You know what’s really sexy? Getting full, enthusiastic consent before you even think about getting down to business with a partner, old or new.
And to remind shoppers to do just that, Superdrug is set to launch new, own-brand condoms with a reminder about the importance of consent on the packaging.
It’s all part of its new You Before Yes campaign, launched in partnership with the charities Brook, Fumble, UK Says No More and Switchboard, with the aim of educating and empowering 18 – 21-year-olds about consent.
More than a third (36%) of young adults in this age group have ‘gone along with sex’ even though they didn’t want to, according to a new survey by the campaign. And worryingly, three in 10 did so out of fear of what would happen if they said no.
Among the 2,000 young adults surveyed, a quarter (25%) have gone along with unprotected sex when they didn’t want to, and in 41% cases, this happened because they were ‘too afraid’ to insist on someone wearing a condom.
A quarter (23%) also said they’ve experienced a power imbalance in a sexual relationship and 20% stayed in that situation because they didn’t know what to do to fix it.
It seems the under 21s also needs a lesson in how to sext with consent in mind, too. Two thirds of have received explicit content over text, WhatsApp or social media without their consent. In the majority of cases (72%) this left them feeling uncomfortable (72%), violated (25%) or pressured to respond (16%).
Dealing with the pressure
You should never feel pressured to have sex if you’re not into it, but sexual health charity Brook has provided Metro.co.uk with some useful tips on navigating specific, uncomfortable situations.
On the pressure to have sex without condoms
‘No one should ever feel an expectation to have unprotected sex if they don’t want to. It doesn’t matter if you are using another method of contraception, or you have had sex with the same person without a condom in the past,’ says Brook.
‘It is your body and you have the right to decide whether to use condoms or not, every time you have sex. If someone is pressuring you not to use condoms, consider if this is the sort of person you want to be having sex with.’
Receiving unwanted sexual messages
‘Sending sexual messages to someone needs to be understood as a sexual act and something you need to get consent for every time, even if you’re in a relationship.
‘When you receive an explicit message that makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s important to understand that it isn’t your fault and that you aren’t powerless. If you know the person who sent the message and you feel comfortable discussing it with them, let them know how you feel, explain what your boundaries are and that they need to be respected. Remember that you can always block the sender and report it to the platform if it happened on social media or a dating app.
‘It is illegal to send naked images of, or to, people under 18. If this has happened to you it is important to tell someone. Speak with a trusted adult or an organisation like Brook, or Childline on their website or by calling 0800 1111.
‘If you are with someone who puts pressure on you to do anything sexual without your consent, whether online or in-person, then you could be in an abusive relationship. If you’re worried or want to find out more, visit our page on abusive relationships for more information and advice.’
From September, Superdrug condoms will remind users to look for ‘consent over compliance’ with new-look packaging. The boxes will also feature a QR code to the You Before Yes site, where you’ll find videos and blogs answering some of the most common questions young people have about sex. In store, you’ll also find sexual consent information on till screens.
‘People are being exposed to devastating non consensual behaviours far too frequently and lack access to information and support,’ said Caris Newson, Superdrug’s healthcare director.
‘Better consent-based behaviours won’t happen overnight and we’re committed to working with our partners to create long standing change.’
MORE : Sexual wellness brand launches world’s first skin tone condoms – and they come in multiple shades
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