Consent on the Page

How to depict clear, realistic consent in fiction—verbal, non-verbal, digital and ongoing consent.

Core definitions

Consent: a voluntary, informed, enthusiastic agreement to engage in a specific sexual activity. (See sexuality/consent_and_boundaries.md for an in-repo canonical treatment.)

Show consent (practical techniques)

• Verbal: short, affirmative lines: "Yes", "Harder", "Wait—" (followed by clarification).
• Non-verbal: leaning in, returning a touch, relaxed breathing, fingers splayed. Balance with signs of discomfort.
• Ongoing consent: narrate checks at transitions (new act, change of intensity, analgesia/impairment).

Dialogue examples

• Explicit check: "Do you want me to keep going?" — "I want this."
• Negotiation: "I like it slow. If you're going to be rough, tell me first." — consent is active and negotiated.

Digital consent

• For sexting or online scenes, show timestamps, clear language, opt-in messages and the choice to stop (digital_relationships/digital_consent.md).

Problem phrasing to avoid

• Ambiguous phrasing: "She let him" or "She didn't stop him"—these can read as non-consensual.
• Passive voice that elides agency.

Sensitivity & real-world ethics

• If a character is intoxicated, asleep, unconscious, or a minor, on-page sexual activity is non-consensual or illegal—do not glamorise. Cross-check with site policies and sexuality/consent_and_boundaries.md.

Quick author checklist

• Is the consent visible at scene start? If not, is there a credible reason?
• Are there negotiation beats for power or imbalance?
• Does the scene include aftercare or an explicit offer of it?

Related

• sexuality/consent_and_boundaries.md
• digital_relationships/digital_consent.md
• interactions/safe_words.md