by Jane Gilmore

In the great tradition of small books on large topics, Teaching Consent tells the stories of children, teens, teachers, and educators in consent and respectful relationship classes.

Jane Gilmore has been writing and speaking about domestic and sexual violence for over a decade. Now she is working with Deanne Carson, who spent that same decade teaching consent, body safety, and respectful relationships to children and young people from Early Childhood through to Year 12.

This book is the result of their collaboration. Blending memoir, expertise, hilarious anecdotes, and poignant stories from teachers and students, this window into classrooms and schoolyards is a must read for any parent.

“Consent is an everyday word that, if it’s embedded young, becomes an unthinking empathetic and considerate approach to any interaction with other people. When little children grow up with this, they need very little help taking it into sexual relationships when they’re older.”

Teaching Consent describes how we educate children, young and old, about sex, consent, respect, social media, pornography, bullying, sexuality, and gender diversity. It explains why this education is so crucial, how the experts manage different needs and age groups, and the pressure on teachers, families, and students to get this done and get it done right.

EARLY REVIEWS:

“With characteristic wit, humility and insight, Jane Gilmore reveals the revolutionary potential of consent education. This is about sex, and so much more. At its heart, it’s about a movement to bring kids back into contact with their instincts. It’s about overturning the idea that’s driven much of our society’s ills: that successful people impose their will over others. True respect is a radical concept in our culture - and a skill that can lead us to end violence, have more satisfying sex, sustain our relationships, and even save the planet.” - Jess Hill

“A confronting and, most importantly, intensely useful book about the simple yet endlessly complicated issue of consent.” - Margaret Simons

“A book of soaring clarity and deep enjoyment. This book answers all the questions, is a cracking read and, at times, utterly hilarious. Not sure how Gilmore did it but she has written a book about the sticky, confusing and at times depressing world of sex and consent and made it a celebration, a liberation and makes me want to shag everyone immediately. This is the dawning of the age of clarity, respect and connection. All you need is this gorgeous book to navigate the daunting waters of sex and consent to find yourself on Pleasure Island.” - Catherine Deveny