Consent Maintenance Pressure
Navigating Boundaries and Autonomy through Modifiable and Revokable Consent
The concept of consent is often seen as a simple "yes" or "no" decision given at one specific moment. However, human relationships—whether personal, professional, or social—are far more complex, with feelings, needs, and boundaries that evolve over time.
What I'll call consent maintenance pressure are the subtle or overt forces that push individuals to continue with their initial consent, even as their feelings or circumstances change.
While we often say "consent is sexy," what truly enhances the quality of a relationship or interaction is the ability to exit safely.
This essay explores how these pressures manifest across different areas of life, drawing on thinkers like Michel Foucault, Catharine MacKinnon, and Judith Butler, and emphasizes the importance of dynamic consent—a flexible, ongoing process that acknowledges people’s shifting boundaries. While "consent is sexy," what is even more important is creating a safe way out, where changing one’s mind is respected and supported without fear of negative consequences.
Understanding Consent Maintenance Pressure
Consent maintenance pressure happens when individuals feel unable to revise or withdraw their consent due to external factors like societal expectations, emotional ties, or power imbalances. Michel Foucault's work on how power operates subtly—through societal norms rather than direct coercion—helps us understand why people may feel pressured to continue with their original consent, even if they no longer feel comfortable. Catharine MacKinnon has pointed out that consent given under unequal power dynamics, particularly in gendered contexts, is rarely truly free, reinforcing how external forces affect autonomy in intimate relationships and other interactions.
This pressure can manifest in many areas of life, from personal relationships to professional settings, where fear of upsetting others, damaging relationships, or being excluded prevents people from adjusting their consent. Judith Butler’s ideas about performativity and social roles further explain how individuals feel compelled to maintain participation to preserve their social standing.
Examples of Consent Maintenance Pressure
In Personal Relationships
In close personal relationships, emotional ties can make it difficult to withdraw or modify consent. A person may feel obligated to continue fulfilling a role—whether as a romantic partner, friend, or caregiver—despite feeling overwhelmed. The fear of creating conflict or disappointing others can lead them to maintain consent, even when they need to adjust the situation. This dynamic is particularly evident in caregiving roles, where societal expectations of self-sacrifice can trap caregivers in unmanageable positions. As Catharine MacKinnon notes, power dynamics often keep caregivers from setting boundaries, out of fear of being labeled selfish or failing their duties.
Example: A caregiver feels pressured to continue providing care despite being emotionally exhausted, fearing that stepping back would lead to guilt or blame.
In Professional Settings
In the workplace, consent maintenance pressure often emerges when employees agree to responsibilities that later become overwhelming. Foucault’s theory of disciplinary power helps explain how workplaces subtly regulate behavior, making it difficult for employees to renegotiate consent, even when their well-being is at stake. For instance, an employee might initially take on extra projects to show commitment but may later realize they are overwhelmed. However, they may hesitate to ask for adjustments due to fear of being seen as uncooperative or harming professional relationships.
Example: An employee agrees to take on multiple tasks but becomes overwhelmed and feels unable to ask for help or redistribute responsibilities due to fear of being viewed as uncommitted.
In Social Groups
In social settings, people often face pressure to conform to group activities or norms, even when those no longer align with their personal values or comfort levels. Judith Butler’s ideas about social performativity explain how individuals may feel compelled to maintain participation in group dynamics to preserve their social standing. For example, someone in a close-knit social circle might continue attending group events, even when emotionally drained, simply because they fear exclusion or judgment.
Example: A person attends regular social events despite feeling overwhelmed because they fear being left out or judged by their friends.
The Ethical Implications of Consent Maintenance Pressure
Understanding consent maintenance pressure has profound ethical implications across various contexts. When individuals feel unable to revise or withdraw consent due to external pressures, their autonomy is compromised. This not only undermines personal well-being but also reinforces unequal power dynamics.
In Intimate Relationships
In sexual and romantic relationships, consent is often treated as a one-time agreement, but this view is insufficient. Dynamic consent emphasizes the need for ongoing communication, where both parties regularly check in to ensure comfort and respect for each other’s boundaries. As Catharine MacKinnon and other feminist scholars argue, consent must be revisited as feelings and circumstances change. This approach creates a context where someone can safely change their mind without fear of rejection or resentment.
In Professional Settings
Workplaces benefit from adopting a dynamic consent approach, where employees can adjust their responsibilities as needed. Organizational theorist Amy Edmondson advocates for creating a culture of psychological safety, where employees feel comfortable expressing their limits without fear of negative repercussions. This model ensures that employees can speak up about their workload or boundaries, creating more supportive, productive, and sustainable workplaces.
In Caregiving Roles
Caregiving often involves intense consent maintenance pressure, where caregivers may feel unable to set boundaries without being judged. Eva Feder Kittay has highlighted the undervalued nature of care work and the importance of allowing caregivers to renegotiate their roles without guilt. By empowering caregivers to establish boundaries, the caregiving dynamic becomes more sustainable and equitable for both the caregiver and the person receiving care.
Practical Steps to Address Consent Maintenance Pressure
Normalize Changing Consent: Consent should not be viewed as a static, one-time agreement. Instead, it must evolve. Encouraging open conversations about boundaries ensures that people feel comfortable adjusting their consent as circumstances change.
Implement Regular Check-Ins: Whether in personal relationships, workplaces, or social settings, regular check-ins provide opportunities to reassess comfort levels and adjust roles as needed. These conversations promote mutual respect and help prevent misunderstandings or prolonged consent maintenance pressure.
Acknowledge Power Imbalances: Recognizing how power imbalances affect autonomy is essential. In professional, caregiving, or social hierarchies, creating equitable spaces where individuals feel empowered to express their needs without fear of retaliation is crucial.
Foster Empathy and Flexibility: Relationships, both personal and professional, thrive on empathy and flexibility. Allowing changes in roles, responsibilities, and dynamics ensures that no one feels stuck in an unsustainable situation. This flexibility reduces the pressure to maintain consent when circumstances have shifted.
The Importance of a Safe Exit
While we often say "consent is sexy," what truly enhances the quality of a relationship or interaction is the ability to exit safely. A safe way out means that individuals can change their mind or adjust their participation without fear of negative consequences. When people feel secure in expressing discomfort or setting new boundaries, relationships become stronger, healthier, and more respectful.
Embracing Dynamic Consent
Understanding consent maintenance pressure allows us to shift from a rigid, transactional view of consent to a more realistic and compassionate model—dynamic consent. This approach recognizes that consent must be ongoing and flexible, adapting to the evolving needs and boundaries of those involved. By fostering open communication and creating safe exits, we can build healthier, more balanced relationships across all areas of life.
A culture of dynamic consent enhances not only intimate relationships but also professional environments and social circles. It ensures that individuals feel respected, empowered, and free to express their needs, making interactions more fulfilling and equitable for everyone involved.
