‘It can be an abuse, even though both have consented’: Swedish preschool practitioners' discussions about teaching (sexual) consent to preschoolers

Abstract

AbstractThis article describes how (sexual) consent is constructed as an objective for teaching in Swedish preschool. An age‐critical analysis of focus‐group discussions with preschool practitioners shows how a didactic of consent is constructed and characterised: (1) The child should be trained to feel non‐ambivalence. (2) Prohibitions are created against acts not considered age‐appropriate. (3) Age‐appropriate prior knowledge is required for a child's consent to be considered valid. Finally, alternative didactics of consent is discussed, in which ambivalence and unpredictability are highlighted as important elements.