Power Points: Power vs. Authority in BDSM Relationships
ONLINE CLASS, Sept 20, 2026, 2:00 pm Eastern
Power. Authority. Dominance. Control. We often use these words interchangeably, but while there are commonalities, they are far from the same. Understanding the distinction between power and authority can improve leadership and effective decision making, as well as recognizing if you are being responsibly Dominated, wisely led, or simply coerced and abused. Awareness of the interplay of power and authority fosters clear roles, increased security, and greater personal fulfillment in healthy relationships.
In this class, Sir Panda draws the important distinctions between authority and power and examines the forms and sources of both - both legitimate and not. With an examination the foundations of power, formal vs. informal authority - as well as resistance to authority - and the role that reason and empathy play in different paradigms, the presentation works towards not only an understanding of differences, but describing how an enlightened approach can lead to more balanced dynamics.
