How Do Power and Control Show Up in Your Relationship?

image how power and control show up in relationships

Power is a dynamic in relationships that often gets overlooked. But make no mistake, there are power and control issues in every relationship.In our culture, a huge gender difference appears when we discuss power dynamics. When men are referred to as "powerless" in their relationships, people say, "He's whipped." UrbanDictionary.com defines being "whipped" as:

To be totally controlled and dominated by your girlfriend to the point of being completely distracted, ditching your friends, and/ or doing anything and everything she says.

You may also hear: "Happy wife, happy life." The UrbanDictionary.com definition is:

The theory that if your spouse is content and satisfied then you will be too. Also, studies suggest that happily married couples live longer.

Let’s switch and talk about a man having control over his partner. You don't hear light-hearted jokes. What comes to mind is: "She doesn't speak up. She's submissive. She caters to his every need." Or worse yet, "She’s being abused. He controls her every move. He cut her off from her family and friends."Of course, these are the extremes. Most couples are in the middle somewhere. I want to share an article called, "The Struggle for Power and Control in Relationships." It clearly describes the ways power and control show up in our relationships. We would love to hear your reaction to the article on Facebook.If you missed our last three posts on power issues, here are the links:How One Couple Began the Change in Their Power Dynamic describes one couple creating a healthy balance of power.How Did We Create Our Power Dynamic? provides an example of a session where a couple faced their power dynamics and one partner asked the other to work more as a team.Who Has the Power in Your Relationship? explains power in relationships and how to asses who has the power in your relationship.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are in a relationship that hurts and feel disconnected, have difficulties communicating, and/or are experiencing a crisis, Bob and I can help. Call us at 410-363-2825 or email info@relationshipswork.com.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Photo by kzenon on 123RF