One of three types of
power presented by
Starhawk in her books
Truth or Dare and
Dreaming the Dark.
Power-
with is an extension of
power-from-within, which is power arising from the
inherent worth of a person, as opposed to
power-over which is dependent on one's abilities to
control other people or one's environment.
"Power-with is social power, the influence we wield among equals...the power of a strong individual in a group of equals, the power not to command, but to suggest and be listened to, to begin something and see it happen. The source of power-with is the willingness of others to listen to our ideas. We could call that willingness respect, not for a role, but for each unique person."
-- Starhawk, Truth or Dare, p. 9-10.