Teenage Understanding and Negotiations of Sexual Consent: Considerations for Scottish Secondary Sexual Education

This research project aims to examine how teenagers in Scotland understand sexual consent, how they communicate or interpret sexual consent, and what factors influence whether they believe a sexual act is consensual or non-consensual. This is educationally, socially and culturally significant in Scotland, and across the UK. The focus on sexual consent is related to rates of sexual violence, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. This is evident in government reports /initiatives, such as the Westminster Government Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy and the #metoo social media campaign..

Understanding how teenagers 13-18) understand sexual consent, allows educational programmes and campaigns to be tailored to reflect the attitudes and perceptions of young people who have not yet reached sexual maturity. Furthermore, studies have highlighted that in Scotland, teenagers are engaging in sexual intercourse at a younger age than 16 (the age of consent), many before their 13th birthday, and many of those who have engaged in sex at a young ageregret the decision, or do so without contraception.

This research contributes to and is influenced by multidisciplinary perseptives, including Education, Sociology, Psychology, Feminism, Law and Criminal Justice. Additional understandings of sexual consent is important in extending knowledge to educators, health professionals and young people themselves.