Consent Labs introduces new TV and film classification

Content warning: this article contains content of sexual consent, sexual harassment and sexual assault. If you need help, you can call 1800 RESPECT or visit www.1800respect.org.au. 1800 RESPECT is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Not-for-profit organisation Consent Labs has launched a campaign calling for a new TV and film classification to identify a lack of consent on screens.

The proposed classification will support viewers to make informed decisions about the content they choose to consume, and will also aid in the education of the difference between consensual and non-consensual acts.

Recently revised consent laws have made strides in educating Australians about affirmative consent, as have national education requirements and government campaigns. Notwithstanding this progress, however, is the statistic that 3 out of 5 Australians are still unable to identify consent when seen on screen, with a quarter of viewers unable to identify it at all.

Angelique Wan, CEO, co-founder and executive director of Consent Labs, said: “Our research shows that despite Australians having the best intentions to either teach or learn about consent – such as in school or as parents – we’re still seeing it being defined incorrectly. While adding a classification to content may seem simple, it’s a powerful addition and can even be used as an educational tool.

“From scenes in children’s films where women are kissed while they’re asleep, to rom-coms where men are tied to a bed and their struggle is played for laughs, or scenes that are depicted as romantic, even though the person says “no” again and again. These acts are designed to add a dramatic effect to a scene but the visualisation without warning perpetuates and normalises lack of consent.

Consent Labs has called for major content publishers across all verticals to support the movement to “Classify Consent”.

TBWA\Sydney executive creative director, Katrina Alvarez-Jarratt, said: “Despite the progress, our governments have made in introducing affirmative consent laws, we are still normalising lack of consent on our screens. If we want to make real change, we need to change the lens through which we’re viewing our favourite films and TV shows.”

To kick start the campaign, Australians can make the pledge at classifyconsent.com.au. Later in 2022, Consent Labs is planning a Federal Petition to the Classifications Board with the view to turn the movement into reform.