Some Common Sense Ideas
If power imbalances cause rape, then one of those two was raping the other, right?
They can’t consent because of the power dynamics.
One of them must be abusing their power.
but WHO HAS MORE POWER?
is it Millionaire vs Dumb Blonde?
or Decrepit Old Fool vs Hot Sexy Vixen?
All relationships have power imbalances. One party is always taller, stronger, better-looking, richer, smarter, better-connected, more savvy, more charismatic, etc.
This new dogma that says “power imbalance = abuse” is ridiculous AF. It’s amazing people can repeat it with a straight face.
Power imbalance arguments are nonsense because
existence of power =/= abuse of power
and even if it did (which it obviously doesn’t) we still have no way to measure power. As in the example above. Maybe he was exploiting her, or maybe the other way round. Or maybe no one was exploiting anyone and they were just in love.
We can read tabloids and be judgemental weasels 'till the cows come home and it doesn’t really matter, but if people are claiming that “power dynamics” prove that sex is rape, well now we’re talking about a serious felony. It would be atrocious to put someone in prison based on the absurd bullshit people yap about power imbalances.