Many BDSM practitioners see their kink as something innate, a part of who they are that has always been there. For them, the kink community is often like ‘coming home’.
BDSM can encompass a wide range of power exchanges and erotic play, including spanking, bondage, choking, pain play and role-playing scenarios.
Dominance and submission
BDSM dating can be confusing to people who have never experienced it. BDSM is also known as power play, D/S or S&M and is closely related to sadism and masochism. It is not appropriate for everyone and requires caution. If your partner tries to force you to move too quickly or engage in something that you’re uncomfortable with, it’s a good idea to walk away.
Domination and submission are the fundamental components of BDSM. Submission is the act of relinquishing control to a dominant force and gaining pleasure from that experience. Those who enjoy dominating others are known as Dominants or Doms, while those who submit to them are called Subs or subs. Those who switch between roles are called Switches.
It’s important to remember that BDSM is not about forcing someone into submission against their will. Dominance and submission must be negotiated and consented to both before and throughout a scene. In addition, all BDSM activities should be safe and involve only a supervised submissive who is aware of their boundaries and limits. Many BDSM partners set a safe word that they will use if they’re uncomfortable with the situation or need to end the play. Some BDSM partners even utilize a green-yellow-red system similar to that of traffic lights, where green means go and red means stop.
Sadism and masochism
Sadomasochism (also called S&M, SM, or sex and pain) involves deriving pleasure, often sexual, from the infliction of pain. It’s also possible to enjoy a combination of sadism and masochism, such as in “erotic spanking” or love-biting.
While it might sound like a dark and dangerous practice, a vast number of people have sadomasochistic tendencies. It’s a part of human sexuality, just as much as is the desire for bondage or domination. For this reason, BDSM is not all leather, whips and chains. BDSM also encompasses many common behaviors, play and relationships between consenting adults that contain sadistic and masochistic elements.
Some sadists derive pleasure from self-inflicted pain, such as binding themselves or shocking themselves electrically. Some of these are referred to as autosadism or automasochism and are sometimes alternated with the more common sexually-oriented sadism.
In general, a sadist seeks control over their environment, especially their intimate relationship. They may feel uncomfortable relating as equals with their partner or even feeling the natural emotions of love and compassion. Rather than attempting to work through these feelings, the sadist attempts to find temporary reprieve from them by assuming the roles of powerful master and submissive slave.
Bondage and discipline
A common myth is that BDSM is all about pain, but it’s actually not. While erotic humiliation does often play an important role in BDSM, it is not the only form of bondage or discipline. BDSM also includes things like cuffing, rope play and stroking. This is why it’s important to have detailed conversations with your partners before engaging in BDSM. It can be physically and emotionally taxing, so it’s best to only engage in BDSM with people you trust.
A lot of the practice is a learning process for both parties, and it’s important to take the time to get comfortable with what you’re doing. The more comfortable you are, the more pleasure you’ll get out of it. You may even find that you enjoy the more painful aspects of BDSM more than you thought.
The beauty of BDSM is that it can look different for everyone. Some people might prefer a light spanking or biting, while others may love impact play and enjoy being flogged. BDSM is a spectrum that can be explored with friends or at kink clubs, with professional dom(me)s or DIY restraints. It’s common practice to include a safe word during BDSM sex, which can be used to stop the scene immediately if one partner feels uncomfortable. This can be a physical sign such as dropping a ball or a verbal signal like ringing a bell.
Authority and submission
BDSM is an umbrella term that includes several different fetishes and sexual practices. Some examples include bondage and discipline, domination and submission, and sadism and masochism. While BDSM can be very intense and powerful, it is also very safe when practiced correctly. In fact, BDSM is more mainstream than you might think. The hordes of people who watched Fifty Shades of Grey in theaters are proof that BDSM is becoming less taboo. There’s also the rise of shows like Succession and Billions that feature BDSM-related content, and Rihanna has even released a song about it.
In a BDSM scene, the person in charge is called a Dom. A sub is the person who submits to them. It’s common for these roles to switch between scenes. It’s important to agree on hard limits before a BDSM scene. A hard limit is a non-negotiable rule, such as no tickling.
In a long term arrangement, the dominant person may make the lion’s share of decisions for their sub. This can include what they wear, when they have sex, and where they sleep. They also take care of the sub’s needs, including ensuring they have food and water. In addition, they punish the sub if they break rules they’ve agreed to. After a scene, it’s common for the top to provide aftercare for their sub. This might include emotional and physical support to prevent a drop.
