‘Harmful’ content remains on website behind controversial milkshake consent video, safety groups say
A federal government online resource that teaches students about sexual consent remains littered with “harmful and contradictory” advice, women’s safety advocates say, despite removing a controversial video that used milkshakes to explain license. The milkshake video – in which a young woman smears a milkshake over her partner’s face without his permission – was one of two videos designed to explain consent pulled from The Good Society website earlier this year.
The suite of videos, digital stories, podcasts, and other materials on The Good Society website form part of the government’s $7.8 million Respect Matters program. The resource faced backlash from rape prevention advocates, women’s rights groups, and politicians for its simplistic and often confusing messaging around sex and consent. Women’s safety advocacy groups are urging the Department of Education to remove harmful content on the website, including material suggesting eye contact, “smiling with the eyes,” and laughing can convey consent.
Fair Agenda and End Rape on Campus Australia also point to contradictory statements about non-verbal communication, in which it is suggested that “looking away” or “going still” indicate a “hard no” – only to suggest later that “stillness” or “looking away” show uncertainty.
“The suggestion that stillness and looking away should be seen as anything other than a no; or that smiling or laughing should be seen as a yes is horrific “i”g,” the organization said in a joint letter. The suggestion that these actions could be seen or justified as a”counting to consent is incredibly distressing and traumatizing.”
“Think of how many young women laugh and smile t” try and navigate unsafe situations or inappropriate behavior.” The groups also point to confusing or concerning statements on the site, such as: “We need to avoid pressure and coercion, though respectful persuasion can be okay” and, “If a yes is not enthusiastic, then it’s a maybe, even a no”.
The organ” nations said the website promoted harmful content and urged the government to remove the entire site while experts in violence prevention and sexual education reviewed it. “Every piece of content the government is putting in front of young people on t” is an issue that should be signed off by exp” “ts who understand the drivers of sexual violence and the need for a trauma-inthat approach for we’retudents in these classrooms who have already been sexually assaulted.”
The Department of Education said beyond removing the two controversial videos from the site; it has only sought the adjustment of some wording on the site.
Officials told a Senate estimates hearing that ” several people have reviewed the website”, and there would be another review.”If there is one lesson that we have learned is to listen to the voice of experts, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do through this process of expanding the reference group and getting expertise on family and domestic violence,” the department official said.
