Stop tickling your children! SNP MP says it teaches them bad lesson on consent
AN SNP MP has argued children should not be tickled if they ask for it to stop so they can learn about sexual consent.
The Glasgow Central MP Alison Thewliss argued for the practice to end so children learn they should be listened to when they say ‘no’.
Ms Thewliss said in a House of Commons debate: “In thinking about consent, that also starts at a very young age as well - we can think about that with children too.
“We can do it with something as simple as tickling.
If you’re tickling a child and they say stop, you stop
“If you’re tickling a child and they say stop, you stop.
“That’s teaching consent to very young children - they understand that, they know that.”
The SNP MP said it is important that children understand that when they say stop, it does actually happen.
The comments were made during a Commons debate on sexual harassment and violence in schools on Thursday, November 2.
The Minister for Women, Anne Milton, said that consent training is required in schools and universities as well as in Westminster.
During the debate, MP Maria Miller said that Parliament has a clear duty to tackle sexual harassment and sexual abuse so that victims can come forward without fear.
Before Ms Thewliss talked about consent, she said she was concerned about gender stereotyping.
She said the boys at her son’s nursery wanted to be ambulance drivers and the girls wanted to be a dancer or singer.
Do students need sexual consent workshops?
The MP said: “There is nothing wrong with being a dancer or a singer but why are they choosing those at the age of three rather than choosing ambulance driver or anything else they want to be, why are they so stereotyped into those roles at the age of three?
“We need to think about this.”
The latest Westminster sex scandal has seen allegations of harassment against 30 MPs, including Sir Michael Fallon who has since stepped down as Defence Secretary.