BDSM Role Fluidity: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Investigating Switches Within Dominant/Submissive Binaries

Martinez, Katherine

doi:10.1080/00918369.2017.1374062

Cited by 27 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Wismeijer & Van Assen 71 similarly found that 70% had a higher education (ie, bachelor’s or master’s degree), as compared with 34% in the general population. Martinez 35 again showed that about half of their BDSM sample had a college degree, with another 33% having taken up to 1 year of college. In this line, they also had higher income levels than the general population 2 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In the layman’s view, BDSM is subject to binary categorization, with participants being either dominant or submissive. More recently, however, more roles have been defined for BDSM community members to identify with: dominant, master/mistress, top, sadist, submissive, bottom, masochist and switch,34, 35 although a clear delineation between these roles does not always exist. In Martinez’s survey study, 35 most of the participants (n = 185 of 202) identified with 1 BDSM identity, with 41.1% of the participants self-identifying as a submissive, slave, or bottom, 28.2% as dominant, master, or sadist, and 22.3% as switch.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recently, however, more roles have been defined for BDSM community members to identify with: dominant, master/mistress, top, sadist, submissive, bottom, masochist and switch,34, 35 although a clear delineation between these roles does not always exist. In Martinez’s survey study, 35 most of the participants (n = 185 of 202) identified with 1 BDSM identity, with 41.1% of the participants self-identifying as a submissive, slave, or bottom, 28.2% as dominant, master, or sadist, and 22.3% as switch. More than half of the population (52%) indicated maintaining the same role (dominant or submissive) throughout all interactions, whereas the other half tended to experiment with other roles as well, although men tended to be significantly less fluid in their role (43.4% of the men had at least some level of fluidity, whereas this was the case for 51.5% of the women).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) From an Integrative Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Systematic Review

et al. 2019

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Introduction BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism) increasingly receives attention from the scientific community. Where earlier research efforts mainly focused on epidemiologic characteristics, psychological and biologic factors driving BDSM preferences have recently gained interest as well. Aim To bring together all the existing scientific literature on BDSM from a biopsychosocial perspective. Methods Based on the PRISMA guidelines, the current systematic review brings together all the existing literature on BDSM from a biopsychosocial perspective. Main Outcome Measure Prevalence rates of BDSM interests were investigated in the literature, as well as the associations between BDSM interests on one hand and personality traits, adverse childhood experiences, education levels, sexual orientations and biological markers on the other. Results Biologic factors such as gender identity, sex hormone levels, and the neurologic constitution of the brain’s pain and reward systems influence BDSM orientation. With regard to psychological factors, both personality traits (eg, higher levels of openness or extraversion) and the presence of a personality disorder have been associated with a heightened interest in BDSM, although only limited supporting evidence is available. Additionally, sensation-seeking levels and impulsivity seem to contribute, because they presumably guide one’s drive to explore new or more-intense kinks. Whereas attachment styles impact couple dynamics, they also influence willingness to explore limits in a BDSM context. Lastly, education levels impact relational and sexual dynamics. Strengths and Limitations The limitations of the current review reflect those of the topical scientific literature. Although the number of studies focused on all aspects of BDSM is exponentially growing, most of these are only descriptive, and very few focus on underlying driving processes. Conclusion From this biopsychosocial perspective, we offer a dimensional approach while integrating the factors driving the onset and evolution of BDSM interests. De Neef N, Coppens V, Huys W, et al. Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) From an Integrative Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Systematic Review. Sex Med 2019;7:129–144.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) From an Integrative Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Systematic Review

et al. 2019

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“…A note about these findings is required at this stage. Previous studies of BDSM have noted in their samples that practitioners often come from a more educated background (Wismeijer & Assen, 2013) or higher socio-economic status (Martinez, 2018;Sandnabba et al 1999). However, one professional domme suggested that the educational status evidence was at odds with her not insubstantial practice, stating that she: "saw clients, none of whom are thick, [a British idiom for less intelligent,] but more tradespeople than professionals-perhaps they've got more disposable income?"…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

It’s (probably) not about sex baby, but it is about you and me: A quasi-ethnographic exploration of consensual corporal punishment

Pinson

2021

JPS

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Corporal punishment (CP) is one aspect of BDSM play. While enjoyed by many at a low level, some players indulge in heavier play, with the potential for skin and tissue damage. This paper presents the results of an exploratory quasi-ethnographic study into CP, examining the motivations and potential benefits and risks of playing in this way, with the aim of increasing understanding of why individuals engage in heavy CP. Data were gathered from scene observations and semi-structured interviews with participants, including three professional Dominatrices with a reputation internationally for CP. Thematic Analysis was used to assess the data. While sexual arousal was a motivator for some participants, it was not the motivator for the majority. The importance of the marks left on the body was a common theme, as was challenging oneself to increase the amount of CP received or given. This was either to demonstrate a progression along a journey of increasing severity, or to enhance the experience either sexually, bruises / marks wise, or psychologically. Despite allusions by participants to addiction, psychological benefits in mood and mental health were reported by all participants. The main negative aspect of participation was fear of stigma and the perceived inability to be open with others about their interests. Participation in CP is a positive experience for those involved. The importance of bodily marks is a new finding, as is the positive impact on mental health.

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“…The other important background point is that BDSM roles tend to be highly gendered: cis men are more likely to be Tops, cis women are more likely to be bottoms, and others are more likely to be switches (Martinez, 2018;Simula, 2012). My own figures in Table 2 are based on the roles that people with medium or high scene involvement claimed as their general preference, not necessarily the ones they actually performed.…”

Section: Setting the Scenementioning

confidence: 99%

It’s complicated: Sex and the BDSM subculture

Fennell

2020

Sexualities

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Drawing from extensive insider ethnographic work and an internet survey with a convenience sample of 1642 BDSM practitioners, I show that the social context of the BDSM subculture has a profound impact on pansexual BDSM practitioners’ interpretation of the relationship between BDSM and sex. Greater involvement in the public BDSM subculture and participation in feminine Dominance/masculine submission are both strongly associated with less preference for and experience of sexual BDSM. Greater involvement in the BDSM subculture increases participants’ likelihood of viewing their sexuality in terms of BDSM but decreases their likelihood of viewing BDSM in sexual terms. BDSM practitioners who meet new BDSM partners in BDSM subcultural contexts, even ones where sex is allowed, are much less likely to have sex with their partners than practitioners who met anywhere else. I argue that research should focus more on the social factors that influence participants’ experience and interpretation of BDSM, particularly on the influence of the BDSM subculture, and that theorists should think more broadly about the social determinants of “sex” and “sexual experience.”

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BDSM Role Fluidity: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Investigating Switches Within Dominant/Submissive Binaries

Cited by 27 publications

References 31 publications

Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) From an Integrative Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Systematic Review

Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) From an Integrative Biopsychosocial Perspective: A Systematic Review

It’s (probably) not about sex baby, but it is about you and me: A quasi-ethnographic exploration of consensual corporal punishment

It’s complicated: Sex and the BDSM subculture

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