Roshni Thangavelu-Truax (Lincoln College): Talked Into It
Abstract: Is sex you are "talked into" consensual? Consent is impaired by a range of coercive or manipulative verbal activities, including guilt tripping, gaslighting, peer pressure, and emotional blackmail; if these are included under the umbrella of "talked into", the answer "no" flows easily. But what if these are not included? Is such sex still problematic?
As modes of influence, coercion and manipulation are often contrasted with rational persuasion in that the latter respects another person's agency. Therefore, under liberal views, rational persuasion is compatible with consent with sex. I provide a feminist critique of this view, drawing on standpoint epistemology to undermine the fidelity of the manipulation-persuasion distinction. I argue that even unbiased and benevolent rational persuasion can infringe problematically upon sexual consent.
