Consent has become a key vehicle for sex educators to discuss power dynamics within sexual interactions. Consent, however, is a pretty low bar. Many feminists argue that a substantial shift is needed: sex needs to be framed in terms of pleasure and enjoyment, not just consent. The Pleasure Project—an organization that encourages sexual health educators to embrace desire, joy, and pleasure—does exactly this. Studies show that including pleasure as a part of sex ed increases the likelihood that students engage in safer sex practices. Most of us see sex as a site for pleasure, not merely a vehicle for procreation or as something shameful or negative. It is time that our sex ed curricula reflect this broader belief.  

CONSENT IS A LOW BAR. HERE'S TO PLEASURE!