A Conversation on Consent
/Let's talk about Consent! Part of being radically inclusive is creating a culture of consent at Mosaic.
What does that mean? In short it means, ask first. Keep in mind that other people are full human beings with their own boundaries, histories, and desires when you want to connect with them, and ask them if the interaction you have in mind sounds good to them.
We can make sure we are doing it well by using the Four C's:
We CARE. We care about each other's well being and about our own and recognize that every human being is the authority on what works best to make themselves safe and happy.
We COMMUNICATE. We ask directly and clearly for what we want. We invite collaboration and input from others to understand their desires and limits. We keep the communication going throughout the interaction and look for nonverbal communication also.
We show CAUTION. We wait to make sure a hug or a gift or our presence is welcome before we proceed and pay attention to context. We stay flexible and aware of changes in our interactions and check in if we sense that something might have changed.
We practice CONSENT. We ask if we can give someone a hug, take a picture, or slap their butt. We let people know about what exactly is in the cookie we are sharing. We look for an enthusiastic yes and respect no as the final answer. We look out for ways that someone's yes might be compromised by being altered or by social pressure and power dynamics.
These things are nuanced and take work, but the payout is massive. When you are confident that everyone is on the same page, you can relax and enjoy the interaction a lot more.
A wonderful place to learn more and practice this kind of communication is at the Consent 101 Workshop that the Consent Team is hosting at Mosaic on Friday Sep 30 at 2:00 pm. Look for the location and more details coming soon!
In the meantime, we can start the conversation in the digital world. Do you have any consent memes or art you love that we can share? What does consent mean to you? How has consent culture impacted your life?
Share away and help build a culture of consent at Mosaic Experiment.