Feminist activist and consent campaigner Chanel Contos, known for her movement to make consent education mandatory in Australian schools, is now expanding her reach globally.
Based in Oxford, England, she’s balancing her Masters in Public Policy with her advocacy work, which includes the release of her first book Consent Laid Bare in the US later this year.
Contos, 26, rose to prominence in 2021 after launching an Instagram poll that sparked a nationwide conversation on consent, later evolving into an international movement.
At lunch in Sydney’s Felix bistro, she reflects on the current political climate, particularly in the US.
“Some groups in society have gotten into a purist mindset,” she said, worried that divisive social media algorithms and the politicisation of women’s rights are undermining progress.
Her concerns also extend to the impact of pornography on young people. “The average age of first access to pornography is as young as 11,” she noted, emphasising the need for urgent national conversations.
Contos is also vocal about the dangers posed by generative AI, which she fears is fuelling bullying and sexual harassment.
“If they’re not understanding those fundamentals of consent and empathy, it’s easy to create harmful content about another person,” she warned.
Amid all this, Contos remains focused on her mission to push for systemic change, drawing motivation from both her passion for justice and “anger” at the ongoing challenges women face.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
