We hear the word "Consensual" quite often in varied contexts. Consensual sex, Consensual marriage (or divorce), Consensual contract etc etc. It's the new age norm. I say new age because consensus didn't have much importance in the past where the society was highly divided in the name of caste, class, race, gender etc. There was not much consensus between a landlord or a peasant when it comes to work. Landlord dictates and the peasant should follow. Or between a husband and a wife for that matter. Our own school textbooks said "Father is the head of the family". But now being Consensual is being matured, professional, logical, humane, moral and also legal in many cases. It makes one humble because the person is expected to consider the sensitivities of the other person/people. On the other hand, forcing something against someone's will is not only looked down upon but in extreme cases, a punishable offense (Eg: Rape). So consensus definitely appears to be a good thing. Where is the irony here?
“There
was no consensus before thrusting upon the responsibility to be
consensual in every act”
Yes,
I am talking about birth here. Nobody is ever asked whether they want
to be born in the first place (I know the technical impossibility
here). Yet after birth, one is expected to be consensual in every act
of life. Also, 2 people are expected to have consensus before having
sex. But no such thing for giving birth. Now comes the worst part.
Will full taking away of one's life (suicide) is a criminal
offense. So essentially I don't have a say in my birth
or my death.
