Sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in Toronto, Canada: findings from an arts-based and qualitative study
Homeless youth face elevated risks of sexual violence, diminishing their access to sexual-well-being, justice and health. Sexual consent—expressed agreement, capacity and freedom to participate in sexual practices—is fundamental to realising sexual well-being, yet is underexplored with this populati...
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000533 |
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| author | Lesley Gittings Carmen H. Logie Miriam Selick Ayla Lefkowitz |
| author_facet | Lesley Gittings Carmen H. Logie Miriam Selick Ayla Lefkowitz |
| author_sort | Lesley Gittings |
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| description | Homeless youth face elevated risks of sexual violence, diminishing their access to sexual-well-being, justice and health. Sexual consent—expressed agreement, capacity and freedom to participate in sexual practices—is fundamental to realising sexual well-being, yet is underexplored with this population. Arts-based approaches are promising for advancing health and well-being, yet gaps exist regarding their role in sexual consent education with homeless youth. This study explores homeless youth experiences of sexual consent and violence, and the potential of arts-based approaches in sexual consent education. We conducted online focus groups and in-depth interviews (2021–2022) with youth who have experienced homelessness, and key informant (KI) interviews with youth workers in Toronto. We explored: a) understandings of sexual consent, b) needs and challenges in sexual consent education, and c) two arts-based sexual consent education approaches (poetry and comics). Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically, informed by the social contextual framework which attends to relational, material, and symbolic contexts. Participants (N = 24) included 17 youth aged 18–29 with homelessness experiences (4 FGs; 5 interviews; mean age 22.57, SD 3.22), and 7 KI (1 FG; 5 interviews; mean age 27.25, SD 5.54). Factors shaping exposure to sexual violence victimization included: relational (in-person and digital sexual spaces, lack of social support), material (insecure housing, poverty) and symbolic (gender, sexual orientation, substance use stigmas) contexts. These create environments where homeless youth experience diminished sexual self-determination, security and safety. Poetry and comics are effective and acceptable when tailored to the realities of homeless youth, and focused on empowerment rather than only technical skills. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-02c17ad5ec154ee1bebb524f7c3a2dfa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-5581 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-02c17ad5ec154ee1bebb524f7c3a2dfa2025-08-20T03:59:41ZengElsevierWellbeing, Space and Society2666-55812025-12-01910028710.1016/j.wss.2025.100287Sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in Toronto, Canada: findings from an arts-based and qualitative studyLesley Gittings0Carmen H. Logie1Miriam Selick2Ayla Lefkowitz3School of Health Studies, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London N6A 5B9, Canada; Children’s Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, 800 Commissioners Road East, London N6A 5W9 Canada; Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, 12 University Avenue South, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; Corresponding author at: 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada.Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto M5S 1V4, Canada; Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, 76 Grenville Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1N8, Canada; United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, 225 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill, ON L8P 0A1, Canada; Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Horby Street,Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5Canvas Arts Action Programs, 601 Christie Street, Toronto M6G 4C7, CanadaCanvas Arts Action Programs, 601 Christie Street, Toronto M6G 4C7, CanadaHomeless youth face elevated risks of sexual violence, diminishing their access to sexual-well-being, justice and health. Sexual consent—expressed agreement, capacity and freedom to participate in sexual practices—is fundamental to realising sexual well-being, yet is underexplored with this population. Arts-based approaches are promising for advancing health and well-being, yet gaps exist regarding their role in sexual consent education with homeless youth. This study explores homeless youth experiences of sexual consent and violence, and the potential of arts-based approaches in sexual consent education. We conducted online focus groups and in-depth interviews (2021–2022) with youth who have experienced homelessness, and key informant (KI) interviews with youth workers in Toronto. We explored: a) understandings of sexual consent, b) needs and challenges in sexual consent education, and c) two arts-based sexual consent education approaches (poetry and comics). Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically, informed by the social contextual framework which attends to relational, material, and symbolic contexts. Participants (N = 24) included 17 youth aged 18–29 with homelessness experiences (4 FGs; 5 interviews; mean age 22.57, SD 3.22), and 7 KI (1 FG; 5 interviews; mean age 27.25, SD 5.54). Factors shaping exposure to sexual violence victimization included: relational (in-person and digital sexual spaces, lack of social support), material (insecure housing, poverty) and symbolic (gender, sexual orientation, substance use stigmas) contexts. These create environments where homeless youth experience diminished sexual self-determination, security and safety. Poetry and comics are effective and acceptable when tailored to the realities of homeless youth, and focused on empowerment rather than only technical skills.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000533YouthHomelessnessSexual consentSexual consent educationArts-based approachesComics |
| spellingShingle | Lesley Gittings Carmen H. Logie Miriam Selick Ayla Lefkowitz Sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in Toronto, Canada: findings from an arts-based and qualitative study Wellbeing, Space and Society Youth Homelessness Sexual consent Sexual consent education Arts-based approaches Comics |
| title | Sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in Toronto, Canada: findings from an arts-based and qualitative study |
| title_full | Sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in Toronto, Canada: findings from an arts-based and qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in Toronto, Canada: findings from an arts-based and qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in Toronto, Canada: findings from an arts-based and qualitative study |
| title_short | Sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in Toronto, Canada: findings from an arts-based and qualitative study |
| title_sort | sexual consent education among youth experiencing homeless in toronto canada findings from an arts based and qualitative study |
| topic | Youth Homelessness Sexual consent Sexual consent education Arts-based approaches Comics |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000533 |
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