A popular belief is that whatever takes place in private between consenting adults should be allowed. This is the first book to offer a systematic philosophical examination of what might be meant by consent and what role it should play in the context of sexual activity.Investigating the adequacy of standard accounts of consent, the book criticizes an influential feminist critique of consensuality. David Archard then applies this new theoretical understanding of sexual consent to controversial topics, such as prostitution, rape, sadomasochism, and the age of consent.Written in clear, jargon-free language that combines philosophical analysis with practical discussion of real and imagined legal cases, Sexual Consent is both a provocative and fascinating study for philosophers, lawyers, and general readers.