MarcusofAr
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Joined: 3/12/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Quantumm
As I read what you wrote (which is helpful -- thanks!), it occurred to me that someone else had remarked elsewhere that if a slave is released, she is considered a free woman. Is that correct?
Since we do not recognize the legal state of chattel slavery, in the strictly legal sense the self-professed "slave" is always a free woman (in the sense that she is legally free, and she is a woman).
So, in any translation of Gorean practices from the books into our own melieu, if it says "legal" in regards to "slavery" as it exists on the planet Gor, then you can probably toss it out the window. Because here on Earth, that is never the case.
We use the term "slavery" in two distinct ways-- one, to reference an individual's social status, and two, to indicate her relationship status.
One who declares herself "a Gorean slave" is stating that she surrenders to her inner "slave" nature and is assuming the social status, among other Goreans, of "slave." She will therefore comport herself in relation to other self-professed Goreans as if she were one, and they will be expected to treat her as if she was.
She is then "socially" a Gorean slave, versus a woman who has not declared herself as such.
A woman who has not declared herself to be a slave may instead declare herself a Gorean Free Woman. In this case, she is stating that she is embracing her own inner "free" nature. She will therefore comport herself in relation to other self-professed Goreans as if she were one, and they will be expected to treat her as if she was.
She is then "socially" a Gorean Free Woman, versus a woman who has not declared herself as such.
In the same vein, a man may declare himself a Free Gorean. In this case, he is stating that he is embracing his own inner "free Gorean" nature. He will therefore comport herself in relation to other self-professed Goreans as if he were one, and they will be expected to treat him as if he was.
He is then considered "socially" a Free Gorean, versus a man who has not declared himself to be such.
In all of the above cases, the claimant will be judged by his or her peers (fellow Goreans) regarding the veracity of their claim based upon how they comport themselves.
In all three cases, if one is found lacking or fails to achieve the self-proclaimed status for oneself, that does not mean one is automatically qualified for one of the other two Gorean categories.
Instead, if one doesn't achieve one of the aforementioned categories, one is found "not Gorean" by default, and socially becomes no different than any one of the 30 billion people on this planet who have never claimed Gorean status of any type. You then essentially fall out of the Gorean social loop, into the "Other" category.
So, a self-proclaimed Free Woman whose behavior and actions fail to qualify her as a Gorean Free Woman does NOT become "a Gorean slave" by default. Instead she is no longer considered "a Gorean" anything. The same is true for all three categories.
These judgements are collectively made by the greater Gorean community, the same as any other social judgement in any other society. Typically the opinion of one Gorean, or even more than one, hasn't the weight either to damn or sanctify another's claim of status in the Gorean social paradigm... but enough such opinions, taken together, can and will.
When a self-professed Gorean slave changes her mind and decides she is no longer socially a Gorean slave, usually she immediately drops off the Gorean social radar screen and that is that.
If she decides instead to re-declare her status, this time as a Gorean Free Woman, several things must occur before she can do so. First, it is necessary that she make her case to support that her previous claim was due to an honest error; this new claim must be studied and accepted by her fellow Goreans. Her previous behavior as a self-proclaimed slave will be carefully examined for clues as to her true nature-- be it Gorean slave, Gorean Free Woman, or Earth-neutral. Then her character must be evaluated and it must be determined whether or not she is worthy of the exalted status of Gorean Free Woman-- if not, the Gorean men around her will probably NOT honor her with the respect which is the social due of the Gorean Free Woman. If she is found to be worthy, then she can reintegrate herself socially within the Gorean community.
The process whereby a former Gorean slave is re-categorized as a Gorean Free Woman is called Manumission. It is largely informal (there are no tribunals or magistrates) and judgement is rendered in the court of public opinion, and then only after a sufficient amount of time has passed.
It is a common belief among Gorean men that true Manumission is impossible if a woman has really experienced surrender at the hands of a Gorean Master; in such a case, they tend not to accept the new status of the Manumitted female as valid.
The argument in such a case is that Gorean slavery is a "process" and not a "status," and that once you are a pickle, you can't go back to being a cucumber.
It is also true that one can call oneself anything one wants. But that doesn't necessarily make it so.
So that is an explanation of the social component of the Gorean Triad-- Free Man, Free Woman, and slave.
The relationship component of "Gorean slavery" is much simpler.
If you are in a M/s relationship with a self-professed Gorean Master, then by default you are "a Gorean slave."
If that relationship ends you do not automatically become, socially, a Gorean Free Woman. You remain a self-professed Gorean slave, just one without a current Master.
Even upon Gor, once a Free Woman is branded, collared, and Mastered, most often she completely loses the ability ever to reintegrate herself back into Gorean society among the Free. Once you are a Gorean kajira in the presence of Gorean Men, you tend to remain one in their eyes.
So, that's how it all works.
I wish you well,
_Marcus_
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ignoring slave's will vs. begging a collar - 
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