“Switch it up”: A qualitative analysis of BDSM switches

Abstract

As the field of BDSM studies continues to develop, further research is needed that explores the wide range of internal diversity within the BDSM population. Part of this diversity results from differences between BDSM participants in terms of their BDSM role preferences. Switches are a category of BDSM participants who take on both dominant-type and submissive-type BDSM roles. Although switches comprise a substantial part of the BDSM population they have been largely overlooked within academic research. This article involves 15 in-depth interviews with self-identified switches. It uses constructivist grounded theory to analyse what being a switch means to switches and the factors that switches consider when deciding which BDSM role to take on at a particular time. This analysis generates a complex account of BDSM switches that conceptualises how switches are open to diverse BDSM activities/roles, connect switching to their sense of self, experience varying limitations on their role flexibility, and play differently when engaging with fellow switches. This analysis also generates a theoretical model that explains how switches make situational role choices.