Mia and William had been dating for a few months. She insisted on using condoms due to her fear of pregnancy and discomfort with unprotected sex. During sex, William put on a condom but removed it when they changed positions. When Mia found out, William said it was not a big deal.

In this scenario, Mia initially expressed that she was not comfortable having sex without a condom. What does this indicate about consent?

Question

Mia and William had been dating for a few months. She insisted on using condoms due to her fear of pregnancy and discomfort with unprotected sex. During sex, William put on a condom but removed it when they changed positions. When Mia found out, William said it was not a big deal.

In this scenario, Mia initially expressed that she was not comfortable having sex without a condom. What does this indicate about consent?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When examining consent in sexual scenarios, it’s important to distinguish between unconditional assent and consent that is contingent on certain conditions being met.
Option 1: 'Mia’s consent was given for all sexual acts, regardless of conditions.' This statement is inaccurate because consent is not automatically universal; it can be conditioned on factors such as safety, boundaries, or the use of contraception. Treating consent as blanket ignores Mia’s expressed comfort level and the specific condition she set (using condoms).

Option 2: 'Mia’s consent was conditional on the use of a condom.' This matches the situation described, where Mia insisted on using condoms due to fear of pregnancy and discomfort with unprotected sex. A person can provide consent for sexual activity only under the conditions they specify; removing the condom violates that condition and undermines informed, voluntary consent. This emphasizes that consent is ongoing and can be contingent on safety measures being in place.

Option 3: 'Mia’s consent was implied by her being in a relationship with William.' Being in a relationship does not automatically create consent for sexual activity, nor does it override explicitly stated boundaries or preferences. Consent must be given freely for each act and can be withdrawn at any time; relationship status does not substitute for explicit, agreed-upon terms.

Additional considerations: Even if Mia previously agreed to sex with a condom, removing the condom changes the terms of the encounter. Consent is active, can be conditional, and must be respected at every step. Violating a stated condition—such as proceeding without a condom when Mia had indicated that she would only consent if a condom is used—constitutes non-consensual or coerced activity and raises serious ethical and legal concerns.

Respect@Sydney 2025 End of module assessment

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