We have TV content classifications for swearing and nudity. So why not for lack of consent?

The Devil Wears Prada is one of my all-time favourite movies. There's fashion, fancy magazine jobs, talented actors, funny moments and a good storyline. There's also a bit of romance too. But only recently have we as a collective looked back on this movie - among many others - and wondered whether some scenes aren't as picture-perfect as we once thought. 

Namely, the scene where Andy - played by Anne Hathaway - is kissed by Christian - played by Simon Baker.

While in France, Andy meets up with Christian for drinks. As they walk along a cobblestone footpath, with twinkling lights and Parisian music playing overhead, he asks her to come back to his place.

She says to his sexual proposition: "I can't, I'm sorry, I can't. You know, Nate and I just split up a couple of days ago so I can't..." She is cut off by Christian kissing her.

She pulls away, and says: "I've had too much wine and my hearing...my vision... my judgement's impaired..." Once again he kisses her. 

"No... I, I barely know you and I'm in a strange city." Once again, she's interrupted and he continues to kiss her.

Finally, she says: "I'm out of excuses."

Looking back on it with today's understanding of consent, it no longer feels romantic. Instead, it's pretty uncomfortable. But putting feelings aside, one thing is clear - there is a lack of consent depicted in this scene. And that's something that Consent Labs, an Aussie not-for-profit collective of passionate young people, wants to address head-on. 

Devil Wears Prada is certainly not the only example of non-consent that comes to mind. 

In a Bridgerton sex scene in season one, we saw Daphne stop Simon from pulling away from her and instead position herself on top of him, clinging to him to prevent him from withdrawing in an attempt to conceive a baby. He repeatedly said no. She didn't listen. 

Who could forget Wedding Crashers - when Jeremy (played by Vince Vaughn) is tied down to his bed by his then-casual sexual partner Gloria (played by Isla Fisher), without consent, and forced to have sex with her. When he complains to his friend John (played by Owen Wilson), and uses the term 'rape', John tells him to get over it.

The examples could go on and on - Snow White's kiss while she is asleep or when Princess Leia says to Han Solo "stop" and he continues to kiss her in Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back.

Not to mention the countless other movies and television programs that show greater levels of overt violence and sexual assault.

Image: Supplied. 

Consent Labs recently commissioned a study where more than 1,000 Australians aged 18 to 44 were shown a variety of intimate scenes from popular movies and TV shows. And the results were sobering.

Three in five Australians are still unable to recognise consent when seen on screen.

Importantly, 93 per cent of participants believe more education is needed on what constitutes sexual consent. 

And the majority also believe classifying these scenes before the act should be a legal requirement moving forward.

It's these findings that have prompted Consent Labs to launch their new campaign - petitioning the Classification Board to add a new classification called "(C) - Lack of Consent" across Australian television, streaming and movie content.

A spokesman for the Classification Board said to ABC that a new classifiable element such as lack of consent would require a change to legislation.

This is also something being championed in the form of a future petition, Angelique Wan, CEO, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Consent Labs, told Mamamia.

"What we see on screen has the potential to trickle into your real life," she noted.

Ultimately, what this new classification would do is support Aussies to make informed decisions about the content they watch. It doesn't mean we stop watching things altogether. We don't exist in a vacuum.

It's just about making sure people know the difference between consensual and non-consensual acts.

"The primary business we do at Consent Labs is running education programs with young people. And this campaign came about through the conversations we were having in this environment," Angelique explained.

"It's about education and awareness. We're not about 'cancelling' anyone or anything. The classification isn't meant to detract or draw away from the media we consume for entertainment purposes - it's just about being able to identity consent and non-consent when it is depicted."

Angelique Wan & Dr Joyce Yu, Co-Founders of Consent Labs. Image: Supplied. 

One of the most relevant points in this discussion is when you consider the other consumer advice classifications from the Classification Board.

They include strong themes, violence, sex, language, drug use and nudity. 

And within this umbrella, lack of consent is not only relevant, but would fit in seamlessly.

"There's a gap that exists, which is why we need this new lack of consent classification. I think there is so much power in knowing what it is that you're watching," Angelique said. 

For years now, non-consensual acts have been normalised on-screen - often through scenes that are masked as funny or romantic. But the fact of the matter is that non-consensual acts are no longer funny or romantic.

They're just plain wrong.

Because a lack of consent on screen has a very real possibility of normalising such behaviour in real life - and that's something no one wants.

Some example references of when a lack of consent has been shown in movies. Story continues below.

"The classification presents an opportunity for continued education around consent. Think of the trope where in a rom-com, someone says no, and it's only after a bit of a chase they've been 'worn down' and that no is converted to a yes. But there's nothing romantic about non-affirmative consent," Angelique noted.

Overall, it's conversations like these that are a step in the right direction.

Because in the last two years, we have seen significant progress - the dialogue has shifted, we've seen strong advocates in this space speak up and there have been changes to affirmative consent legislation.

Even better, there is a new consent curriculum in schools coming into place nationwide from 2023 onwards.

So why not add classifications to this impressive list?

"I think this feels like a positive next step or a continued push for progress around consent and Australia's understanding of how it applies practically," Angelique said.

"There's hope for the future."

If you would like to pledge your support for a new 'lack of consent' classification, you can visit Consent Labs' campaign here. To sign the formal petition to The Classification Board via The Australian House of Representatives, you can click here.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. 

Feature Image: 20th Century Fox/Consent Labs.

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