Amid the raging discussion about the Me Too movement, an expert has made some claims which would come across as striking, maybe even too new-fangled. Yes, consent is a big deal and the discussion finds more dimensions with each passing day. From showbiz to academics everybody is talking about consent but do babies have anything to do with it?
We only ask because an expert just said the strangest thing about consent. You definitely should ask any person before you engage with them physically or initiate body contact but should you also get permission from babies before you touch them or change their diapers? Because this expert thinks so and is being relentlessly mocked for her views. But is she right?
Consent is basically the nod from somebody or the permission you acquire before you can initiate any form of physical contact. The issue of consent has been under intense scrutiny lately as a result of the culturally relevant Me Too movement. It is very important not just in specific scenarios but also in relationships when you should always get your partner’s consent before you engage in a physical display of love.
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You might think consent is crucial in cases like Harvey Weinstein or Louis CK or other predators, but it is also an important issue when you're with a certain person. In the Aziz Ansari case for instance, a woman accused the comedian of being aggressive towards her during a date and behave in a way which she did not consent to. So even when it comes to our regular relationships consent is important.
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Post the unfortunate revelations about the disgraced Hollywood Moghul Weinstein the Me Too movement resonated with women all over the world. Not only did women take to social media to speak up against the crimes committed against them but also came together to change the toxic pattern of male intimidation.
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Recently sexuality expert Deanne Carson said that she believes that parents should establish a culture of consent in their homes which would be educational for their children. While this is sound advice, what she says next is going to sound pretty ridiculous.
To give an example about how parents can propagate the culture of consent and permission Carson said that parents should try getting their baby's permission or consent before they touch their diapers. It's exactly as confusing as it sounds like. Carson actually wants parents to seek their baby's permission before they can change them out.
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Carson makes it clear that she know that babies will never verbally respond to their parent's queries which is why parents should ask for the child's permission and wait and give them some space so that they can respond via body language whether or not they are ready.
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She was ridiculed not just by the show's hosts but by hundreds of people on Twitter. People claimed that Carson's ideas were obviously not applicable as they are just absurd. No parent will ask their child's permission to change a dirty nappy especially since there is a health hazard involved. Plus a child will never give a legit response as he or she doesn't know what's going on.
What did people say?
People all over Twitter joked that listening to Carson meant having poop all over their home as the diapers will never be changed. People ridiculed her strange views which have nothing to do with feminism and are just insane.
Is she wrong?
No, what Carson is trying to say makes a lot of sense. A culture of consent is very necessary and essential for a child to witness but the diaper reference was a bit too much and didn’t really make her seem very legit.
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Interestingly Carson has hit back at her critics and has a message for anybody doubting her credibility. She took to Facebook to write that she knows people mock her ideas and don't take her seriously as she has pink hair. She also stated that the notion of seeking permission is a start towards building a foundation against mistreatment of kids.
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Carson's nappy idea is of course just an example of what she's really trying to convey on a broader level. The expert basically tries to get across the point that parents should be sensitive to what their children are watching as they grow up. The repeated usage of consent-seeking will no doubt make a lasting impact on any child and he or she will learn it's significance.
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Carson is a reputed sexuality expert. She is also an educator and an author and awareness about sexuality is important to her. She says she works with kids who are three years old and beyond. Which is why she tried to make young parents understand how they can train their children for a safer environment.
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Children especially male kids should be steeped and acquainted with a culture of consent especially because how they are raised will affect society and their interactions with women should never lead to anything untoward.
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As you know Hollywood is taking the Me Too campaign very seriously and the issue of consent is one of the notions which is the most widely discussed. Turns out, men especially should be sensitive about whether or not they have acquired their partner’s consent.
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In case you want to learn more about the Me Too and the Time’s Up movements, look them up and you will see some of the biggest names like Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman are involved with bringing a change through this campaign.
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