Video Transcription

Dating in Australia: Consent

The world is very globalized now, so I think young people especially have a good understanding of issues related to consent. But I guess coming over here, there may be certain pressures that are different, especially when it comes to dating. It’s important to have your own boundaries in any culture or country. Consent is yes or no, and it’s important to make sure you’re comfortable with saying yes or no. Consent is the trust between the couple, and then you can proceed to do the thing that you both agreed on.

Definitely, there’s an idea of Australian masculinity. There’s maybe a certain picture you get from media or movies. I think sometimes there is pressure to either be like that or to think that’s the appropriate way to behave and act. Women, in general, experience the feeling that they cannot be very outspoken or have a voice to speak about something they disagree with or something they don’t like. Sometimes we’ve been expected to just put up with certain situations and not make a big fuss.

I was on one of the dating apps and then we had sex, but after that, there were like another three to four people who approached me on the apps, saying that they got naked photos of me from that guy. Okay, like, he literally sent my nudes to them and they were saying that I was pretty good at it. I would take it as a compliment, but this is not a good thing. I don’t want to see my pics everywhere on the internet.

I think the best way to avoid crossing the line of consent or sexual boundaries is to have good communication. When I first came here, it was actually a bit of a fresh experience for me. I never really understood what a hookup is. I used to mistake makeout and hookup as the same thing. They’re not. Maybe young girls aren’t being told about this, but it’s just the idea that young boys can do certain things.

For me, it’s just a reminder that you have to be responsible and be able to communicate that openly. Consent is not only respecting somebody’s boundaries, but it’s also asking what you like, or if something is okay, or if you’re enjoying it. It opens up communication, and that’s how there’s a stronger connection and more intimacy in a relationship—just by talking about it.

Video by fpv.org.au