Study finds 'concerning' attitudes to consent among younger men

Noeline Blackwellof the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) with panellists Chris Rooke, Caroline Kelleher, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Louise McSharry, comedian Jarlath Regan, and Denise Charlton, Corporate Finance Institute, with DRCC staff and stakeholders at the launch of the We-Consent campaign. Picture: Keith Arkins

Concerning attitudes to sexual consent, particularly among younger men, have been found in a new study by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC).

Some 21% of all respondents agreed that “sometimes sex is not fully consensual but is not rape”. 

And 20% of younger men, those aged under 45, agreed with the statement: “I’d probably keep going even if I suspect my partner is not enjoying a sexual encounter.” 

Overall, 12% of respondents agreed with that statement.

And 33% agreed that sex is part of long-term relationships so you “go along with it” even when “you’re not always up for it”.

Almost one in 5 (19%) of those surveyed think that people say no to sex when they want to be convinced.

But the study also identified positive trends, with almost half (47%) of those surveyed reporting a better understanding of consent than they held 12 months ago.

And 48% of people surveyed reported that they now had a more positive attitude towards consent compared to one year ago.

When asked whether they agree that “Everyone has the right to change their mind at any point during a sexual encounter, no matter how far it’s gone”, over three-quarters (76%) strongly agreed, marking an increase from 62% in 2021.

A large majority 84% agreed that they would “prefer to stop things if I suspect my partner is not enjoying a sexual encounter”, up from 76% in DRCC’s 2021 survey.

Although the We-Consent research shows promising growth in national awareness of consent, further engagement is needed with younger men, the DRCC concluded.

This is the third tranche of national research focused on public understanding of sexual consent by DRCC as part of the We-Consent campaign.

“We can see there has been significant progress in terms of the general public’s understanding of consent, but we know that we have much more to do,” Sarah Monaghan, We-Consent Project Manager said.

“We hear from those we engage with that there is a need for more discussion about long-term relationships and how consent cannot be assumed within marriage and relationships."

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