The 5th Annual Conference of the Societas Aperta Feminarum in Iuris Theoria (SAFI) unfolded on 10-12th September 2024 at the University of Glasgow, inviting scholars from across disciplines to tackle one of the most debated concepts in modern feminist discourse: Consent. Dr. Ana Cannilla (University of Glasgow) who organized this flawless conference, had the idea to bridge the classic concept of consent to government and the modern feminist debate on consent to sex. The conference examined this principle in contexts as varied as political governance, sexual ethics, and emerging technologies, revealing both its adaptability and its limits. Over the course of the three days, it became evident that while the concept of consent is frequently invoked in diverse debates—ranging from political theory and medical ethics to the philosophy of war—the core challenges often hinge on entirely different underlying concepts. It also served to generate surprising and often-overlooked connections between these diverse debates, revealing how the concept of consent often appears in contexts where values of voluntariness and justice come into conflict.
The event opened with a keynote speech by Professor Elinor Mason of UC Santa Barbara, whose address, “Consent and Consensuality,” challenged the audience to reconsider long-held notions of consent as a straightforward act of agreement. Mason argued for a broader understanding she called “consensuality,” emphasizing the relational and ongoing nature of consent, particularly in intimate relationships. Her critique of affirmative consent standards, which often reduce complex dynamics to explicit verbal agreements which seem to have the power to legitimize almost whatever comes next, set the stage for discussions that spanned interpersonal, legal, and societal dimensions of power and their close imbrication with ideas about the normal, the usual, and the conventional.
On the second day, Dr. Camila Vergara of the University of Essex shifted the focus to the political sphere with her keynote speech, “Consent to the Law in Oligarchic Republics.” Vergara scrutinized the legitimacy of consent within contemporary political systems, where structural inequalities and economic hierarchies often undermine democratic ideals. Drawing on social contract theory, she argued that tacit consent — long assumed to underpin governance — fails to account for the disenfranchisement of marginalized citizens. Vergara’s call for direct democratic mechanisms offered a on the first sight a contrast to Mason’s exploration of interpersonal ethics, underscoring the vast terrain covered by the conference. However, both keynotes highlighted that questions of consent are fundamentally questions of power, whether in the private and intimate sphere or the public.
Throughout the event, panel discussions illuminated the many faces of consent. A session on sexual ethics explored the fraught terrain of affirmative consent, with scholars critiquing its inadequacy in addressing implicit coercion and societal power imbalances. Melissa Bell argued for a paradigm shift away from focusing on the internal states of victims toward examining broader cultural and structural contexts. Marthe Goudsmit Samaritter proposed a model of “relational consent,” which emphasizes mutuality and ethical reciprocity over unilateral agreement, offering a more nuanced approach to navigating sexual dynamics. In political theory, consent emerged as a fragile foundation for governance. Scholars interrogated its theoretical underpinnings and practical shortcomings, particularly in democratic systems increasingly characterized by authoritarian drift. Sabrina Zucca-Soest examined civil disobedience as a response to the erosion of legitimacy in modern democracies, while Alma Diamond dissected how legal systems often fail to protect individual autonomy in the face of structural inequalities. Together, these perspectives painted a complex picture of consent as both a legitimizing principle and a site of contestation.
One of the most forward-looking sessions addressed the challenges of consent in medical and technological contexts. The rapid pace of advancements in artificial intelligence and neurotechnologies, participants argued, has outstripped traditional ethical frameworks. Rebecca Brione explored the critical role of refusal in safeguarding autonomy during invasive medical procedures, while Luíza de Paula Araújo discussed the ethical dilemmas posed by brain-computer interfaces. Her analysis underscored how emerging technologies are reshaping the very definitions of autonomy and consent, demanding new legal and ethical paradigms.
What emerged over three days of discussion was a recognition of consent’s dual role: as a principle that legitimizes authority and mediates relational dynamics, and as a device for destabilizing and questioning existing logics of legitimacy. In an rapidly changing world, we reach for consent in ways that strain its capacity. and as a concept often strained by the complexities of modern life. From political systems that obscure systemic domination to interpersonal relationships shaped by power imbalances, the limitations of consent as a standalone framework were was a recurring theme. Yet, so too was its ineliminable place in modern life and its transformative potential. The conference made clear that consent, while imperfect, remains a critical lens through which to interrogate questions of power, autonomy, and justice.
By the conference’s close, participants left with more questions than answers, but that seemed precisely the point and many ideas for collaborations flourished in a Scottish pub. As the discussions revealed, consent is not a static concept but a living, evolving framework that must continually adapt to the ethical, legal, and societal challenges of our time. The work of reimagining consent, the scholars argued, is far from over. Instead, it is an ongoing project, one that demands rigorous academic inquiry and practical innovation alike. With this conference, SAFI, an interdisciplinary network dedicated to amplifying the voices of women in legal academia, demonstrated its commitment to strengthen an inclusive dialogue. The conference featured contributions from early-career researchers alongside established scholars, creating a respectful safe space where innovative ideas could flourish. The event’s focus on interdisciplinary collaboration underscored the need for diverse perspectives in tackling the complex issues surrounding consent. For SAFI, this year’s conference was not just a gathering of great colleagues but a call to action — a reminder of the power of feminist inquiry to illuminate paths forward in an increasingly complex world.
Text and photo by Kristin Albrecht