Qc Community Contest #157

Relationships - When we agree to be in a romantic relationship with someone: Does that person own us? Do we own that person? Why do you think some people believe their partner belongs to them or that they own them? Would you be in a relationship with someone who thinks they own you? Why?

                   ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hmmm.... Relationship!
I don't really like talking about this topic because I believe that people have diverse ideas about it, reasons why they make certain decisions, and also it works differently for everyone.

But for the purpose of this contest, I'd share my humble thoughts.
When we agree to be in a romantic relationship, I don't think it should be like a cage. I see a relationship as two matured persons (when I say matured not just by age), coming together to "relate" with each other, i.e, bond, do things together, achieve great together, make life decisions together, plan together, etc. It shouldn't be an "I own you" thing, because being in a romantic relationship doesn't mean you automatically own the person, and vice versa; it should be a free space that harbours loyalty, faithfulness, love, care, understanding, and all that, not prison. Oftentimes, a lot of people take a partner's loyalty and faithfulness as a sign or free ticket to own them and that is wrong.

The thought of people thinking their partner belongs to them is sometimes caused by obsession(unruly lust towards the other person), selfishness(wanting to keep the person all to yourself, not even to be accessed by family) and insecurities(lack of trust in your partner).

My opinion
I cannot be in a relationship where my partner thinks he owns me because it's toxic and it'd feel like slavery or a cage. In such a relationship, experiences like stalking, restrictions, rules, isolation, etc, would be the norm, and I can't be in that kind of space. I need a partner, not a colonial master, and it's a relationship, not slavery.

✌️