@article{ref1,
title=""They don't have the right to be touching girls": understanding middle school students' consent scripts",
journal="Teachers college record",
year="2022",
author="Ewing, Eve L. and Khatri, Sanya M. and Irsheid, Sireen B. and Castleberry, Leah Y.",
volume="124",
number="12",
pages="3-34",
abstract="Background/Context: Research suggests that sexual harassment and assault are distressingly common occurrences in middle school settings. However, prevention efforts have largely focused on secondary and post-secondary settings. While research-based initiatives to discuss consent could be effective, currently there is a dearth of literature on middle school students' beliefs or attitudes on consent and sexual assault, which could inform such initiatives.   Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: Using the concept of &quot;consent scripts,&quot; this study asks: How do seventh- and eighth-grade students define, proscribe, understand, and operationalize consent as a concept?  Research Design: We surveyed 177 middle school students about their ideas regarding consent and their analysis of scenarios of dubious consent, and conducted follow-up in-depth semi-structured interviews with 66 of the participants.   Conclusions/Recommendations: We identify four consent scripts prevalent among middle school students 1) consent works differently within relationships; 2) seeking consent is a form of empathy; 3) acts of seeking or violating consent are informed by norms of masculinity; and 4) close friends will respect norms of consent. These findings can inform sexual assault prevention and intervention efforts in the middle school context.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0161-4681",
doi="10.1177/01614681231153180",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/01614681231153180"
}