I raped her because she didn’t push, she didn’t even move, so she definitely enjoyed it. A sick mentality, right?. NO means NO.
Rape is a violation that extends beyond physical boundaries, attacking the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of a person. Unfortunately, misconceptions about consent continue to pervade society, leading some to believe that “no resistance” means “yes.”
Consent is a clear, voluntary, and ongoing agreement between participants to engage in a particular activity. It is not passive or implied by silence or lack of physical resistance. True consent is enthusiastic and mutual, requiring both parties to express a clear desire to participate. Silence, stillness, or lack of physical struggle does not constitute consent; rather, it may indicate shock, fear, or a state of “freezing”—a common trauma response.
Understanding consent requires debunking myths and educating individuals about what healthy, respectful interactions should look like. The mantra “No means no” is essential but should be expanded to “Only yes, means yes,” emphasizing that anything short of explicit agreement is insufficient.
Several myths such as “I was drunk, so I couldn’t control myself”, Men don’t get raped, she didn’t push me, There is nothing called rape in marriage, these are myths that are far from truth.
Rape culture encompasses myths and societal attitudes that either excuse perpetrators or place undue responsibility on victims for the harm done to them. These misconceptions ignore the reality that many victims may feel paralyzed by fear or trauma, unable to physically resist. Society will say “It’s because she was dressed indecently”, is that really enough reason. We need to realize people dress in the way that is mostly comfortable for them, not like we are promoting indecency, but rape perpetrators should learn to respect boundaries and also know that “No means No” and “Yes only means Yes”.
Join us this Friday on Spotify and YouTube for an important conversation on Sexual Violence and Consent with our special guests Busayo Ademuyiwa, Founder of the Busayo Ademuyiwa Foundation, and Ademola Ogundadegbe, LLB in Law. We’ll be discussing the complexities of consent, boundaries, myths, and ways to support survivors and promote safer communities. Don’t miss this eye-opening episode on Veegilants Podcast.
