Defining Consent
The FRIES Framework
Public health organizations including Planned Parenthood have adopted the FRIES framework for consent education: Freely Given (not produced by pressure, manipulation, or coercion), Reversible (can be withdrawn at any moment), Informed (based on accurate understanding of what is being agreed to), Enthusiastic (reflecting genuine positive desire), and Specific (to each activity, not a blanket agreement).
Ongoing Consent
Consent is not a single agreement given at the beginning of a sexual encounter. It is an ongoing process throughout. Activities can be consented to and then withdrawn from at any point. Prior sexual history, relationship status, or previous consent do not create ongoing consent for future encounters or activities.
Legal Framework
Age of Consent Variability
Age of consent laws vary significantly by jurisdiction, ranging from 14 to 18 years of age in different U.S. states and internationally. Ignorance of an individual's age is not a valid legal defense in most jurisdictions. Adults should verify that potential partners are of legal age before engaging in sexual activity.
Incapacity and Consent
Legal frameworks in all U.S. jurisdictions and most international legal systems identify incapacity (due to alcohol, other substances, sleep, or other factors) as rendering consent invalid. Sexual activity with an individual who is incapacitated constitutes sexual assault regardless of prior relationship or verbal communication during the encounter.