Setting the scene
Lessons on controlling relationships
Love is not a debt: relationships lesson
Real moments. A few choices. Words that work.
Walk away from the conversation and reach out to a trusted friend or support person. Practice the moment in a short Surefoot lesson.
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You are hanging out in your dorm room with your partner. They start pressuring you to have sex, saying that you would do it if you really loved them.
If you love your partner, you owe them sexual intimacy to prove your feelings or keep the relationship going.
Myth or fact?
- Myth
- Fact
Recommended
Myth
You do not owe sex to prove love, keep a relationship, or repay a kindness. If your partner keeps pressuring you after you say no, you can stop explaining your reasons and move toward support. If you ever complied with pressure because you felt afraid, that is not your fault. You can talk to a trusted friend or professional about what happened without needing to put a label on the experience.
Your next step
Walk away from the conversation and reach out to a trusted friend or support person.
Words you can use
“I care about you, and I'm not agreeing to this.”
Sources: One Love, Love is respect