Sex & Consent

POV you’re having a difficult interaction with a guy about gendered violence when you suddenly reach a fork in the road …  Do you shut the conversation down, call him an idiot and walk away – or do you engage him in a meaningful conversation that might help steer him in the right direction? Well, in our view, it depends: how close or far is he from being an ally?  In this episode, we unpack our approach to engaging different types of men about sexual, relationship and gendered violence using our own successes – and failures – as a guide. If this episode brings anything up for you, you can contact 1800RESPECT or check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV ⚠️ CW: Lots of swearing, anecdotal storytelling of rape and sexual coercion, and discussion of sexual assault and intimate partner abuse ⚠️ 

We often talk about sexual consent in the dating world – but does sexual coercion happen in relationships too? Short answer: absolutely.  In this episode, Mardi and Lizzy unpack how sexual coercion can play out in healthy relationships and in abusive relationships, and the factors that often drive cis men’s decision to coerce their women partners (including patriarchal beliefs and supporting traditional gender roles). We also cover, in particular, the use of sexual coercion and assault in abusive relationships. If this episode brings anything up for you, you can contact 1800RESPECT or check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV ⚠️ CW: Anecdotal storytelling of sexual coercion, discussion of sexual assault and intimate partner abuse

Between moving houses, relocating interstate and months of overseas travel, we've taken a little break – and will return to recording later in the year. As always, thank you for listening to the Sex & Consent podcast. We look forward to hopping back on the mic for you soon. Love you, Mardi and Lizzy

Like many teenagers, Megan got drunk at a house party when she was 17. When a friend offered to help sober her up in a bedroom, he instead coerced and sexually assaulted her.  After opening up about it, Megan and her parents agreed to blame the incident on her drunkenness and the topic stayed dormant for years – until #MeToo erupted. In this episode, we unpack Megan’s reckoning with her assault, how she's overcome its impact on her life and how her parents took part in an awakening. If this episode brings anything up for you, you can contact 1800RESPECT or check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV  Come say hello on Instagram and TikTok @sexandconsent 

We all have a story to tell.  In our Storytelling Mini-Series, you’ll hear everyday people’s stories of sexual consent, coercion, misogyny and patriarchy – which Mardi and Lizzy unpack together. In this episode, Lexi* shares her story of going home with someone she vibed with – only to be confronted with his slut-shaming, dismissiveness and a complete disregard for consent when they got home. Stuck at his place without a phone, she had to figure out how to keep safe. Through Lexi’s* story we explore themes of misogyny, rape culture and sexual violence. This episode discusses rape, violence and heavy themes. If listening brings anything up for you, please contact 1800RESPECT or check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV  Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexandconsent 

Does the justice system really serve victim-survivors? Are all people who rape held accountable? How does rape culture intersect with the justice system? Join us as we unpack the reality of sexual violence statistics, how the criminal justice system fails victim-survivors and advantages perpetrators, and why rape myths are so important to bust. If this episode brings anything up for you, you can contact 1800RESPECT or check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV Subscribe to this podcast, babes, and follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexandconsent/

Josh is a 45-year-old dad who works for himself, is devoted to his young sons and who transitioned at the age of 40. With the unique experience of living in the world presenting as a woman and as a trans man, Josh shares his story of coming to know who he is, the process of medically transitioning and what it’s like to live truly as himself. This episode discusses topics like trans gender identity, medical transitioning and parenting as a trans person. If listening brings anything up for you, please check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV  Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexandconsent 

We all have a story to tell. In our Storytelling Mini-Series, you’ll hear everyday people’s stories of sexual consent, coercion, misogyny, patriarchy and more – which Mardi and Lizzy unpack together. In this episode, Claire looks back on a series of problematic sexual experiences from her teens and 20s. With help from Claire’s eloquent storytelling, we connect her encounters with coercion, rape culture, indifference to consent and violence to their origins: patriarchy, misogyny and mainstream porn. This episode discusses rape, violence and heavy themes. If listening brings anything up for you, please contact 1800RESPECT or check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexandconsent

The US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs Wade will impact millions of people who need an abortion – but some voices are missing in the uproar, while others are busy touting gun rights. In this episode, Mardi and Lizzy explore: What the Roe vs Wade ruling means for people who can get pregnant in the US Abortion rights in so-called Australia The absence of cis men's voices in the abortion conversation The enraging hypocrisy between abortion rights and gun laws in the US If this episode brings anything up for you, you can contact 1800RESPECT or check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV  😘 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexandconsent/ Resources: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/5/28/23145600/uvalde-school-shooting-republicans-defend-gun-rights-nra-convention https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/abortion-policy-absence-roe https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/11/ted-cruz-john-cornyn-texas-abortion-law/ https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2019/texas-10-years-of-mass-shootings-timeline/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-26/roe-v-wade-australia-abortion-law-access-not-guaranteed/101183518 https://www.abortiononline.com.au/how-tele-abortion-works https://www.clinic66.com.au/tele-abortion https://theconversation.com/has-us-style-politicisation-of-the-courts-come-to-australia-185384 https://abortionfunds.org/

We all have a story to tell.  In our Storytelling Mini-Series, you’ll hear everyday people’s stories of sexual consent, coercion, misogyny, patriarchy and more – which Mardi and Lizzy will then unpack together. In this episode, Louise* shares her story of a nightmare housemate who turned on her when she rejected his sexual advances. We look at the ways he punishes Louise* through a framework of misogyny and abusive behaviour. Thank you for your story, Louise*. Our Storytelling Mini-Series will touch on heavy themes. If this episode brings anything up for you, please contact 1800RESPECT or check out the support services here: https://bit.ly/3tcehNV  We’d love if you could subscribe to this podcast and follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexandconsent  *Pseudonym