Why Is Power In Relationships Unequal And Context-Driven?
- Power in relationships is rarely just "one person is strong, the other is weak."
- It is usually contextual, meaning it depends on social rules, institutions, and expectations surrounding the relationship.
- This illustrates a core idea:
- Power can be built into social structures (family roles, gender expectations, status).
- A character can appear to "agree," but still have limited agency if the situation makes refusal unrealistic.
Tip
- When you analyze power in a relationship, separate what a character says from what the context allows.
- A "yes" is not the same as freely given consent if social pressure, fear, or duty removes real alternatives.
What Sources Does Power Come From?
- Power can come from obvious sources (wealth, physical strength, legal authority) and also from less visible sources (knowledge, social reputation, emotional influence).
- Thinking in categories helps you analyze power precisely.
- Common sources of power in relationships include:
- Institutional authority (parent-child roles, teacher-student roles, law, religion)
- Social status (rank, popularity, reputation)
- Gender norms and cultural expectations
- Resources (money, housing, access to opportunities)
- Information (who knows the truth, who controls communication)
- Emotional leverage (guilt, affection, fear of abandonment)
Example
If your decisions about what degree to pursue at university are strongly shaped by family approval, religious rules, peer reputation, or school policies, those external forces are part of the decision's power dynamics, even if they're not physically present in the scene.
How Do Writers Reveal Power Through Voice, Choice, And Silence?
- In texts, power often appears through three closely linked ideas:
- Voice: Who gets to speak, interrupt, question, or narrate? Who is believed?
- Choice (Agency): Who can make decisions without punishment or pressure?
- Silence: Who is kept uninformed, excluded, or discouraged from speaking?
- In drama especially, writers can show power through:
- Who enters and exits (control of space),
- Who speaks most (control of dialogue),
- Who sets the topic (control of agenda), and
- How other characters react (fear, obedience, teasing, defiance).
Definition
Agency
Agency refers to the capacity of an individual to act intentionally and make choices.
Self review
- How does social context make a character's "yes" different from freely given consent?
- What is the difference between institutional power and emotional leverage?
- Why is confidence not the same thing as having power or agency?
- What are three visual or structural ways a writer can show a character has control over a scene?
- How is silence used as a tool to exert power over another person?
