[h=1]BDSM[/h]From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about consensual adult sadomasochistic activity. For the medical condition involving non-consensual ideation or behaviour, see
Sexual sadism disorder. For the medical condition in which pain/humiliation is required for sexual arousal and causes distress or impairment, see
Sexual masochism disorder.
[TABLE="class: infobox, width: 23"]
BDSM[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2, align: center"]
Woman wearing a
collar with attached chain
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 2, align: center"]Aspects[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]B&D, B/D, or BD[/TH]
[TD]
Bondage and
discipline[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]D&s, D/s, or Ds[/TH]
[TD]
Dominance and submission[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]S&M, S/M, or SM[/TH]
[TD]
Sadism and masochism[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 2, align: center"]Roles[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]
Top/Dominant[/TH]
[TD]partner who performs or controls the activity[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]
Bottom/Submissive[/TH]
[TD]partner who receives or is controlled[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]
Switch[/TH]
[TD]switches between roles[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
BDSM is a variety of often
erotic practices or
roleplaying involving
bondage,
discipline,
dominance and submission,
sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. Given the wide range of practices, some of which may be engaged in by people who do not consider themselves as practicing BDSM, inclusion in the BDSM community or subculture is usually dependent on
self-identification and shared experience.
The BDSM initialism.
The term
BDSM is first recorded in a
Usenet posting from 1991,[SUP]
[1][/SUP] and is interpreted as a combination of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism).
BDSM is now used as a catch-all phrase covering a wide range of activities, forms of
interpersonal relationships, and distinct subcultures. BDSM communities generally welcome anyone with a non-normative streak who identifies with the community; this may include
cross-dressers,
body modification enthusiasts,
animal roleplayers,
rubber fetishists, and others.
Activities and relationships within a D/s or M/s context are often characterized by the participants taking on complementary, but unequal roles; thus, the idea of
informed consent of both the partners becomes essential. The terms "submissive" and "dominant" are often used to distinguish these roles: the dominant partner ("dom") takes psychological control over the submissive ("sub"). The terms "top" and "bottom" are also used: the top is the instigator of an action while the bottom is the receiver of the action. The two sets of terms are subtly different: for example, someone may choose to act as bottom to another person, for example, by being whipped, purely recreationally, without any implication of being psychologically dominated by them.
The abbreviations "sub" and "dom" are frequently used instead of "submissive" and "dominant". Sometimes the female-specific term "domme" is used to describe a dominant woman, instead of the gender-neutral term "dom"; both terms are pronounced the same when spoken. Individuals who can change between top/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—whether from relationship to relationship or within a given relationship—are known as
switches. The precise definition of roles and self-identification is a common subject of debate within the community.[SUP]
[2][/SUP]
