Female-Led Relationship

The term female-led relationship (or "FLR") refers to a model for romantic heterosexual relationship in which both partners agree that the woman will act as the leader and ultimate authority. Alternative terms are female-led marriage (FLM) and wife-led marriage (WLM). A FLR involves some form of power exchange with varying degrees of role enforcement and permanence. Some relationships involve total power exchange (TPE) which involves exchange of autonomy on a continuous 24/7 schedule. In a female-led TPE relationship, the female possesses complete authority over the male's life and acts as a final authority in personal decisions. TPE relationship structures may be enforced by consensual transfer of power whose exercise (by the female) is more dissatisfying (to the male) than the loss of the given freedoms. An example of such prohibitive power is financial decision-making authority.

In "safe, sane, and consensual" BDSM, power exchange is always negotiated. The terms of a power exchange are made explicit, such that roles are clearly defined and consistent. Terms of an exchange may be re-negotiated as a relationship involves. However, since these re-negotiations change the established power structure of the relationship, they should be done only when they are mutually beneficial and consensual. Key to the prevention of whimsical re-negotiation may be achieved through a male's willingness to forgo whatever freedoms he loses in the FLR in exchange for the satisfaction with his service to the female.