Axes of Consent Public Perception in the Legacy of Title IX

Abstract

Sexual violence remains ubiquitous despite efforts to mitigate it through federal regulations. An acute example is universities, where rates of sexual violence persist despite evolving Title IX protections. I argue that varying understandings of consent are at the crux of this issue. I analyze survey data from 2,000 undergraduates, 1,500 faculty and 130 Title IX Officers to reveal a notable pattern: students and faculty with Republican affiliations and those holding system-justifying beliefs are more likely to have weaker consent understandings. These individuals de-emphasize the need for affirmative agreement, the influence of power relationships, and risks to one’s capacity to consent. Conversely, Title IX Officers hold distinctly different and generally weaker understandings of consent compared to students and faculty, a disparity not attributable to demographic differences alone. These findings illuminate how attitudes toward consent are shaped by entrenched societal norms and contemporary politics. Ultimately, sexual violence prevention requires recognizing the diversity in interpretations of consent.