Abstract

California's “Yes Means Yes” legislation—while a notable attempt to address the rape culture prevalent on many campuses—does not take into account how consent is actually negotiated in sexual relations.

College women are given more permission to be direct in saying no to sex than in saying yes. But some men realize that their partners might not willingly consent to sexual activity, so they avoid a refusal by not asking.

When women are not aggressive in rejecting sex, campus discourse may suggest that they did not do enough to prevent the assault. This can lead to internalized self-blame, prevent reporting, and perpetuate rape culture.

Campus climate needs to change. While students need to be involved in this shift, campus administrators, athletic directors and coaches, faculty and staff, and inter-fraternity and PanHellenic councils need to take the lead.

Those who sit on committees that hear cases of sexual assault need to be properly trained and educated; sexual-assault-prevention initiatives also need to be given adequate resources, and their programs should be made mandatory for all students.

When not just sexual assaults but egregious eruptions of sexism and rape culture surface, those responsible for them need to be held accountable.