episode 27
“Courage, Confidence and Consent”
with Chanel Contos
Chanel Contos (Founder of ‘Teach Us Consent’ and Author of ‘Consent Laid Bare’)
@chanelc @teachusconsent
Consent. It’s seems simple, like it is already a known standard protocol of decent human behaviour, but here we are, in 2024 with statistics like these - More than half of Australian women in their twenties have experienced sexual violence, 97% of girls and women in Australia have experienced street harassment, 1 in 5 women in Australia have been raped, with only 5% of women reporting sexual assault and only 1.7 % of sexual assault cases resulting in a conviction. These statistics are only a few that are outlined in Chanel Contos’ book ‘Consent Laid Bare’.
Chanel, a young women that one night was sitting around with her girlfriends sharing the tragic tales of hook ups gone bad, only to realise it was scarily common and if her and her friends were masking sexual assault traumas that had occurred under the guise of being the socially acceptable ‘norm’, just how many more women are there? So at the age of 22, she took to Instagram to respectfully poll the question of what was other girls and women’s experiences, only to have such a response that her social media account exploded. From there, Chanel and her friends did a crowd fund and raised $90,000, which then help build a website and set up the petition teachusconsent.com. Chanel encouraged girls and women to leave their stories of sexual assault by naming only the perpetrators age and school. Nearly 3 years on and 7,000 testimonies, every previously hidden story has helped create data to push for change, which is exactly what is happening. Chanel and Teachusconsent.com has reformed education in schools, with consent education now being mandatory in all Australian schools from kindergarten to year 10. They have lead the charge with now making stealthing (where a male removes his condom without consent during intercourse) illegal, and received funding to create consent education material in collaboration with not-for-profit, Our Watch.
So the question lies, how does one woman manage to make such change? How do you cope when the world turns to you for guidance on what is one of the most weighing and distressing topics? And what does Chanel think is the seed for true societal change for today, as well as the generations to come?
“A yes only counts, if a no is safe to say… I think that’s where people get really confused.”
TOP RESOURCES:
WEBSITE:
DONATE:
Help our youth-led not-for-profit create crucial cultural change
www.teachusconsent.com/donate
Through funding, we will be able to expand Teach Us Consent to achieve:
Educational Reform
We believe in creating a future where future generations understand the concept of consent, empowered with knowledge and respect. Your donations enable us to reform educational curricula, integrating earlier and more holistic age-appropriate consent education.Early Intervention
Teachers are on the front lines of education and development. Through your donations, Teach Us Consent can develop comprehensive training programs for educators, equipping them with knowledge and tools to incorporate the fundamentals and nuances of consent into everyday teaching. This further promotes ongoing dialogue about consent and respect beyond the classroom.Media & Advocacy
Your contributions support cross-media campaigns to lobby governments and raise awareness of the prevalence of rape culture. Teach Us Consent creates impactful campaigns, educational materials, and advocacy initiatives that spread awareness about the importance of consent. By amplifying our message through various media channels, we aim to shift public perception and encourage positive social change.Build Partnerships
Help us build partnerships with educational institutions, relevant private sector groups, NGOs, community organisations, government, and policy-makers. These collaborations are fundamental in implementing effective consent education and support systems to result in long-lasting positive change. Together, we can create a broad network of organisations and individuals working toward a common goal to demolish rape culture.
READ:
‘Consent Laid Bare’ Print Book
The game-changing book about sex and consent that every woman - and man - should read.
In 2021, Chanel Contos posted on Instagram asking people to share their stories of sexual assault during their schooling years. This post unexpectedly went viral and almost 7000 people sent in testimonies describing behaviour that constitutes rape. Virtually none of these instances were reported, and almost all of them were by people they knew.
How and why is this happening in an era of growing equality? Chanel Contos argues that when it comes to sex, we are still working with an outdated social contract that privileges men's pleasure at the expense of women's humanity.
Consent Laid Bare challenges the lingering inequality that reinforces this behaviour. It asks if consent is possible in a world where female sexuality has been hijacked by forces such as porn, patriarchy and male entitlement. It gives girls and women the encouragement to seek sex that is truly enjoyable and equips them with the information they need to properly consent. It asks boys and men to become advocates for sex centered around intimacy rather than fuelled by aggression.
It is a battle cry from a generation no longer prepared to stay silent.
LISTEN:
‘Consent Laid Bare’ Audio Book
OTHER PODCASTS:
The Imperfects with Chanel Contos “Consensual Healing”
Dear Men,
Please listen to this episode about consent and rape culture.
Hugh, Ryan & Josh x
Better Than Yesterday with Osher Gunsberg
“What happens when entitlement outweighs empathy? A conversation about consent with Chanel Contos”
WATCH:
National Press Club of Australia
IN FULL: Chanel Contos' Address to the National Press Club of Australia
Recommended TV series, Sex Education and Heart Break High can be viewed on Netflix
SUPPORT
If you have experienced, or are at risk of sexual violence, sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call the 24 hour national counselling service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, or if you are feeling unsafe, always call the police on 000.
LIFELINE
If any of the topics discussed is triggering for you, please seek help by visiting Lifeline's website at www.lifeline.org.au or by calling 13 11 14.