Is This Rape? Sex On Trial
Ep. 1/1 -
As part of Breaking the Mould, BBC Three is running a unique event combining drama and live voting to find out what British teenagers understand about rape.
Research has revealed that there is considerable confusion amongst this age group surrounding the existing law, and one area of particular concern is what counts as consent.
With presenter Will Best (pictured), two dozen teenage boys and girls will spend two days being put to the test to see what they actually think the rules are.
They’ll be shown a drama, specially created for this programme, which tells the story of a sexual encounter between a teenage boy and girl. As the scenario unfolds they will be asked to vote on specific questions regarding whether a rape has been committed. Each vote will also be open to the audience at home and the results put on screen.
The question of whether a rape was committed provokes strong opinions within the group:
Female:
“If she didn’t show she was up for it [but] at the same time she didn’t do anything to stop it - I think that…it could be taken as consent.
Male:
“She did make some signs that could be interpreted as consent.”
Asked if rape would be too strong a term to put on what the boy in the video did, one of the group said:
Male:
“Yeah, I do, it's quite - it's quite harsh. But it's close to rape.”
During the programme it will be revealed to what extent the teenagers view consent differently, and how their understanding compares to what the law dictates.
As they make their decisions, the group will also hear personal testimonies from people with real-life experiences of rape.
During filming one of the girls in the group reveals that she is a victim of rape herself:
“It is probably one of the most painful things someone can go through…the years and years of emotional turmoil that you don't trust yourself and you don't trust people around you. That you flinch, every time someone comes near you. It's all of those different things, that you need to listen and understand, that it's not fair what a rapist will do to anybody.”
At the end of this unique event we’ll know what the group and viewers think about what counts as consent.
Producer/director: John O'Kane
Eexecutive Producer: Mike Radford
Publicity contact: JC
