Parenthood = Non-consensual D/s?

[heartexalted]

As most people in the BDSM scene surely know, consent is the linchpin of ethical BDSM. You cannot spank someone, tie them up, pierce them, brand them, flog them, dominate them, or control their decisions unless you have obtained their prior consent. No one is your submissive, or even slave, nor does anyone owe you any deference or submission, until

Comments

[heartexalted]

I agree with the parts about allowing kids freedom (within reasonable limits) and the importance of small groups in the child-rearing process. Perhaps the latter is an important benefit available to children raised in poly households...

My main reason for wanting to compare child-rearing to D/s is because I feel it's useful for shedding light on the non-consensual nature of the parent/child relationship and the authority and control entailed therein. In particular, I think it's important to remember that non-consensual control, even when necessary, constitutes an affront upon the controlled person's dignity, and I feel like some acknowledgment of that affront (and effort to grapple with it) is an important component of ethical parenting.