What is Consent? Why is it Important? And Other Big Questions

What is consent? Why does it matter? How does it affect our daily lives? Why is it such a grey area, sometimes? The concept of consent is easy to oversimplify – yes means yes, and no means no. Often, though, it isn’t that black and white. Have you ever said ‘yes’ to something when, really, you wanted to say ‘no’? Or have you ever tried to convince someone to do something they don’t want to?

What is Consent? explores how consent works, and why it matters. It explains how consent plays a part in almost every interaction or relationship we have, and how it affects almost every area of life, from healthcare to the law. The book encourages children to think about what consent means to them, and about the importance of personal boundaries – both knowing your own, and respecting other people’s. It talks about how to say no, and what to do if you feel your consent has been violated.

The book also includes contributions from people such as David Bartlett, chief executive of the White Ribbon campaign, and Zara Todd, a youth worker and activist, about what consent means to them.

Broad and far-reaching, and simultaenously gentle and accessible, this is an important book, vital for giving young readers the necessary understanding to build and develop healthy relationships.