I couldn't say no: gendered socialisation, identities, and nuanced consent in nude sharing

Existing research largely confines consent analysis to power differentials; this study uses gendered identities as an outcome of gendered socialisation processes to examine the complexity of consent in nude sharing. Through online focus groups with 29 Australian emerging adults aged 18 to 24, the research identifies gendered patterns of consent-giving shaped through socialisation. Women, often characterised by more permeable ego boundaries, tended to perceive sexting as relationally obligatory and frequently reported experiences of subtle coercion and shame. Men, whose ego boundaries are generally more rigid, tended to frame sexting as entertaining and socially normative and often downplayed potential harms. Based on these findings, this study proposes communication strategies that encourage individuals, parents, and society to engage in mutual change rather than placing the burden solely on individuals.