Paraphilias & Consent
Consent is so much more than just "no means no." It's so much more than just sex. A lot of us aren't taught this when we're younger. Think about how children are treated by society. As kids, we have little control over what happens to us. It's very easy to internalize the idea that our choices don't matter; that others know what's best for us. If you experience abuse in your childhood, that can make it even more difficult.
Growing up, I never had the option to give consent. Saying "no" was never listened to and often resulted in even more unpleasant experiences. Eventually, "no" left my vocabulary. When I started having sexual thoughts, much like in my real life, consent just wasn't there. Even when I learned about my right to give/withdraw consent and that I should be able to say no when I don't want something, it all felt so foreign and uncomfortable.
I don't speak for everyone with paraphilias but, at least in my case, I recognize that my relationship with consent is strained. I think it can be that way for a lot of people. That's why I put together these resources.
Even if you feel like you already know everything there is to know about consent, there's no harm in refreshing your knowledge!