“It doesn't include us”: Heterosexual bias and gay men's struggle to see themselves in affirmative consent policies

Abstract

Rape and sexual assault are considered forms of gender violence, or violence against women, and affirmative consent policies were created as a primary prevention strategy to combat this kind of sexual violence on college and university campuses. Such policies are often promoted as being inclusive and applicable crossculturally because of the gender-neutral language within affirmative consent policies; however, the highly gendered nature of sexual assault discourse has become hegemonic and thereby unintentionally reinforces a heterosexually gendered false dichotomy about sexual violence. This qualitative study utilizes in-depth interviews with 10 gay men to explore how they perceive affirmative consent policies. The results found that gay men perceived an implicit heterosexual bias within affirmative consent policies that reinforced heterosexist conceptions of sex, gender, sexual scripts, and sexual assault. Ultimately, this made it challenging for participants to see themselves in affirmative consent policies. Moreover, it burdens gay men whose experiences with sex and consent, as well as sexual assault, do not fit within the heterosexist paradigm of current sexual assault and affirmative consent discourses/policies.

Sexual and gender minority men’s bystander behaviors and barriers in response to witnessing minor sexual aggression.

“…Yet, there could be specific barriers that prevent SGM men from intervening when they witness concerning sexual situations in their community. For instance, identifying patterns of abuse and violence outside the context of heterosexual encounters may be difficult for SGMs because culturally, sexual assault prevention tends to focus on cis women's experience of violence within heterosexual encounters (Richardson, 2022). Further, there are perceptions that unwanted sex is normal within the SGM community (Gaspar et al, 2021).…”

The Impact of Malpractice Damage Caps on C-section Rates and Alternative Approaches

“…60 More common is the experience of Dray who was forced to undergo a C-section against her will. 61,62 The obstetrician lacerated her bladder in the process. 61,63 Dray 64 brought suit in 2014.…”

“…In that case, the patient, a 42-year-old nurse, recovered $1.5 million for an unnecessary C-section that resulted in 1-year hospitalization and left her bedridden for a year thereafter 60. More common is the experience of Dray who was forced to undergo a C-section against her will 61,62. The obstetrician lacerated her bladder in the process 61,63.…”