Consensual Enslavement
Cultural References
Apprentice
Cultural References are shared cultural knowledge. Such knowledge shortens communication time and conveys expectations based on the mutual reference. Telling someone to “Live long and prosper,” is a Star Trek reference which most people from Western Cultures and many others will recognize the source even if they have never seen the TV shows or movies. It is connected to Customs but it is not the same.
Shared culture is part of what binds groups together. It helps people to feel like part of “us”. It gives a common reference point to understand other people, their beliefs and actions. In consensual enslavement relationships, there are certain groups who practice this who have some type of shared culture that binds them together and helps to identify others who share knowledge, interests and customs with them. The most known are the forms of the Leather Traditions and families from the older homosexual and motorcycle groups to the later heterosexual or other Leather families and organizations.
The second best known and identified is probably the people who follow the philosophy and cultural aspects of the Gorean books by John Norman, usually called Goreans. Those two groups are the most influential on consensual enslavement and slavery as we practice it today. There are many other smaller groups and local groups who have their own traditions and culture. There are many more of those than I know of or could list. BDSM itself has a certain shared culture which encompasses things from both Leather and Goreans and many constructions unique to BDSM from terms and sayings to activities.
28 September 2018