Consent Isn’t Optional - Even When It’s Clickable

In this episode of Unzipping Taboos, we step into a messy, very public story to ask a much bigger question: what happens when someone’s private sexual expression is exposed without their consent?We’re not here for the headlines—we’re here for the ethics.Using the recent coverage surrounding Bryon Noem as a starting point, we unpack the tension between privacy and public curiosity in a digital world where “private” doesn’t always stay that way. We talk about what consent really means when it comes to sharing intimate content, why outing someone—regardless of who they are—crosses a line, and how quickly media can turn personal expression into spectacle.From there, we zoom out.How do gender expectations shape the way we react to what people do in private—especially when men step outside traditional norms? Why is femininity still used as a punchline? Why are some behaviors pathologized, while others are quietly ignored? And who gets protected… versus exposed?We also take a hard look at media framing—how women are often pulled into narratives about men’s behavior, how headlines shift accountability, and how easily bias hides in plain sight.This is a conversation about privacy, power, consent, and the stories we tell about gender. No shame. No clickbait. Just a candid look at what’s underneath it all—and an invitation to start noticing it in the world around you.If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here:  ⁠Show suggestionsIf you want to ask Dr Sue a sex question for the weekly Q&A you can submit it here: Ask a question