MYTH:

Women say “no” when they really mean “yes.”

REALITY:

“No” means NO. End of story.

Today’s culture conditions us to believe that the line of sexual
consent is conveniently blurry. When a woman drinks too much, accepts a ride home with a man or
even winds up on his sofa or in his bed, her consent to have sex is often assumed or taken for granted.
The Criminal Code of Canada defines “consent” as a “voluntary agreement” to engage in sexual activity.
If a woman says “no” to sex verbally or shows it through her conduct, that consent doesn’t exist. If she’s asleep, drunk or passed out, she’s incapable of consenting to sex. And even if a woman does initially
agree to engage in sexual activity, that consent instantly disappears if she changes her mind AT ANY
POINT.
If a woman says “no” and a man doesn’t accept it but instead continues to pressure or force her into any
sexual activity, he’s committing sexual assault. And he can’t claim being drunk or high on drugs as his
own excuse for believing someone consented to having sex with him.
Healthy sexual relationships include elements of equality and respect. The bottom line: if BOTH people
in a sexual encounter haven’t knowingly, willingly and clearly agreed to be involved, it’s likely that sexual
assault has occurred.

And that’s a crime!