How can anyone love someone who is less than a full person, unless love itself is domination per se?

How can anyone love someone who is less than a full person, unless love itself is domination per se?

Andrea Dworkin was a prominent feminist and writer known for her radical views on gender, sexuality, and power dynamics. In her work, she often challenged traditional notions of love and relationships, arguing that they are often based on unequal power dynamics and domination. The quote “How can anyone love someone who is less than a full person, unless love itself is domination per se?” encapsulates Dworkin’s belief that true love should be based on equality and mutual respect, rather than one person exerting control over another.

Dworkin believed that society’s patriarchal structures often lead to women being seen as less than full persons, with their worth and value determined by their relationships to men. In this context, love can become a tool of domination, where one partner seeks to control and possess the other. Dworkin argued that this type of love is inherently oppressive and harmful, perpetuating inequality and reinforcing harmful gender norms.

For Dworkin, true love should be based on a foundation of equality and respect. It should involve two individuals who see each other as equals, with their own agency and autonomy. In this type of relationship, love is not about domination or control, but about mutual support, understanding, and growth. Dworkin believed that love should empower both partners to be their true selves, rather than stifling their individuality or forcing them into predefined gender roles.