto two women, he is not punished for any of his actions, and he eventually gets married at the end of the series. Love stories like this one not only downgrade the level of importance of sexual consent, but even could potentially reward sexual assaulters for their
The lack of verbal sexual consent within movies may not affect societal views on sexual consent. Society has always endorsed the sexualization of women, getting rid of the humanity of sexual acts. Pop culture has always shown that “Women are always and everywhere objects of sex,” and the lack of consent in movies would …show more content…
For example, in Divergent, a teenage dystopian movie, the main character Tris finds herself in a situation she is not comfortable with, and she voices these concerns with her love interest, Tobias. Tris illustrates proper consent here, noting to Four what she wants, putting up her boundaries, and avoiding any kind of miscommunication (Zimmerman, Amy). This scene in the movie is a prime example of proper sexual consent, and it has encouraged many to follow in Tris’ footsteps. However, this does not occur often in real life. In a 2016 Esquire survey,“56% of men think that verbal consent should not be required, because not every relationship [requires sexual consent].” (“Sex and America”). However this is the very issue that has crafted the societal wrongs in terms of consent. More than half of the men think that consent is not required, which is not correct. Most movies, including Fifty Shades of Grey, and TV shows like Riverdale and Pretty Little Liars miss this topic, all feature scenes of nonconsensual sex, which lead to the misinterpretation of sexual themes by the group who needs them most, adolescents. The lack of verbal sexual consent in popular TV shows and movies further adds to the issue that many believe consent is not needed in order to perform sexual …show more content…
“82% of women think that pop culture is demeaning towards females, through missed opportunities of consent, and glorification of rape culture,” and this number is far too large for such an influential force in society (“Sex and America”). Romantic stalking, sexual violence and even in extreme cases, rape can be reinforced as okay because of the society’s constant surrounding the public with example of poor relationships. These “toxic love stories can also normalize coercion,” and can rid sexual consent of its value (Beck). An example of this story would be the highly influential 2000’s young adult TV show Gossip Girl. In the pilot episode, high school junior Chuck Bass attempts to sexually assault two students at a party; his friend and a younger student. However, this plot point is quickly overlooked, and Bass becomes a main protagonist and love interest for the rest of the series. Although he threw himself onto two women, he is not punished for any of his actions, and he eventually gets married at the end of the series. Love stories like this one not only downgrade the level of importance of sexual consent, but even could potentially reward sexual assaulters for their