There’s a lot of casual talk lately about power, control, and undue
influence in relationships and communities. We banter about helicopter
parents who control their children’s every move, abusive cult leaders
who control how cult followers think and behave, narcissistic
politicians who make up lies to control public opinion, gurus who
coercively control followers, CEO’s who overstep boundaries, and power
imbalances in romantic relationships that lead to one partner
controlling the other.
But
we don’t even teach adults how to avoid controlling or being controlled,
not to mention how little education we give our kids to help them
retain their right to control themselves.
For
example, here are a few things we have every right to control for
ourselves, without anyone else’s undue influence or coercive control.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL:
- Who you choose as friends or romantic partners
- What schools you go to, majors you pick, or careers you pursue
- How you spend the money you earn yourself
- What you wear
- What religious beliefs you follow or reject
- How you take care of, dress, or groom your body (or don’t)
- How you vote
- How you express yourself or develop your talents
- How you behave sexually (as long
as you’re not overriding someone else’s consent or violating agreements
with a partner, such as monogamy)
- How we spend our time
- The privacy of our communications with other people...<<<Read More>>>....
