Teaching people to know when it’s okay for sex

PETALING JAYA: Two women’s rights societies have called for more comprehensive sex education in schools so that both men and women will understand the need for consent in sexual relationships.

The results of a recent survey conducted among men by the Centre for Governance and Political Studies had shown that only 35% of respondents had agreed that sexual consent needed to be in the form of a verbal agreement.

The Women’s Aid Organisation and Sisters in Islam expressed concern over the results.

The survey showed that 30% of respondents, between 18 and 30 years old, said consent was a given if sex was discussed beforehand, and 4% said consent was expected if the partners were in a relationship; 13% said consent could be given via body language while 4% said a lack of objection signified consent.

WAO executive director Sumitra Visvanathan said the results showed a serious lack of sexual education in Malaysia.

She said people in a relationship should know that sexual consent must be an explicit agreement freely and verbally given by both parties.

She called for another study to be done into what women understanding about sexual consent.

“Without the widespread understanding of consent, women are more likely to face sexual assault and rape,” she said, calling for effective sex education in schools as the way towards a safer society.

Sisters in Islam’s executive director Rozana Isa said parents should take responsibility over sex education, as it was best for children to start learning from a young age.

Rozana said she was not surprised by the survey findings. “There is a lot that men assume about consent. The question is, are they aware in the first place that consent is required and what that should look and sound like? And if so, who taught them this?” she said.

Women in Malaysia were ignorant about their rights over their own bodies.

“It’s not enough to educate them about their sexual reproductive organs and functions. They also have a right to know that they can say no at any time and that no one can force them into having sexual relations without their explicit and conscious agreement,” she said.

Rozana also expressed concern that more than half the Malay respondents would choose to stay in an unhealthy relationship. - FMT