posted
On Tuesday Eastenders surprised me by actually doing consent decently, and I thought you guys should know.
The premise for this particular storyline was Abi (who is 14) has been secretly dating Jay (who is in his late teens). Abi felt that Jay didn't think she was mature enough for him, so decided she wanted to have sex with him to prove how mature she was. They had a conversation where she invited him to her house alone and both appeared to lie and say they have had sex before (not good so far I'll admit). Abi asks her older sister to leave for the evening, who realises why and asks if she is sure. When Abi says yes she gives her a condom. Throughout this Abi is clearly having second thoughts. We end up with a scene where Jay and Abi are both on her bed (clothed) and this is where the good stuff happens: Jay asks Abi if this is what she really wants (maybe suggesting an alternative, I can't remember), when she asks him to take things slow he agrees without question, he tries to undo her dress and she says "slower than that", at which point he says they don't have to do it tonight or words to that effect and they decide to just watch films instead.
it's clearly not perfect, but I thought it was really good to have this, I could totally see it portraying her feeling pressured to have sex with him as an okay reason to do so; so I was pleasantly surprised.
Posts: 134 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2011
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posted
That's cheering news! I haven't seen Eastenders since I was about 15. May start watching again to see how that relationship pans out.
Posts: 170 | From: UK | Registered: Mar 2011
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