Though the lifestyle maintains a level of power exchange and in do so, one may give up their freedoms or (rights) as a part of the service.  We as human beings still maintain the right to humanity and dignity even in service.  Some one wrote the following list of rights on behalf of the submissive but found that many apply just as much for the Dominant as the submissive so consider that as you read.  And they wrote;  I have the right...

to set limits, and expect them to be respected.

to adjust these limits at any time, with notice to you.

to expect you to push them, to force me to create new limits & boundaries.

to expect you to be concerned about time we spend apart, but I expect you to understand that I am a person, separate from you, and thus having problems and situations in my life that I will not need your help with.

I have the right to expect you will respect me for my independence and not criticize me for it.

to ask you for help, should I need it.

to be trusted, providing I have earned it.

to expect you to believe I am an intelligent, caring and loyal person.

to ask things of you, and have you listen to my requests.

to ask for your attention, without having to misbehave to get it.

ask you to contribute as much to this relationship as I do. As long as my requests are submitted respectfully, I expect you to consider them as you would from any friend or colleague.

to question your motives, should you deny my requests, as long as I do so with the proper respect.

to expect you to administer your punishment with care and caution.

to use my safe words at any point, should I feel them necessary.

to get up and walk away from a scene if you have crossed the line.

to expect you to respect my decisions, and not think less of me, or abandon me for them.

speak up if I feel our relationship is not giving me what I need.

to tell you what I need, in a respectful manner.

to expect you to understand my reasons for doing so, and to expect you to listen with an open mind.

to walk away from the relationship if we cannot come to a common ground on these issues.

to expect tenderness, love and understanding after a scene is completed, should it be what I desire.

to ask you for that tenderness if I've had a bad day, or if I just feel the need for closeness. I understand that there will be times when you and I will disagree about this, when you will want a scene, and I will not. I have the right to call for a talk about this, and to expect you to listen to and consider my reasoning. I expect you to have the final word, but I expect you to wholeheartedly consider my feelings, whatever happen to be.

to expect our relationship to progress, for trust to continually be renewed, for our souls to be as close as our bodies are.

to tell you if I need more from you, and I expect you to respect my decisions about what I want and need. I expect you to want the relationship to progress, unless decided otherwise before hand. I expect you to understand that deep trust often breeds love, and I expect you not to repel me if I tell you that I love you. For, my Master, I will love you, should our relationship move ahead, should our trust continue to grow.

to expect you to tell me, at any point, if you do not feel you can return those feelings, so that I may decide what I want and need. For it is your pleasure that adds to my own, makes it real. And mine, that adds to yours.