It gets pretty tiring sometimes to remind people that rape doesn’t happen because of one’s clothing or how people act. It’s come to a point there are studies to prove that, including why women can’t fight back. But overall, there’s just one concept that they need to understand: consent.
That’s what Swiss performance artist Milo Moire wanted to prove as she let people hold her breasts and vagina last year. She walked around the streets with a mirror box covering her private parts and told people that they can touch her for not more than 30 seconds. That was the only condition she had set and participants—men and women—obliged.
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Milo explained that she wanted to show people that women have a voice and choice when it came to their sexuality. “I hope that they in the end have respect toward women and that it’s [okay] if I want to have sex and that we are equal partners,” she said.
It’s also important to note how the people looked either curious or hesitant to touch Milo. Was it because a woman was openly taking control of her sexuality? Most likely. But many didn’t bat an eyelash when she laid out the ground rules.
If only it was that easy for some people to understand the importance of consent. Showing skin and being drunk at a party is not an invitation for anyone to take advantage of a woman. Even more so if a woman is passed out. (Glaring at you, Brock Turner and Bill Cosby.)
Heck, when a woman’s butt naked, she’s still not asking for it.
Consent isn’t given if you come off as straightforward and aggressive toward another person. And just because a woman started a conversation with you, it doesn’t mean that she’s automatically looking for sex. Nor is anyone entitled to give a woman crap for not reciprocating their advances.
People should be able to grasp the concept of consent by now. Women aren’t toys or pets that will automatically adhere to others’ whims. We don’t need more studies to teach basic human decency and respect because we all should know better than to harass or rape.
Consent is given, not demanded from another person. Once they say no, you back off and not insist.
Photos by Peter Palm via Cosmopolitan
Follow Preen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Viber
Related stories:
How Many More Medical Studies Do We Need to End Rape Culture?
Bill Cosby and the Battle Against Rape Culture
Hong Kong Proved that Women in Revealing Clothes Don’t Cause Rape
7 Ways We Promote Rape Without Realizing It
A Letter For the Stanford Rape Survivor