Skating and educating about consent: the 1st anniversary of Consent is Rad
With its debut as an Olympic sport and increasing global influence, more eyes are looking at skateboarding than ever before. Yet, like many sports and scenes dominated by boys and men, issues of sexism and sexual violence can go unchecked or get pushed in the shadows.
In recent times however, women and men are writing articles that throw a torch light on issues of sexual harassment and incidents of sexual assault in skateboarding. Skateboarders of all genders, including non-binary skaters, are also turning to social media to call out bad behaviors in their skate scenes.
As part of this cultural shift is the emergence on Instagram of Consent is Rad, a de-centralized, internationally collaborative campaign by skateboarders for skateboarders. The campaign launch was facilitated by Dr Indigo Willing, a skate researcher and Yeah Girl contributor, in Malmo, Sweden at the Pushing Boarders skateboarding conference in August 2019. Co-founders include Indigo, Tora Waldren, Millie Miljevic and Evie Ryder from Girls Skate Brisbane (now We Skate Queensland) and other skateboarders around the world including members of the Pushing Boarders team, Girls Shred, Girls Skate India, Skate Like a Girl, the Stockholm Skate Collective, LasChicAz, Skateism, Womxn Skate the World and more.
The main focus of Consent is Rad is to raise awareness and educate. It’s a calling in (rather than calling out) strategy, that is growing in momentum. The campaign features an art, photography and video series — with contributions by skaters such as Rick McCrank, Bing Lui, Keire Johnson, and Kim Woozy from the US; Lucy Adams from the UK; Peach Sorenson from Norway; and Annie Guglia from Canada. The campaign founders state they hope the campaign is “effective for creating conversations around consent but is by no means the only way to tackle rape culture and sexual violence.” Aware there are multiple voices and approaches, Consent is Rad also use their Instagram Stories to share educational posts, campaigns and resources by other groups from around the world who are also hoping to shift the culture over to one that celebrates consent.
To mark their 1st year anniversary Consent is Rad have created a website that is building resources on education and research as well as links to support for victims and survivors. Go check it out.
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