We see a lot of information online, and hear a lot in person about the different roles a kinkster can have, and what those entail. I often hear some really great information about what people can expect when they identify under the many personal labels or relationship roles. People will share stories and experiences with others, and we can all learn how to better explore our own roles, strengths, and flaws. I also hear a lot of pure bullshit. Today I’m going to be ranting about the latter.
Recently I was reading a stream of comments on a certain social networking site in response to the subject of a photo, identified as a slave. There was a challenge to the validity of that identification in regards to the subject’s rights, as apparently she had too many. I’ve seen the same sentiments in many places, but it really made me angry to see it taken seriously.
I’m going to make this perfectly clear. In regards to rights, it doesn’t matter what you identify as, or what relationship you are in, YOU HAVE RIGHTS. It doesn’t matter how many proclaimed masters, slaves, or other so called experts tell you that you have to give up legal rights to be a slave, you have all the same legal rights as anyone else.
That' doesn’t stop someone from ignoring your rights, which is illegal by international law. In fact this is how we can tell if someone is in a consensual bdsm themed relationship, as compared to illegal human slavery. That’s right, the traditional format of slavery, of owning people, is highly illegal around the world. There are jurisdictions that have trouble enforcing this law, and in fact there is an epidemic of human trafficking that is making it worse, however the people involved are not doing so for extreme submission and dominance.
I’ve talked about fantasy versus reality before, and this is an extreme example. If you identify as a slave in who you are or the role you take in your relationship, know that it is different than being a human being without rights, even if it is fun or meaningful to play within the fantasy that you don’t. It is not okay for someone to impose the loss of rights upon another, because that is not a consensual volunteering of power, that is the illegal and dangerous subjugation of another human being. This sort of situation can lead to mental, physical and sexual abuse as well as a variety of exploitation.
Please everyone, have fun, explore, and for the love of humanity, play safe!
