Pups at Pride: A Reflection on Negotiating Consent, Power, and Agency with Subversive Subcultures

Gaining consent from individuals who give control over aspects of their agency, autonomy, and ability to consent to another person by subverting normative power dynamics - such as those who belonging to kink communities - has seen little ethical discussion. This reflection provides acritical commentary on a specific scenario that occurred while conducting an LGBT hate crime project at a local Pride event in the North-East of England. While conducting a survey on anti-LGBT+ hate crime, a self-identified 'pup' approached the researcher to express interest in participation. The pup was unable to physically sign a consent form or fill out the survey themselves as their hands were covered and restricted by paw gloves. Further, they had indicated that they were under the control and supervision of their 'handler' who was observing the interaction from a distance. The pup was an unexpected respondent in the research as the survey was not kink-orientated. The ethical guidance underpinning the research was, therefore, not prepared for engaging with members of the kink community. Due to the subverted power dynamics over 'who' should give consent in this scenario, the author uses this as a case study to pose a series of questions on best ethical practice ‘in action’ when conducting research with individuals who challenge normative power relations.