Everyone Needs To Hear This Powerful Poem That Clearly Defines Consent

'Consent Is Not The Absence Of No'

"We live in a society where film will not show a woman’s face in orgasm, but they will in abuse."

That potent line is just one of the many thought-provoking subjects covered by Britteney Conner in her spoken word poem "Consent," performed at the Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam in Detroit and and posted to Button Poetry.

In a mastery that speaks to the power of performative poetry, Conner uses her verses to define consent in wide variety of situations. Consent is knowing the difference between "liking it rough" and "being able to tell when he's roughing you around," she says. "Consent is not love," nor does "being in love mean you have to consent." And perhaps most importantly, "Consent is being able to look your partner in the eye," she states as she stares directly at the audience. "But more importantly, consent is always being able to look yourself in the eye."

Conner acknowledges that every woman can determine her own comfort level in different scenarios. But her most compelling definition is universal: "Consent is not the absence of a 'No.'"

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