Consent is a voluntary verbal positive affirmation, an agreement reached between equal, unimpaired partners without coercion. If you or your partner feels pressured, manipulated or intimidated, then you have not established explicit consent and any ensuring sexual activity is sexual assault.
When someone says no, respect the decision not to move forward. Do not proceed with sexual conduct unless your partner says "yes" or indicates by some overt act that she/he is interested in proceeding. Understand that you may not know the history of the person with whom you are engaging in sexual behavior. The effect of your ignoring possible subtle or not-so-subtle signals may be more negative than you can comprehend.
Know the sexual assault laws. Understand that consent means a "yes" or an overt action. Do not make assumptions. If you are unsure, ASK. If you are too embarrassed to ask, perhaps you are not mature enough to be participating in sexual behavior.
4 guidelines for consent (Berkowitz, 2001)
1. Both people are fully conscious
2. Both people are equally free to act
3. Both parties have clearly communicated their intent
4. Both persons are positive and sincere in their desires.
