Know what consent is and how to give and receive it. 

Consent is an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity. There are many ways to give consent, and some of those are discussed below.14 Consent is about communication, both verbal and non-verbal. However, verbal communication can help both parties know one another’s boundaries.

Name what all parties want & do not want. 

Communicate with the other person(s) about what they want and also determine what you want. It’s ok if those things are not aligned. They don’t have to change or compromise want they want to make you comfortable nor do you. Do not push for something you want, when you know they want something different. Participate in only mutually agreed activities. Reminder: An encounter is not consensual if you did something they asked to not participate in.

Consent expires, verbally check-in sometimes. 

Consenting to one activity, one time doesn’t imply consent to that specific activity at any time, or consent to any other activities, RAINN advises. Consent has to be renewed, throughout an encounter and in subsequent ones. And consent can be revoked: people are always allowed to change their minds, or to decide they are not comfortable even if they previously thought they were. Verbally checking in during consensual sexual acts can support both parties are still aligned. (Example: You good?)

7. Consent isn’t just about sex. 

Negotiating consent is not just for the act of sex (however each person or pairing defines it), consent should also be practiced and can include verbally sharing one’s sexual thoughts, removing one’s own clothing, masturbating in front of someone, sexual grabbing, kissing, fondling, and other sexualized activities.

To learn what the other 6 are, download our FREE Toolkit below.