Affirmative consent refers to explicit, consensual agreement to participate in a sexual act. In Boys & Sex, Orenstein explains how teenage boys have become increasingly aware of the need to ensure that their partner is consenting to being touched at every stage of a sexual encounter. Orenstein also mentions legislation surrounding affirmative consent. In California, for example, a 2014 law mandated that universities receiving public funds would have to apply affirmative consent to all hearings about sexual misconduct. Affirmative consent is also known as "yes means yes".

Orenstein argues that aggression is a key component of unhealthy manifestations of masculinity. Along with emotional detachment and sexual prowess, aggression is seen as a necessary to being a man. Aggression and dominance are the ideal, whether on the athletic playing field or in the bedroom. Furthermore, as porn has become more available to teenagers, teenage boys use porn actors as a model and take cues from their aggressive behavior and language. 

Orenstein defines bro culture as a set of expectations. Teenage boys feel they must fit into the masculine status quo. Expectations include bragging about sexual encounters and hookups, as well as liberal use of homophobic terms. Within the