NationMaster - Encyclopedia: BDSM

The term "BDSM" is an abbreviation derived from the terms bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism.^[1] It defines a spectrum of behaviors, including dominance, submission, punishment, masochism, bondage, role play, and a large variety of other activities, frequently sexual in nature. "BDSM" is the collective term for a group of related sexual preferences common in issue-related literature, which are sometimes referred to as "D/s", "Sadomasochism", or "S&M" (also written "S-and-M"). Picture of User:Lady Byron wearing a BDSM-style collar. ... Picture of User:Lady Byron wearing a BDSM-style collar. ... A BDSM-style collar that buckles in the neck. ... A model in bondage cuffs with a leg spreader In the context of BDSM, bondage involves people being tied up or otherwise restrained for pleasure. ... Discipline is the use of rules and punishment to control overt behaviour in BDSM. Punishment can be pain caused physically (such as caning), humiliation caused psychologically (such as a public flagellation) or loss of freedom caused physically (such as chaining the controlee to the foot of a bed, for snoring). ... Domination and submission (also known as Dominance and submission, D&s, Ds or D/s) is a set of psychosexual behaviors, customs and rituals relating to the dominance of one individual over another. ... Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ... Look up Punishment in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ... A model in bondage cuffs with a leg spreader In the context of BDSM, bondage involves people being tied up or otherwise restrained for pleasure. ... Sexual roleplaying is a sexual behavior between two or more people in which they take on erotic roles to carry out a sexual fantasy. ...

BDSM can also be referred to as "kinky sex", "power exchange" or "the lifestyle", but each of these risks being confused with other alternative relationships or sexual behavior. Functionally, it is a form of 'power play', where power dynamics are used as part of the erotic experience. As such, BDSM mainly involves at least two participants, these being the "Top" who is the dominant partner in the relationship and the "Bottom" who is the submissive.^[2] Kink is a term used to refer to a broad range of sexual practices such as spanking, bondage, domination and submission, sadomasochism and sexual fetishism. ... In BDSM, the term Power Exchange is associated with a submissive exchanging his/her authority to make decisions (whether just for a scene, or for his/her entire life), for the Dominants agreement to take responsibility for his/her happiness and health. ... This article is about the erotic activity. ... This article is about the erotic activity. ...

BDSM tends to involve "scenes" where the party enjoys a scenario which normally tends to involve one of the party voluntarily giving up control or authority. BDSM practitioners make a clear distinction between consensual BDSM and sexual abuse; it is important that the process is voluntary and that whoever is giving up control is willing to perform what tasks are asked of them. This is illustrated in the expression "Safe, sane and consensual", which means that the participants are aware of the dangerous nature of what they are doing, that what they are doing is sensible and in a right frame of mind, and that full informed consent has been given by everyone. A similar term used is "Risk-aware consensual kink" (RACK), although this practice expands the range of things that can be performed.^[3] Bad Touch redirects here. ... Safe, sane and consensual (SSC) is one of several phrases used by a large section of the BDSM and sexual bondage communities to describe themselves and their philosophies who regard SSC to be a watchword for safety. ... A risk-aware consensual kink (RACK) is any of several phrases used by portions of the BDSM community to describe themselves and their philosophies. ...

Fundamentals

Many variations of BDSM involve one partner voluntarily giving up control. The submissive partner gives control to the dominant partner in a ritualized interaction known as power exchange. The dominant partner is referred to as the "Dom," "Dominant," or "Top" and the submissive partner is called "sub," "submissive," or "Bottom". In accordance with the commonly-used nomenclature in issue-related discussions among the practitioners, this article will use the terms Top and Bottom to describe the particular role-playing partner. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2160x2946, 715 KB)Partial suspension bondage demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2160x2946, 715 KB)Partial suspension bondage demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2005. ... Suspension bondage is a form of sexual bondage where a bound person is hung from one or more overhead suspension points. ... Submissiveness is the trait of being willing to yield to the will of another person or a superior force. ... In human sexual behavior, a dominant is one who enjoys performing any of a variety of BDSM practices upon a submissive; or one who holds a dominant position within a relationship based upon dominance and submission (DS). ...

BDSM actions often take place during a specific period of time agreed to by both parties, referred to as "play," "a scene" or "a session." All parties involved usually derive pleasure from this, even though many of the practices that are performed, such as inflicting pain, humiliation or being restrained would be considered unpleasant under normal circumstances. Sexual intercourse, be it oral, anal or vaginal, may occur within a session, but is not essential.^[4] Etymology: Late Latin humiliatus, past participle of humiliare, from Latin humilis low. ... It has been suggested that Duration of sexual intercourse be merged into this article or section. ... Oral sex consists of all sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, which may include use of the tongue, teeth, and throat, to stimulate genitalia. ... Roman men having anal sex. ... Vaginal sex or vaginal intercourse is human sexual behavior involving the vagina, especially, but not limited to, the insertion of the erect penis into the vagina. ...

The fundamental principles for the exercise of BDSM require that it should be performed by mature and responsible partners, of their own volition, and in a safe way. Since the 1980s, these basic principles have been condensed into the motto "Safe, sane and consensual", abbreviated as SSC, which means that everything is based on safe, sane and consenting behavior of all involved parties.^[5] This mutual consent makes a clear legal and ethical distinction between BDSM and crimes such as sexual assault or domestic violence.^[6] Domestic disturbance redirects here. ...

Some BDSM practitioners prefer a code of behavior that differs from "SSC" and described as "Risk Aware Consensual Kink" (RACK), indicating a preference of a style in which the individual responsibility of the involved parties is emphasized more strongly, with each participant being responsible for his or her own well-being. RACK focuses primarily upon awareness and informed consent, rather than accepted safe practices.^[7] Consent is the most important criterion here. The consent and compliance for a sadomasochistic situation can be granted only by people who are able to judge the potential results. For their consent, they must have all relevant information at hand and the necessary mental capacity to judge. The resulting consent and understanding is often summarized in a "contract", an agreement of what can and cannot take place.^[8] Informed consent is a legal condition whereby a person can be said to have given consent based upon an appreciation and understanding of the facts and implications of an action. ...

In general, it must be possible for the consenting partner to withdraw his or her consent at any given time;^[9] for example, by using a safeword that was agreed on in advance.^[10]^[11] Failure to honor a safeword is considered the most serious misconduct that can take place in BDSM and can even change the sexual consent situation into a crime, depending on the relevant law,^[12] since the bottom has explicitly revoked his or her consent to any actions which follow the use of the safeword (see Legal status). A safeword[1] is a codeword or series of codewords that are sometimes used in BDSM to mean that a submissive (or bottom) is reaching a physical, emotional or moral boundary or for the dominant (or top) to stop the sceneplay. ... Collars are a commonly used symbol of BDSM and can be ornamental or functional. ...

Safety

Aside from the general advice related to Safer Sex, BDSM sessions often require a much wider array of safety precautions than typical Vanilla Sex (sexual behavior without BDSM elements).^[13] To keep all acts within the framework agreed upon by all participants, a commonly accepted set of rules and safety measures has emerged within the BDSM community. Safe sex (also called safer sex) is a term describing practices designed to reduce the risk of sustaining or imparting sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) (also known as sexually-transmitted diseases or STDs in the US). ... Vanilla sex or conventional sex is used to describe what a culture regards as standard or conventional sexual behaviour. ...

To ensure consensus related to BDSM activity, pre-play negotiations are commonplace, especially among partners who do not know each other very well. These negotiations concern the interests and fantasies of each partner and establish a framework.^[14] This kind of discussion is a typical "unique selling proposition" of BDSM sessions and quite commonplace.^[15] Additionally, safewords are often arranged to provide for an immediate stop of any activity if any participant should so desire.^[16] Quick and reliable response to safewords is an imperative for safe BDSM. In case of voice constraints of the bottom, eye contact or hand signs might be the only means of communication and are therefore of very high importance for safety. A safeword[1] is a codeword or series of codewords that are sometimes used in BDSM to mean that a submissive (or bottom) is reaching a physical, emotional or moral boundary or for the dominant (or top) to stop the sceneplay. ... For other uses, see Gag (disambiguation). ...

Practical safety aspects are of tremendous importance. It is highly important during bondage sessions to understand which parts of the human body have a risk of damage to nerves and blood vessels by contusion or have a high risk of scar development. Using crops, whips or floggers, the top's fine motor skills and anatomical knowledge can make the difference between a satisfying session for the bottom and a highly unpleasant experience, possibly including severe physical harm.^[17] The very broad range of different BDSM "toys" and physical and psychological control techniques often requires a far-reaching knowledge of details related to the requirements of the individual session, such as anatomy, physics, and psychology.^[18]^[19]^[20] A bruise or contusion or ecchymoses is a kind of injury, usually caused by blunt impact, in which the capillaries are damaged, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue. ... A crop, sometimes called a riding crop or hunting crop, is a rather short type of whip witrhout a crack, used in horseback riding, hence also known as a horsewhip. ... For other uses, see Whip (disambiguation). ... The Cat O Nine Tails is a type of multi-tailed whip that originated as a tool of corporal punishment from the British navy. ... A sex toy is a term for any object or device that is primarily used in facilitating human sexual pleasure. ... Human heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... Psychological science redirects here. ...

It is necessary to be able to identify a bottom's psychological "freakouts" in advance in order to avoid it. Such losses of emotional balance due to sensory or emotional overload are the most common SM emergency. It is extremely important to follow his or her reactions empathetically and continue or stop accordingly.^[21]^[22] Not to be confused with Pity, Sympathy, or Compassion. ...

Aspects

This model for differentiating among these three aspects of BDSM is increasingly used in literature today.^[2] Nevertheless, it is only an attempt at phenomonological differentiation. Individual tastes and preferences in the area of sexuality may overlap among these areas, which are discussed separately here.

Bondage/Discipline

Bondage and Discipline are two aspects of BDSM that do not necessarily relate to one another, but can appear jointly. The term "Bondage" describes the practice of restraining for pleasure. Bondage is usually, but not always, a sexual practice.^[23] While bondage is a very popular variation within the larger field of BDSM, it is nevertheless sometimes differentiated from the rest of this field.^[24] Studies among BDSM practitioners in the U.S. have shown that about half of all men find the idea of bondage to be erotic; many women do as well. Strictly speaking, bondage means binding the partner by tying their appendages together; for example, by the use of handcuffs or by lashing their arms to an object. Bondage can be also be achieved by spreading the appendages and fastening them with chains to a St. Andrews cross or spreader bars.^[25] A model in bondage cuffs with a leg spreader In the context of BDSM, bondage involves people being tied up or otherwise restrained for pleasure. ... Discipline is the use of rules and punishment to control overt behaviour in BDSM. Punishment can be pain caused physically (such as caning), humiliation caused psychologically (such as a public flagellation) or loss of freedom caused physically (such as chaining the controlee to the foot of a bed, for snoring). ... Download high resolution version (768x1024, 210 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Bondage (BDSM) Gag (BDSM) ... Download high resolution version (768x1024, 210 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Bondage (BDSM) Gag (BDSM) ... The St. ... A womans legs are held apart by a spreader bar tied to her ankles; she is also wearing a ball gag. ...

The term "Discipline" describes the use of rules and punishment to control overt behavior in BDSM.^[26] Punishment can be pain caused physically (such as caning), humiliation caused psychologically (such as a public flagellation) or loss of freedom caused physically (eg. chaining the Bottom to the foot of a bed). Another aspect is the structured training of the Bottom.^[27] Overlap with practices from the field of bondage can occur, but is not necessarily mandatory. A differentiation between bondage and discipline is sometimes difficult.

Dominance and submission

Main article: Dominance and submission (BDSM) Domination and submission (also known as Dominance and submission, D&s, Ds or D/s) is a set of psychosexual behaviors, customs and rituals relating to the dominance of one individual over another. ...

"Dominance and submission" (also known as D&s, Ds or D/s) is a set of behaviors, customs and rituals relating to the giving and accepting of dominance of one individual over another in an erotic or lifestyle context. It explores the more mental aspect of BDSM. This is also the case in many relationships not considering themselves as sadomasochistic; it is considered to be a part of BDSM if it is practiced cognizantly. The range of its individual characteristics is thereby wide.

Examples of mentally orientated practices are education games, during which the dominant requires certain forms of behavior from the submissive. Special forms include erotic roleplay like ageplay, in which a difference in age, either real or enacted, formulates the background; or petplay. Concerted deployed sexual rejection exercised on the partner can be an aspect of Dominance and Submission as well (see cuckoldry). The most established and probably most cliché set form of dominance and submission is dominance and slavedom. These can be administrated for the short duration of a session among otherwise-emancipated partners, but also can be integrated into everyday life indefinitely. In a few relationships, it leads as far as total submission of one partner in the truest sense of the phrase total power exchange. Compensating elements of the total dominance and submission are care and devotion complementing one another, thus facilitating stable relationships. The consensual submission of the sub is sometimes demonstrated to others by symbols indicating his/her belonging to the dom, such as wearing a collar, special tattoos, piercings, a very short haircut or a bald head. The strappado position as used in BDSM play. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Human animal roleplay (also called petplay, ponyplay, ponyism or pup-play) is a form of erotic sexual role-play where one or more of the participants takes on the role of a real or imaginary animal in character, including appropriate mannerisms and behavior, and sometimes a partner will act as... A cuckold is a married man whose wife has sex with other men. ... A BDSM-style collar that buckles in the neck. ... For other uses, see Tattoo (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Occasionally, actual "slave contracts" are set out in writing to record the formal consent of the parties to the power exchange, stating their common vision of the relationship dynamic. Such documents have not been recognised as being legally binding. Contracts that are contra bonos mores (contrary to public morals) are generally illegal, and such contracts can even be constitutionally prohibited. In Europe, such agreements may be contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights which grants a general freedom from "unhuman or degrading treatment". This right had been held to be absolute and no limitations or derogations are permitted by the Convention. Nevertheless, the mere existence of such purported contracts has resulted in banner headlines in yellow press publications, and uninformed third parties seeing such information out of context are periodically led to rejecting and condemning the relationships they describe. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This page lists direct English translations of common Latin phrases, such as veni vidi vici and et cetera. ... An illegal agreement, under the common law of contract, is one that the courts will not enforce because the purpose of the agreement is to achieve an illegal end. ... The European Convention on Human Rights (1950) was adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe† to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. ... â€œECHRâ€ redirects here. ... Yellow journalism is a type of journalism in which sensationalism triumphs over factual reporting. ...

Sadomasochism

Main Article: Sadomasochism From http://www. ... From http://www. ... Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ...

The term "Sadomasochism" is derived from the words "Sadism" and "Masochism" (see Etymology). In the context of consensual sexual activities, sadism and masochism are not strictly accurate terms; there is a significant difference from the medical or psychological usage of both terms. Sadomasochism refers to the physical aspects of BDSM. Sadism describes sexual pleasure derived by inflicting pain, degradation, or humiliation on another person. On the other hand, the masochist enjoys being bound, spanked or suffering within the consensual scenario. Sadomasochists do not enjoy causing or receiving pain in other situations (e.g. accidental injury, medical procedures). Discipline often incorporates sadomasochistic aspects. Sadomasochism is practiced in isolation relatively rarely, although certain practices BDSM can be performed solo, such as self-bondage and autoerotic asphyxia, but such practices can be dangerous resulting injury or death.^[28] Collars are a commonly used symbol of BDSM and can be ornamental or functional. ... Look up Pain in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Self-bondage is the practice of sexual bondage without a partner; that is to say, tying or otherwise restraining oneself for the purpose of sexual pleasure. ... Autoerotic asphyxiation, asphyxiophilia, or breath control play, is the practice of intentionally reducing the amount of oxygen to the brain during sexual stimulation in order to heighten the received pleasure from orgasm. ...

Physical aspects

On a physical level, BDSM is partly connected to the intentional infliction of physical pain, suffering and other intense sensations. BDSM practitioners often compare the effects induced by the resulting endorphins to the so-called "runner’s high" or to the afterglow of orgasm.^[29] The corresponding trance-like mental state is also known as "subspace" and is regularly described as very comforting. Some use the term "body stress" to describe this physiological sensation.^[30] This experience of Algolagnia is important, but is not the only motivation for many BDSM practitioners. The philosopher Edmund Burke defines this sensation of pleasure derived from pain by the word sublime.^[31] The regions of the brain that manage sexual stimuli and pain overlap, resulting in some individuals associating pain with sexual pleasure as the neurological reactions are intertwined. A minority of BDSM practitioners take part in sessions for which they do not receive any personal gratification. They enter such situations solely with the intention to allow their partners to fulfill their own needs and/or fetishes. Download high resolution version (1000x664, 95 KB)This picture was taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel digital camera on September 25, 2004, using an EF 35-80mm f/4-5. ... Download high resolution version (1000x664, 95 KB)This picture was taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel digital camera on September 25, 2004, using an EF 35-80mm f/4-5. ... For other uses, see Endorphin (disambiguation). ... An orgasm (sexual climax) is the conclusion of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, and may be experienced by both males and females. ... Trance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The psychological state of the submissive partner in a BDSM scene is sometimes described as subspace or sub space. ... Look up algolagnia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Edmund Burke (January 12, 1729[1] â€“ July 9, 1797) was an Anglo-Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher, who served for many years in the British House of Commons as a member of the Whig party. ... Two women in handcuffs and latex miniskirts and tops - Latex and PVC fetishism Wikinews has related news: Dr. Joseph Merlino on sexuality, insanity, Freud, fetishes and apathy Sexual fetishism is the sexual attraction for material and terrestrial objects while in reality the essence of the object is inanimate and sexless. ...

In some BDSM sessions, the Top exposes the Bottom to a wide range of sensual impressions, for example: pinching, biting, scratching with fingernails, spanking or the use of various objects such as crops, whips, liquid wax, icecubes, Wartenberg wheels, erotic electrostimulation or others.^[32] Fixation by handcuffs, ropes or chains may be used as well. The repertoire of possible "toys" is limited only by the imagination of both partners. To some extent, everyday items like clothes-pins, wooden spoons or plastic wrap are used as pervertibles.^[33] It is commonly considered that a pleasurable BDSM experience during a session is very strongly dependent upon the Top's competence and experience and the Bottom's physical and mental state at the time of the session. Trust and sexual arousal help the partners enter a shared mindset.^[34]^[35] Some BDSM practitioners compare related sensations with musical compositions and representation, in which single sensual impressions are the musical notes of the situation. From this point of view, different sensuous impressions are combined to create a total experience leaving a lasting impression. [1] This article is about the use of spanking as discipline. ... A crop, sometimes called a riding crop or hunting crop, is a rather short type of whip witrhout a crack, used in horseback riding, hence also known as a horsewhip. ... For other uses, see Whip (disambiguation). ... candle wax This page is about the substance. ... The IceCube Neutrino Detector is a neutrino telescope currently under construction at the South Pole. ... A Wartenberg wheel (also called a pinwheel or neurowheel) is a medical device for neurological use. ... Erotic electrostimulation (also known as E-stim or electrosex), is a human sexual practice involving the application of low current electricity to the body using a special apparatus (such as a TENS unit or Violet wand) for purposes of sexual stimulation. ... A pair of metal double-locking police handcuffs A woman cuffed with handcuffs and thumbcuffs Handcuffs are devices to secure two wrists close together. ... Coils of rope used for long-line fishing A rope (IPA: ) is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. ... A broad metal chain made of torus-shaped links. ... Wooden clothes-pin A clothes-pin (also C47, bullet, clothes peg, or just peg) is a fastener used to hang up clothes for drying, usually on a clothes line. ... A wooden spoon is a spoon, usually used in food preparation, that is made of wood. ... A roll of LDPE plastic wrap in a box. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

Relationship models

Play relations

Many BDSM practitioners regard the practice of BDSM in their sex life as sexual roleplaying and therefore speak of "Play" and "Playing". The execution of such play is termed a "Session", and the contents and the circumstances of the play are often referred to as a "Scene". The term "Play relations" is used as well, describing two different aspects: Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (3264 Ã— 2448 pixel, file size: 4. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (3264 Ã— 2448 pixel, file size: 4. ... Sexual roleplaying is a sexual behavior between two or more people in which they take on erotic roles to carry out a sexual fantasy. ...

First, the expression is used in usual emancipated relationships, in which BDSM is part of, or foreplay to, sexual activities. If several relationships with intense emotional connections exist over a longer time, then there can exist an overlap with the practice of polyamory. Second, the term "play relations" can describe relationships which are based exclusively on the occasional conjoint realization of sexual fantasies as a common goal and in which no further relationship exists. Polyamory (from Greek (, literally â€œmultipleâ€) and Latin (literally â€œloveâ€)) is the desire, practice, or acceptance of having more than one loving, intimate relationship at a time with the full knowledge and consent of everyone involved. ...

Common role models

Tops and Bottoms This article is about the erotic activity. ... This article is about the erotic activity. ...

In BDSM terminology the partner who has the active, i.e. controlling role in a session or in the entire relationship is described as "Top", a role that often involves inflicting pain, degradation or subjection. The partner referred to as "Bottom" or more frequently as Sub, exposes him- or herself voluntarily to those actions during the session and/or is the passive partner in the connection. Although the Top habitually is the dominant and the Bottom the submissive partner, it is not inevitably. In some cases the Top follows instructions, i.e. he "tops" the Bottom according to the Bottom's desires and in a way the Bottom expressly requires. A Top only having apparent control, while he in reality is conforming the instructions given by the Bottom, is labeled Service Top. Contrasting with the Service Top is the Dominant Top, controlling his submissive partner by using physical or psychological techniques during the session or in lifestyle. If desired the Top can even instruct the submissive partner to exercise temporary control. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

A similar distinction also may apply to Bottoms. At one end of the spectrum are those who are indifferent to, or even reject physical stimulations. At the other end of the range are Bottoms who enjoy physical and psychological stimulations but are not willing to be subordinate to the person who applies these. The Bottom is frequently the partner who specifies the basic conditions of the session and gives instructions, directly or indirectly, in the prelude to the session, while the Top often respects this guidance. Other Bottoms try to control their Top by provoking reactions or "misbehaving" to attract interest. Nevertheless a small, very puristic "school" exists within the BDSM community, which regards such "Topping from the Bottom" as incompatible with the standards of BDSM relations.

Switch In the field of sexuality, a switch is someone who can change from one sexual role to another. ...

Some BDSM practitioners "Switch", meaning they play either or both roles, Top or Bottom, depending on the actual session's setting. They may practice this within one specific session or take these different roles in different sessions with the same or different partners. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes a switch lives in a relationship with a partner of the same primary preference (for example, two Tops), so switching represents the only possibility of being able to fulfill all of his or her BDSM needs within the relationship. Some people change roles without regarding themselves as Switches, since they do it only very irregularly or only under certain circumstances.

Non-erotic

Contrasting such "play relationships" are relationships in which everyday life is clearly framed by the concept of BDSM even outside of sexual activities.^[36] The partners involved maintain in their daily life an appropriate balance of power and accordingly make aspects of BDSM a consistent part of their lifestyle. Here, BDSM cannot be designated a merely sexual phenomenon. The term "24/7 relationship" is derived from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Another term for such behavior is "D/s", derived from "Dominant/submissive". The dominant partner controls most aspects of the submissive's life. Particular areas of life such as work, family, or friends can be excluded from the D/s relationship and not be placed under control of the dominant partner. Some D/s relationships, however, cover all areas of life; such constellations are designated as a "Total Power Exchange" (TPE). In D/s, and especially in TPE relationships, changes in the balance of power (so-called "Switching") do not take place. TPE relationships probably represent the least common role behavior within the BDSM spectrum. Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1209 KB)Bondage demonstration at Folsom Street Fair. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1209 KB)Bondage demonstration at Folsom Street Fair. ... // Shibari Shibari, also referred to as Nawa Shibari, literally in japanese means to bind. The word shibari is a verb derived from the Japanese word shibaru which means to bind. The word shibaru refers to the textile industry and the weaving of cloth. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with 24/7 (BDSM). ...

Professional services

A professional dominatrix or professional dominant, often referred to within the culture as a "pro-domme", offers services encompassing the range of bondage, discipline, and dominance in exchange for money. Many dominatrices do not see themselves as prostitutes, since sexual intercourse between dominatrix and client usually is out of the question. However, in some cases, the sexual gratification or climax of the client may be permitted by other means.^[37] The term "Dominatrix" is little-used within the non-professional BDSM scene. A non-professional dominant woman is more commonly referred to as a "Domme" or "Femdom". Dommes may title themselves as "Lady", "Mistress" or "Madame", and require their submissives to address them in this fashion, to emphasize the shift of power. Far more seldom seen are the services of professional female "Slaves". A professional slave brooks her costumer's dominant behavior within negotiated limits. French dominatrix MaÃ®tresse FranÃ§oise. ... A professional dominant or professional dominatrix is a person who performs the dominant role in BDSM activities in exchange for money. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ...

Scene: subculture and public

Today, the BDSM culture exists in most western countries.^[38] This offers BDSM practitioners the opportunity to discuss BDSM relevant topics and problems with like-minded people. This culture is often viewed as a subcultures, mainly because BDSM is often still regarded as "ill", "bizarre" or "perverse" by a large segment of the public and the media. Many people hide their leaning from society since they are afraid of the incomprehension and of social exclusion. It is commonly known in the BDSM culture that there are practitioners living on all continents, but there is no documented evidence for many countries (due to restrictive laws and censorship motivated by politics or religion) except their presence in online BDSM communities and dating sites.^[39] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (3,264 Ã— 2,448 pixels, file size: 9. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (3,264 Ã— 2,448 pixels, file size: 9. ... A paddle is a tool, originally a propulsion implement for mixing or pushing against liquids, typically in order to propel a boat. ... In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a set of people with a set of behaviors and beliefs, culture, which could be distinct or hidden, that differentiate them from the larger culture to which they belong. ...

This scene appears particularly on the Internet, in publications, and in meetings such as SM parties, gatherings called munches, and erotic fairs. The annual Folsom Street Fair is the world's largest BDSM event.^[40] It has its roots in the gay leather movement. There are also conventions like Living in Leather, TESfest and Black Rose. North American cities that have large BDSM communities include New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, Minneapolis, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. European cities with large BDSM communities include London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg and Rome. Munch is the name of: Edvard Munch (1863â€“1944), a Norwegian expressionist painter and printmaker best known for his work The Scream Ernst Munch (1876â€“1946), a plant physiologist who proposed the Pressure Flow Hypothesis to explain the mechanism of phloem translocation John Munch, a fictional detective character played by... The Folsom Street Fair marks the end of Leather Pride Week in San Francisco, California Bondage demonstration at the 2003 Folsom Street Fair Partial suspension bondage demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2005. ... National Leather Association:International is a 501c 7 BDSM organization based in Blacklick, Ohio in the United States. ... TESFest is an annual convention sponsored by The Eulenspiegel Society, usually held in the spring or summer in the New York City area. ... Black Rose is a contemporary BDSM organization based in Washington, D.C.. It is a social group that hosts, among other things, educational classes revolving around BDSM activities, issues, and safety. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area - Total - Land - Water - % water 369. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 1,290. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... Houston redirects here. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders (R) Michael Aguirre Scott Peters Kevin... Dallas redirects here. ... This article is about the city in Minnesota. ... For other uses, see Winnipeg (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Vancouver (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... This article is about the capital of Germany. ... For other uses, see Amsterdam (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ... Cologne (German: , IPA: ; local dialect: KÃ¶lle ) is Germanys fourth-largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than... For other uses, see Hamburg (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ...

Symbols

BDSM- and fetish movements have spread widely in western societies' everyday life by different factors as avant-garde fashion, Rap, Hip-Hop, Heavy Metal, goth subculture and Science Fiction-TV series,^[41] and are often not consciously connected with their BDSM roots by many people. The use of Piercings is not scene typical anymore. While it was mainly bound to the Punk- and BDSM-subcultures in the 1990s, it has spread into wide parts of the western populations today. Image File history File links BDSM_logo. ... Image File history File links BDSM_logo. ... A work similar to Marcel Duchamps Fountain Avant garde (written avant-garde) is a French phrase, one of many French phrases used by English speakers. ... Such styles may change quickly, and fashion in the more colloquial sense refers to the latest version of these styles. ... Rap redirects here. ... Breakdance, an early form of hip hop dance, often involves battles, showing off skills without any physical contact with the adversaries. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... This article is about the subculture. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Body piercing is a form of body modification. ... The punk subculture is a subculture that is based around punk rock. ...

The Leather Pride flag is a symbol for the Leather subculture and also widely used within BDSM. In continental Europe the Ring of O is widespread among BDSM-Practitioners. The Triskelion, while quite common in the Anglo-Saxon communities, is less common in Europe. It has significantly higher degree of "signal impact" than the ring which is also common in Goth subculture and widely sold as bling jewelry. Leather Pride flag The Leather Pride Flag is a symbol for the BDSM subculture. ... For the elastic seal or gasket, see O-ring. ... The armoured triskelion on the flag of the Isle of Man Triskelion (or triskele, from Greek τρισκελης three-legged) is a symbol consisting of three bent human legs, or, more generally, three interlocked spirals, or any similar symbol with three protrusions exhibiting a symmetry of the cyclic group C3. ... This article is about the subculture. ...

Prejudices

Understanding of BDSM culture and practices remains intertwined with prejudices, clichés and stereotypes. Misunderstandings may arise from general lack of knowledge concerning sexuality and sexual practices as well as misconceptions on how one's personal life and public persona can vary greatly. For example, it is sometimes assumed that a submissive would prefer to experience pain and degradation in their everyday life, or conversely, that they would prefer to have exactly the opposite. There is no clear correlation between the position in everyday life and BDSM preferences. A further misunderstanding is that members of BDSM communities want only to be hurt or to inflict physical, psychological and mental pain, which diminishes and disparages the emotional and spiritual relationships that develop.^[42] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1181x2000, 981 KB) [edit] Beschreibung [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bondage (BDSM) ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1181x2000, 981 KB) [edit] Beschreibung [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bondage (BDSM) ... A zentai suit. ... europride02_001. ... Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For other uses, see Stereotype (disambiguation). ...

Another misconception is the idea of women generally being the dominant party in BDSM relationships. Quite often the picture of BDSM is reduced to the idea of crude corporal punishment, neglecting the broad spectrum of behaviors within the culture. Along with the whip-swinging dominatrix, the sadomasochist in full leather regalia is another common cliché. While overlaps between different kinds of fetishism can exist, there is no inevitable connection between BDSM and fetishisms (eg: Latex, pvc or leather). The frequent occurrence of such clothing can be partly explained by its function as a quasi-formalized dress code. The relative openness towards alternative lifestyles results in fetishisms being more substantially lived within the culture of BDSM than in other cultures. Two women in handcuffs and latex miniskirts and tops - Latex and PVC fetishism Wikinews has related news: Dr. Joseph Merlino on sexuality, insanity, Freud, fetishes and apathy Sexual fetishism is the sexual attraction for material and terrestrial objects while in reality the essence of the object is inanimate and sexless. ...

Since the term BDSM covers several different aspects and these occur with varying emphasis, the arising spectrum of individual interests and personalities is large and extremely diverse. Due to the lack of information in the total population and the reluctance with many to come out about matters of an extremely personal nature leads to situations in which actions and statements of individual BDSM practitioners are accredited to the community at large just as the larger LGBT community has been characterized by drag queens and other minority communities similarly mischaracterized. For other uses, see Coming out (disambiguation). ... The initialism LGBT also GLBT is in use (since the 1990s) to refer collectively to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. ... Drag artist Lypsinka. ...

At least in the western, industrialized countries and Japan, since the 1980s sadomasochists have begun to form information exchange and support groups to counter discriminatory images. This has happened independently in the United States and in several European countries. With the advent of the web, international cooperation has started to develop — for example Datenschlag is a joint effort of sadomasochists in the three major German-speaking countries, and the mailing list Schlagworte uses the model of a news agency to connect six countries. Some credit highly publicized events like Operation Spanner and the International leather contests with fostering international cooperation and collaboration. Datenschlag is a German language BDSM support and information site based on a private mailing list and a public website. ... German (called Deutsch in German; in German the term germanisch is equivalent to English Germanic), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and is one of the worlds major languages. ... Definition A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to organizations in the news trade: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. ... Operation Spanner was the name of an operation carried out by police in Manchester in the United Kingdom in 1987. ...

Coming out

Some people who feel attracted by the situations usually compiled under the term BDSM reach a point where they decide to come out of the closet. While LGBT people increasingly are coming out publicly, sadomasochists still keep themselves comparatively closeted. Even so, depending upon a survey's participants, about 5 to 25 percent of the US-American population show affinity to the subject.^[43]^[44] Other than a few artists, practically no celebrities are publicly known as sadomasochists. For other uses, see Coming out (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2496x1664, 2236 KB) Summary Company on Taiwan Pride 2005 2005-10-01 14:37:52 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Taiwan Pride ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2496x1664, 2236 KB) Summary Company on Taiwan Pride 2005 2005-10-01 14:37:52 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Taiwan Pride ... Front line of Gay Pride parade in Paris, France; June 2005 Gay pride or LGBT pride refers to a world wide movement and philosophy asserting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. ... This article is about the city. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1195 KB)Start of the Leather Contingent at the 2004 San Francisco Gay Pride Parade. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1195 KB)Start of the Leather Contingent at the 2004 San Francisco Gay Pride Parade. ... Drag queens on a float at San Francisco Pride 2005 Dykes on Bikes start the parade. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (722x916, 109 KB) Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (722x916, 109 KB) Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ... Whipping on a post Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, whip) the human body. ... The Folsom Street Fair marks the end of Leather Pride Week in San Francisco, California Bondage demonstration at the 2003 Folsom Street Fair Partial suspension bondage demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2005. ... The initialism LGBT also GLBT is in use (since the 1990s) to refer collectively to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. ... This article is about sexual orientation. ...

Public knowledge of one's BDSM lifestyle can have devastating vocational and social effects (Persona non grata) for sadomasochists. The reason for this is seen by some authors as a mixture of lack of public educational advertising, lurid media coverage and substantial criticism from some feminists; the call by feminist activists for more rigid laws in Switzerland, for example, has threatened the legal status of sadomasochism. Within feminist circles there are two basic positions within the discussion: a sadophobe faction on the one side (see Alice Schwarzer) and a sex-positive on the other (see Samois); both of them can be traced back to the 1970s.^[45] Look up Persona non grata in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Feminists redirects here. ... Alice Schwarzer Alice Schwarzer (born December 3, 1942 in Wuppertal) is arguably the most prominent contemporary German feminist. ... In sexology, some people use the term sex-positive to describe an attitude towards human sexual behavior that regards sexual activities as fundamentally healthy and pleasurable, and encourages sexual pleasure and experimentation. ... SAMOIS was a lesbian-feminist BDSM organization based in San Francisco and founded in 1978, taking its name from the estate of Anne-Marie, a lesbian dominatrix in Story of O who pierces and brands O. Samois-sur-Seine is a village found south of Paris, near Fontainebleau. ...

Opponents of BDSM contend that it can lead to domestic violence.^[46] There is no scientific evidence for this theory, however. Many feminists have criticized BDSM for eroticizing power and violence, and for reinforcing misogyny. They argue that women who choose to engage in BDSM are making a choice that is ultimately bad for women.^[47] Sex-positive feminists argue that consensual BDSM activities are enjoyed by some women and validate the sexual inclinations of these women.^[48] They argue that feminists should not attack other women's sexual desires as being "anti-feminist", and that there is no connection between consensual kinky activities and sex crimes. While some radical feminists suggest connections between consensual BDSM scenes and non-consensual rape and sexual assault, sex-positive feminists may tend to find this insulting to women.^[49]^[50] Domestic disturbance redirects here. ... In Eva Prima Pandora, by Jean Cousin (Louvre Museum), Eve, the equivalent of Pandora embodies Original Sin Misogyny (pronounced ) is hatred or strong prejudice against women; an antonym of philogyny. ... Sex-positive feminism, sometimes known as pro-sex feminism, sex-radical feminism, or sexually liberal feminism, is a movement that was formed in the early 1980s. ... In BDSM, a scene is a complete encounter. ... Sexual assault is any physical contact of a sexual nature without voluntary consent. ...

It is often mentioned that in BDSM, roles are not fixed to gender, but personal preferences. Several studies on the correlation of BDSM pornography and the violence against women recapitulate that there is no correlation. Japan is a useful example: a country which has the lowest rate of sexual crimes of all industrialized nations while being well known for its comprehensive BDSM- and Bondage pornography (see Pornography in Japan).^[51] In 1991 a lateral survey came to the conclusion that between 1964 and 1984, despite the increase in amount and availability of sadomasochistic pornography in the US, Germany, Denmark and Sweden there is no correlation with the national number of rapes to be found.^[52] Gender in common usage refers to the sexual distinction between male and female. ... Japanese pornography has some unique features which separate it from pornography in other cultures, especially Western pornography. ...

Operation Spanner in the UK proves that BDSM practitioners still run the risk of being stigmatized as criminals. In 2003, the media coverage of Jack McGeorge showed that simply participating and working in BDSM support groups poses risks to one's job, even in countries where no law restricts it.^[53] Here a clear difference can be seen to the situation of homosexuals. The psychological strain appearing in some individual cases is normally neither articulated nor acknowledged in public. Nevertheless it leads to a difficult psychological situation in which the person concerned can be exposed to high levels of emotional stress.^[54] Operation Spanner was the name of an operation carried out by police in Manchester in the United Kingdom in 1987. ... Social stigma is severe social disapproval of personal characteristics or beliefs that are against cultural norms. ... Harvey John Jack McGeorge is an ex- Marine and was a munitions analyst for the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ...

In the stages of "self awareness" , he or she realizes their desires related to BDSM scenarios and/or decides to be open for such. Some authors call this internal coming-out. Two separate surveys on this topic independently came to the conclusion that 58 percent and 67 percent of the sample respectively, had realized their disposition before their 19th birthday. Other surveys on this topic show comparable results.^[55]^[56] Independent of age, coming-out can potentially result in a difficult life crisis, sometimes leading to thoughts or acts of suicide. While homosexuals have created support networks in the last decades, sadomasochistic support networks are just starting to develop in most countries. In German speaking countries they are only moderately more developed.^[57] The internet is the prime contact point for support groups today, allowing for local and international networking. In the US Kink Aware Professionals (KAP) a privately funded, non-profit service provides the community with referrals to psychotherapeutic, medical, and legal professionals who are knowledgeable about and sensitive to the BDSM, fetish, and leather community.^[58] In the USA and the UK, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and Sexual Freedom Coalition (SFC) have emerged to represent the interests of sadomasochists. The German Bundesvereinigung Sadomasochismus e.V. is committed to the same aim of providing information and driving press relations. In 1996 the website and mailing list Datenschlag went online in German and English providing the largest bibliography, as well as one of the most extensive historical collections of sources related to BDSM. For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ... Kink Aware Professionals (KAP) is a privately funded, non-profit service dedicated to providing the community with referrals to psychotherapeutic, medical, dental, complementary healing, and legal professionals who are knowledgeable about and sensitive to diverse expressions of sexuality: BDSM, Fetish, and the Leather Community. ... The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) is a pro-BDSM political lobby; founded in 1997, by a group under Susan Wright. ... The Sexual Freedom Coalition (SFC) is a pro-sex organisation and political pressure group based in the United Kingdom that challenges traditional sexual norms and traditional morality and encourages sexual revolution. ... Datenschlag is a German language BDSM support and information site based on a private mailing list and a public website. ... For Works Cited lists, see Citation. ...

Parties and clubs

BDSM parties are events on which BDSM practitioners and other similarly interested people meet in order to communicate, share experiences and knowledge, and to "play" in an erotic atmosphere. The parties show similarities with ones in the Dark Culture, being based on a more or less strictly enforced dress code; most often frivolous clothing made of latex, leather or lacquer (vinyl, PVC), latex, lycra etc., emphasizing the body's shape and the primary and secondary sexual characteristic. The requirement for such dress codes differ. While some events have none, others have a policy in order to create a more coherent atmosphere and to prevent voyeurs from taking part.^[59] Download high resolution version (684x996, 513 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (684x996, 513 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The St. ... The term dark culture (German Schwarze Szene, Portuguese cultura dark, Spanish cultura oscura), also called dark scene, is an umbrella term, used to describe a summary of parts of several subcultures. ... In BDSM, a dresscode is a policy of appropriate dressing for social events such as fetish clubs and play parties. ...

At these parties, BDSM can be publicly performed on a stage, or more privately in separate "dungeons".^[60] Sexual intercourse stands is usually not the center of the activities. A reason for the relatively fast spread of this kind of event is the opportunity to use a wide range of "playing equipment", which in most apartments or houses is unavailable. Slings, St. Andrews crosses (or similar restraining constructs), spanking benches, and punishing supports or cages are often made available. The problem of noise disturbance is also lessened at these events, while in the home setting many BDSM activities can be limited by this factor. In addition, such parties offer both exhibitionists and voyeurs a forum to indulge their inclinations without social approbation. In order to ensure the maximum safety and comfort for the participants certain standards of behavior have evolved, these include aspects of courtesy, privacy, respect and safewords among others.^[61] Today, BDSM parties are taking place in most of the larger cities in the western world. Slave Dani handcuffed and chained to a wall in a dungeon, wearing black PVC diapers only Slave Dani handcuffed, gagged and chained to a wall in a dungeon, wearing black PVC diapers only In BDSM (bondage/discipline, Dominance/submission, sadism/masochism) play, a dungeon is any space set aside for... An exhibitionist exposing himself at a soccer game. ... â€œVoyeurâ€ redirects here. ... Etiquette is the code that governs the expectations of social behavior, the conventional norm. ... Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to control the flow of information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively. ...

In some cities there are specialized BDSM clubs with a more or less structured program schedule, in which theme parties alternate with topic-free "play evenings", similar to the business concepts of more conventional nightclubs. Social control of these parties and/or in the clubs is far higher than in a normal discotheque. Consensuality in the public BDSM sessions is strictly enforced. Apart from commercial events there are also privately organized or only moderately profit-oriented parties, which are organized by BDSM groups and individuals. Minors are not allowed at parties or clubs. Laser lights illuminate the dance floor at a Gatecrasher dance music event in Sheffield, England A nightclub (or night club or club) is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. ... In law, the term minor (also infant or infancy) is used to refer to a person who is under the age in which one legally assumes adulthood and is legally granted rights afforded to adults in society. ...

Psychology

Incidence

BDSM is practiced in all social strata and is common in both heterosexual and homosexual men and women in varied occurrences and intensities.^[62]^[63] The spectrum ranges from couples with no connections to the subculture in their homes, without any awareness of the concept of BDSM, playing "tie-me-up-games", to public scenes on St. Andrew's crosses at large events, for example the Folsom-Fairs in several American and European cities. The percentage of women is significant higher than that of most behavior patterns formally considered to be paraphilias. Estimation on the overall percentage of BDSM related sexual behavior in the general population range from 5 to 25 percent, depending on the scientific objectives. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1173x2034, 386 KB)Ponygirl pulling a cart at Folsom Street Fair 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1173x2034, 386 KB)Ponygirl pulling a cart at Folsom Street Fair 2005. ... Petplay or pet play is a form of an erotic roleplay. ... Look up paraphilia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

A non-representative survey on the sexual behavior of American students published in 1997 and based on questionnaires had a response rate of about 8,9%. It results showed 15% of openly homosexual males, 21% of openly lesbian and female bisexual students, 11% of the male and 9% of the female heterosexual students committed to BDSM related fantasies.^[44] In all groups the level of practical BDSM experiences varied about 6%. Within the group of openly female bisexuals and lesbians the quote was significantly higher, at 21%. Independent of their sexual orientation, about 12% of all questioned students, 16% of the outed female homo- and bisexuals and 8% of the male heterosexuals articulated an interest in spanking. Experience with this sexual behavior was indicated by 30% of male heterosexuals, 33% of female bisexuals and lesbians, and 24% of the male homo- and bisexual men and female heterosexual women.^[44] Even if this study were not considered representative, other surveys indicate similar dimensions in a differing target groups.^[64]^[65]^[66] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 398 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (753 Ã— 1,134 pixels, file size: 227 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 398 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (753 Ã— 1,134 pixels, file size: 227 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Ring_der_o. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Ring_der_o. ... For the elastic seal or gasket, see O-ring. ...

In a representative study published in 1999 by the German Institut für rationale Psychologie, about two thirds of the interviewed women stated a desire to be at the mercy of their sexual partners from time to time. 69% admitted to fantasies dealing with sexual submissiveness, 42% stated interest in explicit BDSM techniques, 25% in Bondage.^[67] A 1976 study in the general U.S. population suggests three percent have had positive experiences with Bondage or master-slave role playing. Overall 12% of the interviewed females and 18% of the males were willing to try it.^[68]^[69] A 1990 Kinsey Institute report stated that 5% to 10% of Americans occasionally engage in sexual activities related to BDSM. 11% of men and 17% of women reported trying bondage.^[70]^[71] Some elements of BDSM have been popularized through increased media coverage since the middle 1990s. Thus both black leather clothing, sexual jewellery such as chains and dominance role play appear increasingly outside of BDSM contexts. The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, often shortened to Kinsey Institute, exists to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the fields of human sexuality, gender, and reproduction. The Institute was founded as the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University at Bloomington in 1947 by Alfred...

According to a 2005 survey of 317.000 people in 41 countries, about 20% of the surveyed people have at least once used masks, blindfolds or other bondage utilities, and 5% explicitly connected themselves with sadomasochism.^[72] In 2004, 19% mentioned spanking as one of their practices and 22% confirmed the use of blindfolds and/or handcuffs.^[73] Some BDSM-accessories, like the Ring of O, have been integrated into the jewelry collections of internationally well known designers like Calvin Klein. This article is about the corporation Calvin Klein Inc. ...

Psychological categorization

In the past many activities and fantasies related to BDSM were generally attributed to sadism or masochism and were regarded by psychiatrists as pathologic. Following the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) sadomasochism is categorized a "Disorder of sexual preference" (F65.5) and described as follows: "A preference for sexual activity which involves the infliction of pain or humiliation, or bondage. If the subject prefers to be the recipient of such stimulation this is called masochism; if the provider, sadism. Often an individual obtains sexual excitement from both sadistic and masochistic activities."^[74] Look up sadism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ... For other uses, see Psychiatrist (disambiguation). ... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) is a detailed description of known diseases and injuries. ...

With the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in 1994 new criteria of diagnosis were available describing BDSM clearly not as disorders of sexual preferences. They are now not regarded as illnesses in and of themselves. The DSM-IV asserts that "The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors" must "cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning" in order for sexual sadism or masochism to be considered a disorder. The manualls' latest edition (DSM-IV-TR) requires that the activity must be the sole means of sexual gratification for a period of six (6) months, and either cause "clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning" or involve a violation of "Consent" to be diagnosed as a paraphilia.^[75] Overlays of sexual preference disorders and the practice of BDSM practices can occur, however. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual published by the American Psychiatric Association The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a handbook for mental health professionals that lists different categories of mental disorder and the criteria for diagnosing them, according to the publishing organization the American Psychiatric Association. ... Look up sadism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In the criminal law, consent may be an excuse and prevent the defendant from incurring liability for what was done. ...

In Europe, an organization called ReviseF65 has worked towards this purpose in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).^[76] In 1995 as the first European Union country Denmark has completely removed sadomasochism from the it’s national classification of diseases.^[77] Recent surveys on the spread of BDSM fantasies and -practices show strong variations in the range of their results. Nevertheless it can be stated that the vast majority of the researchers assume 5 to 25 percent of the population showing sexual behavior related to joyfully experienced pain or dominance and submission. The population with related fantasies is considered even higher.^[78] ReviseF65 is a committee that is working to get sexual sadism, masochism, fetishism and transvestism abolished from the World Health Organizations list of psychiatric diagnoses, ICD. The committee is also involved in general work against discrimination and harassment of sadomasochists. ...

There are only a few studies researching the psychological aspects of BDSM using modern scientific standards. A pivotal survey on the subject was published by US-American psychotherapist Charles Moser in 1988 in the Journal of Social Work and Human Sexuality.^[54] His conclusion was that while there is a general lack of data on the psychological problems of BDSM practitioners, some fundamental results are obvious. He emphasizes that there is no evidence for the theory that BDSM has common symptoms or any common psychopathology; Clinical literature, though does not give a consistent picture of BDSM practitioners. Moser emphasizes that there is no evidence at all supporting the theory of BDSM practitioners having any special psychiatric problems or even problems based solely on their preferences.

Problems do sometimes occur in the area of self classification by the person concerned. During the phase of the "coming-out", self questioning related to one's own "normality" is quite common. According to Moser, the discovery of BDSM preferences can result in fear of the current non-BDSM relationship's destruction. This, combined with the fear of discrimination in everyday life, leads in some cases to a double life which can be highly burdensome. At the same time, the denial of BDSM preferences can induce stress and dissatisfaction with one's own "vanilla"-lifestyle, feeding the apprehension of finding no partner. Moser states that BDSM practitioners having problems finding BDSM partners would probably have problems in finding a non-BDSM partner as well. The wish to remove BDSM preferences is another possible reason for psychological problems since it is not possible in most cases. Finally, the scientist states that BDSM practitioners seldom commit violent crimes. From his point of view, crimes of BDSM practitioners usually have no connection with the BDSM components existing in their life. Moser's study comes to the conclusion that there is no scientific evidence, which could give reason to refuse members of this group work- or safety certificates, adoption possibilities, custody or other social rights or privileges. The Swiss psychoanalyst Fritz Morgenthaler shares a similar perspective in his book, Homosexuality, Heterosexuality, Perversion (1988). He states that possible problems result not necessarily from the non-normative behavior, but in most cases primarily from the real or feared reactions of the social environment towards the own preferences.^[79] In 1940 psychoanalyst Theodor Reik reached implicitly the same conclusion in his standard work Aus Leiden Freuden. Masochismus und Gesellschaft.^[80] Theodor Reik (1888-1969) was a prominent psychoanalyst who trained as one of Freuds first students in Vienna, Austria. ...

History

Origins

The historical origins of BDSM are obscure. During the 9th century BC, ritual flagellations were performed in Artemis Orthia, one of the most important religious areas of ancient Sparta, where the Cult of Orthia, a preolympic religion, was practiced. Here ritual flagellation called diamastigosis took place on a regular basis. One of the oldest graphical proofs of sadomasochistic activities is found in an Etruscan burial site in Tarquinia. Inside the Tomba della Fustigazione (Flogging grave), in the latter 6th century b.c., two men are portrayed flagellating a woman with a cane and a hand during an erotic situation.^[81]^[82] Another reference related to flagellation is to be found in the 6th book of the Satires of the ancient Roman Poet Juvenal (1st - 2nd century ad),^[83]^[84] further reference can be found in The Satyricon of Petronius where a delinquent is whipped for sexual arousal.^[85] Anecdotal narratives related to humans who have had themselves voluntary bound, flagellated or whipped as a substitute for sex or as part of foreplay reach back to the 3rd and 4th century. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 Ã— 1200 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 Ã— 1200 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 448 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (507 Ã— 679 pixel, file size: 139 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to de. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 448 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (507 Ã— 679 pixel, file size: 139 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to de. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 423 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolution (500 Ã— 708 pixel, file size: 75 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) X Fanny whips Mr. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 423 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolution (500 Ã— 708 pixel, file size: 75 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) X Fanny whips Mr. ... Illustration by Ã‰douard-Henri Avril Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, also known as Fanny Hill, is a novel by John Cleland. ... Ã‰douard-Henri Avril drawing depicting the life of Sappho Ã‰douard-Henri Avril (21 May 1843 in Algiers â€“ 1928 in Le Raincy) was a French painter and commercial artist. ... Image File history File links Leather,_Latex,_and_BDSM_pride. ... Image File history File links Leather,_Latex,_and_BDSM_pride. ... Leather Pride flag The Leather Pride Flag is a symbol for the BDSM subculture. ... (10th century BC - 9th century BC - 8th century BC - other centuries) (900s BC - 890s BC - 880s BC - 870s BC - 860s BC - 850s BC - 840s BC - 830s BC - 820s BC - 810s BC - 800s BC - other decades) (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium AD) Events Kingdom of Kush (900 BC... Whipping on a post Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, whip) the human body. ... Orientation map for the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia was one of the most important religious sites in the Greek city of Sparta[1]. // The Sanctuary The cult of Orthia was common in the four villages originally constituting Sparta: Limnai, Pitana, Kynosoura and Mesoa. ... For modern day Sparta, see Sparti (municipality). ... The twelve gods of Olympus. ... The Etruscan civilization existed in Etruria and the Po valley in the northern part of what is now Italy, prior to the formation of the Roman Republic. ... Tarquinia, formerly Corneto and in Antiquity Tarquinii, is an ancient city in the province of Viterbo, Lazio, Italy. ... Woodcut of Juvenal from the Nuremberg Chronicle Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis, Anglicized as Juvenal, was a Roman satiric poet of the late 1st century and early 2nd century. ... This article is about the Roman author Petronius. ...

The Kama Sutra describes four different kinds of hitting during lovemaking, the allowed regions of the human body to target and different kinds of joyful "cries of pain" practiced by bottoms. The collection of historic texts related to sensuous experiences explicitly emphasizes that impact play, biting and pinching during sexual activities should only be performed consensually since some women do not consider such behavior to be joyful. From this perspective the Kama Sutra can be considered as one of the first written resources dealing with sadomasochistic activities and safety rules. Further texts with sadomasochistic connotation appear worldwide during the following centuries on a regular basis.^[86] For other uses, see Kama Sutra (disambiguation). ... In this flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004 the top is using an advanced double flogger technique. ...

There are anecdotal reports of people willingly being bound or whipped, as a prelude to or substitute for sex, during the fourteenth century. The medieval phenomenon of courtly love in all of its slavish devotion and ambivalence has been suggested by some writers to be a precursor of BDSM.^[87]^[88] Some sources claim that BDSM as a distinct form of sexual behavior originated at the beginning of the eighteenth century when Western civilization began medically and legally categorizing sexual behavior (see Etymology). There are reports of brothels specializing in flagellation as early as 1769, and John Cleland's novel Fanny Hill, published in 1749, mentions a flagellation scene.^[89] Other sources give a broader definition, citing BDSM-like behavior in earlier times and other cultures, such as the medieval flagellates and the physical ordeal rituals of some Native American societies.^[90] Court of Love in Provence in the 14th Century (after a manuscript in the BibliothÃ¨que Nationale, Paris). ... Collars are a commonly used symbol of BDSM and can be ornamental or functional. ... Illustration by Ã‰douard-Henri Avril Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, also known as Fanny Hill, is a novel by John Cleland. ... Trial by ordeal is a judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by subjecting them to a painful task. ... For other uses, see Native Americans (disambiguation). ...

Although the names of the Marquis de Sade and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch are attached to the terms sadism and masochism respectively, Sade's way of life does not meet modern BDSM standards of informed consent.^[91] BDSM ideas and imagery have existed on the fringes of Western culture throughout the twentieth century. Robert Bienvenu attributes the origins of modern BDSM to three sources, which he names as "European Fetish" (from 1928), "American Fetish" (from 1934), and "Gay Leather" (from 1950).^[92] Another source are the sexual games played in brothels, which go back into the nineteenth century if not earlier. Irving Klaw, during the 1950s and 1960s, produced some of the first commercial film and photography with a BDSM theme (most notably with Bettie Page) and published comics by the now-iconic bondage artists John Willie and Eric Stanton. Donatien Alphonse FranÃ§ois de Sade (Marquis de Sade) (June 2, 1740 â€“ December 2, 1814) (pronounced IPA: ) was a French aristocrat, french revolutionary and writer of philosophy-laden and often violent pornography. ... Leopold von Sacher-Masoch Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch (January 27, 1836 â€“ March 9, 1895), writer and journalist, was born in Lemberg, Austrian Empire (now Lviv, Ukraine). ... This article is about a recreational activity. ... A brothel, also known as a bordello or whorehouse, is an establishment specifically dedicated to prostitution, providing the prostitutes a place to meet and to have sex with the clients. ... Teaserama film poster Photographer Irving Klaw ran a mail-order business selling photographs and film of attractive women in bondage from the 1940s to the 1960s. ... Bettie Mae Page (though listed Betty on her birth certificate) born April 22, 1923 in Nashville, Tennessee, is a former American model who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. ... Book cover for The Adventures of Sweet Gwendoline John Alexander Scott Coutts (December 9, 1902 - August 5, 1962), better known as John Willie, was a pioneering fetish photographer and bondage artist. ... Book cover for The Art of Eric Stanton: For the Man Who Knows His Place Eric Stanton (September 30, 1926 - March 17, 1999 - born Ernest Stanzoni) was a 20th century bondage and fetish artist. ...

Stanton's model Bettie Page became at the same time one of the first successful models in the area of fetish photography and one of the most famous pin-up girls of American mainstream culture. Italian author and designer Guido Crepax was deeply influenced by him, coining the style and development of European adult comics in the second half of the 20th century. The artists Helmut Newton and Robert Mapplethorpe are the most prominent examples of the increasing use of BDSM-related motives in modern photography and the public discussions still resulting from this.^[93]^[94] Bettie Mae Page (though listed Betty on her birth certificate) born April 22, 1923 in Nashville, Tennessee, is a former American model who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. ... Pin-up photo of Ingrid Bergman for the March 16, 1945 issue of the U.S. Army magazine, Yank. ... Guido Crepax (born Guido Crepas, Milan, July 15, 1933 - July 31, 2003) was an Italian comics artist, who deeply influenced the European adult comics world in the second half of 20th century. ... Helmut Newton portrait on his gravestone. ... The cover of Patti Smiths first album, Horses, featured a Robert Mapplethorpe photo. ...

Leather movement

Much of the BDSM ethos can be traced back to the gay male leather culture, which formalized itself out of the group of men who were soldiers returning home after World War II (1939-1945).^[95] This subculture is epitomized by the Leatherman's Handbook by Larry Townsend, published in 1972, which essentially defined what was later called the "Old Guard leather" culture.^[96]^[97] This code emphasized strict formality and fixed roles (i.e. no switching), and did not include lesbian women or heterosexuals. In 1981, however, the publication of Coming to Power by lesbian-feminist group Samois led to a greater knowledge and acceptance of BDSM in the lesbian community.^[98] They got into conflict with fundamentalist part of the feminist movement which considers BDSM to be the base of misogyny and violent porn. The Leather Pride flag, which has become a symbol of the BDSM and fetish subculture. ... The Leather Pride flag, which has become a symbol of the BDSM and fetish subculture. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... old guard leather ... This article is about same-sex desire and sexuality among women. ... Coming to Power - Writing and graphics on Lesbian S/M (ISBN 0932870287) was a 1981 book edited by members of the lesbian/feminist S/M organisation SAMOIS. It reached a world-wide audience the following year when it was reprinted by Alyson Publications. ... SAMOIS was a lesbian-feminist BDSM organization based in San Francisco and founded in 1978, taking its name from the estate of Anne-Marie, a lesbian dominatrix in Story of O who pierces and brands O. Samois-sur-Seine is a village found south of Paris, near Fontainebleau. ...

Today the Leather Movement is generally seen as a part of the BDSM-culture instead as a development deriving from gay subculture, even if a huge part of the BDSM-subculture was gay in the past. In the 1990s the so called New Guard leather subculture evolved as a reaction to the Old Guard's restrictions. This new orientation embraced switching and started to integrate psychological aspects into their play and to diminish the old rigid distinction of roles and the exclusion of heterosexuals and women which was widely considered a basic principle of the Old Guard. Leather Pride flag Start of the Leather Contingent at the 2004 San Francisco Gay Pride Parade The leather culture typically includes both a style of dress and an affiliation with BDSM (Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, Sado/Masochism, also called SM) practice. ... The Leather Pride flag, which has become a symbol of the BDSM and fetish subculture. ...

Internet

In the mid-nineties, the Internet provided a way of finding people with specialized interests around the world as well as on a local level, and communicating with them anonymously.^[99]^[100]This brought about an explosion of interest and knowledge of BDSM, particularly on the usenet group alt.sex.bondage. When that group became too cluttered with spam, the focus moved to soc.subculture.bondage-bdsm. Usenet (USEr NETwork) is a global, decentralized, distributed Internet discussion system that evolved from a general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name. ... alt. ... A KMail folder full of spam emails collected over a few days. ...

In addition to traditional "brick and mortar" sex shops, which sell sex paraphernalia, there has also been an explosive growth of online adult toy companies that specialize in leather/latex gear and BDSM toys. Once a very niche market, there are now very few sex toy companies that do not offer some sort of BDSM or fetish gear in their catalog. Kinky elements seem to have worked their way into "vanilla" markets. The former niche expanded to an important pillar of the business with adult accessories.^[101] Today practically all suppliers of sex toys do offer items which originally found usage in the BDSM subculture. Padded handcuffs, latex- and leather garments, as well as more exotic items like soft whips for fondling and TENS for erotic electro stimulation can be found in catalog aiming on classical vanilla target groups, indicating that former boundaries increasingly seem to shift. A sex toy is a term for any object or device that is primarily used in facilitating human sexual pleasure. ... A sex toy is a term for any object or device that is primarily used in facilitating human sexual pleasure. ... Two women in handcuffs and latex miniskirts and tops - Latex and PVC fetishism Wikinews has related news: Dr. Joseph Merlino on sexuality, insanity, Freud, fetishes and apathy Sexual fetishism is the sexual attraction for material and terrestrial objects while in reality the essence of the object is inanimate and sexless. ... Vanilla sex or conventional sex is used to describe what a culture regards as standard or conventional sexual behaviour. ...

During the last years the Internet also provides a central platform for networking among individuals who are interested in the subject. Besides countless private and commercial choices there is an increasing number of local networks and support groups emerging. These groups often offer comprehensive background and health related information for people who have been unwillingly outed as well as contact lists with information on psychologists, physicians and lawyers who are familiar with BDSM related topics.^[102] A psychologist is an expert in psychology, the systematic investigation of the human body, including behavior, cognition, and affect. ... For other uses, see Doctor. ... For the fish called lawyer, see Burbot. ...

Etymology

The terms "Sadism" and "Masochism" are derived from the names of the Marquis de Sade and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, based on the content of the authors' works. In 1843 the Hungarian physician Heinrich Kaan published Psychopathia sexualis ("Psychopathy of Sex"), a writing in which he converts the sin conceptions of Christianity into medical diagnoses. With his work the originally theological terms "perversion", "aberration" and "deviation" became part of the scientific terminology for the first time. The German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft Ebing introduced the terms "Sadism" and "Masochism" into the medical terminology in his work Neue Forschungen auf dem Gebiet der Psychopathia sexualis ("New research in the area of Psychopathy of Sex") in 1890.^[103] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Sade_(van_Loo). ... Image File history File links Sade_(van_Loo). ... Donatien Alphonse FranÃ§ois de Sade (Marquis de Sade) (June 2, 1740 â€“ December 2, 1814) (pronounced IPA: ) was a French aristocrat, french revolutionary and writer of philosophy-laden and often violent pornography. ... Donatien Alphonse FranÃ§ois de Sade (Marquis de Sade) (June 2, 1740 â€“ December 2, 1814) (pronounced IPA: ) was a French aristocrat, french revolutionary and writer of philosophy-laden and often violent pornography. ... Leopold von Sacher-Masoch Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch (January 27, 1836 â€“ March 9, 1895), writer and journalist, was born in Lemberg, Austrian Empire (now Lviv, Ukraine). ... Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing with his wife Marie Luise Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing[1] (August 14, 1840 â€“ December 22, 1902) was an Austro-German psychiatrist who wrote Psychopathia Sexualis (1886), a famous study of sexual perversity, and remains well-known for his coinage of the term sadism (after...

In 1905 Sigmund Freud described "Sadism" and "Masochism" in his Drei Abhandlungen zur Sexualtheorie ("Three papers on Sexualtheory") as diseases developing from an incorrect development of the child psyche and laid the groundwork for the scientific perspective on the subject in the following decades. This lead to the first time use of the compound term Sado-Masochism (German "Sado-Masochismus")) by the Viennese Psychoanalytic Isidor Isaak Sadger in its work Über den sado-masochistischen Komplex ("Regarding the sadomasochistic complex") in 1913.^[104] Sigmund Freud (IPA: ), born Sigismund Schlomo Freud (May 6, 1856 â€“ September 23, 1939), was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. ... Isidor Isaak Sadger (1867 - December 1942) was a forensic doctor and psychoanalyst in Vienna. ...

In the past BDSM activists turned repeatedly against these conceptual models, originally deriving from singular historical figures and implying a clear pathological connotation. They argued that there is no common sense in attributing a phenomenon as complex as BDSM to two individual humans, as well one might speak of "Leonardism" instead of Homosexuality. The BDSM scene tried to distinguish themselves with the expression "B&D" for bondage and discipline from the sometimes pejorative connotations of the term "S&M". The abbreviation BDSM itself was probably coined in the early 1990s in the subculture connected with the Usenet newsgroup alt.sex.bondage. The earliest posting with the term which is now preserved in Google Groups dates from June 1991. Later the dominance and submission dimension was integrated into the connotation of BDSM, creating the multilevel acronym common today. Psychopathology is a term which refers to either the study of mental illness or mental distress, or the manifestation of behaviors and experiences which may be indicative of mental illness or psychological impairment. ... â€œDa Vinciâ€ redirects here. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... Usenet (USEr NETwork) is a global, decentralized, distributed Internet discussion system that evolved from a general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name. ... alt. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ...

Legal status

It is entirely dependent on the legal situation in individual countries whether the practice of BDSM has any criminal relevance or legal consequences. Criminalization of consensually implemented BDSM practices is usually not with explicit reference to BDSM, but results from the fact that such behavior as spanking or cuffing someone could be considered a breach of personal rights, which in principle constitutes a criminal offense. In Germany, The Netherlands, Japan and Scandinavia, such behavior is legal in principle. In Austria the legal status is not clear, while in Switzerland some BDSM practices can be considered criminal. Spectacular incidents like the US-American scandal of People v. Jovanovic and the British Operation Spanner demonstrate the degree to which difficult grey areas can pose a problem for the individuals and authorities involved. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (573x844, 123 KB) Description: Photomodel Ina bound with metal bondage cuffs to chains. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (573x844, 123 KB) Description: Photomodel Ina bound with metal bondage cuffs to chains. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Gags_bit_01. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Gags_bit_01. ... For other uses, see Gag (disambiguation). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 674 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2100 Ã— 1868 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 674 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2100 Ã— 1868 pixel, file size: 2. ... Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy - Queen Beatrix - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War - Declared July 26, 1581 - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... People v. ... Operation Spanner was the name of an operation carried out by police in Manchester in the United Kingdom in 1987. ...

Germany

The practice of BDSM is not generally penalized in Germany if it is conducted with the mutual consent of the partners involved.

The following sections of the criminal code may be relevant in certain instances for BDSM practices:

In order to fulfill the charge of coercion, the use of violence or the threat of a "severe mistreatment" must involve an endangerment to life and limb. In cases where the continued application of the treatment could be ended through the use of a safeword, neither coercion nor sexual coercion may be charged. In the case of charges of sexual abuse of people incapable of resistance, similar principles apply. In this case, taking advantage of a person's inability to resist in order to perform sexual acts on that person is considered punishable. The potential use of the safeword is considered to be sufficient possibility for resistance, since this would lead to the cessation of the act, and so a true inability to resist is not considered to be in effect. The charge of insult (slander) can only be prosecuted if the defamed person chooses to press charges, according to §194. False imprisonment can be charged if the victim--when applying an objective view--can be considered to be impaired in his or her rights of free movement. Sexual assault is any physical contact of a sexual nature without voluntary consent. ... Bad Touch redirects here. ... An insult is a statement or action which affronts or demeans someone. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... False imprisonment is a tort, and possibly a crime, wherein a person is intentionally confined without legal authority. ... For other uses, see Coercion (disambiguation). ...

According to §228 of the German criminal code, a person inflicting a bodily injury on another person with that person's permission violates the law only in cases in which the deed can be considered to have violated good morals in spite of permission having been given. On 26 May 2004, the Criminal Panel #2 of the Bundesgerichtshof (German Federal Court) ruled that sado-masochistically motivated physical injuries are not per se indecent and thus subject to §228.^[105] Still, this ruling makes the question of indecency dependent on the degree to which the bodily injury might be likely to impair the health of the receiving party. According to the BGH, the line of indecency is definitively crossed when "under an objectively prescient consideration of all relevant circumstances the party granting consent could be brought into concrete danger of death by the act of bodily injury." In its ruling, the court overturned a verdict by the Provincial Court of Kassel, according to which a man who had choked his partner and thereby involuntarily strangled her, had been sentenced to probation for negligent manslaughter. The court had rejected a conviction on charges of bodily injury leading to death on the grounds that the victim had, in its opinion, consented to the act. Following cases in which sado-masochistic practices had been repeatedly used as pressure tactics against former partners in custody cases, the Appeals Court of Hamm ruled in February of 2006 that sexual inclinations toward sado-masochism are no indication of a lack of capabilities for successful childraising.^[106] The Bundesgerichtshof or BGH (German for federal court) is the highest Germany for civil and criminal lawsuits. ... A dictionary definition of Indecent not conforming with accepted standards of behaviour or morality. ... Map of Germany showing Hamm Hamm is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ...

Great Britain

British law does not recognize the possibility of consenting to bodily injury. Such acts are illegal, even between consenting adults, and these laws are enforced.^[107] This leads to the situation that, while Great Britain and especially London are world centers of the closely-related fetish scene, there are only very private events for the BDSM scene which are in no way comparable to the German "Play party" scene.

Following Operation Spanner the European Court of Human Rights ruled in January of 1999 in Laskey, Jaggard and Brown v. United Kingdom that no violation of Article 8 occurred because the amount of physical or psychological harm that the law allows between any two people, even consenting adults, is to be determined by the State the individuals live in, as it is the State's responsibility to balance the concerns of public health and well-being with the amount of control a State should be allowed to exercise over its citizens. In the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill 2007, the British Government cited the Spanner case as justification for criminalizing images of consensual acts, as part of its proposed criminalization of possession of "extreme pornography".^[108] European Court of Human Rights building in Strasbourg The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), often referred to informally as the Strasbourg Court, was created to systematise the hearing of human rights complaints against States Parties to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by... Laskey, Jaggard and Brown v United Kingdom is a case that was argued before the European Court of Human Rights in January of 1999, which ruled that no violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights occurred. ... â€œECHRâ€ redirects here. ... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ... Public health is the study and practice of addressing threats to the health of a community. ... Extreme Pornography is a term introduced by the UK Government to refer to pornography depicting acts of serious violence, necrophilia or bestiality. ...

Italy

For Italian law, BDSM is right on the border between crime and legality, and everything lies in the interpretation of the Code by the judge. This concept is that anyone willingly causing "injury" to another person is to be punished. In this context, though, "injury" is legally defined as "anything causing a condition of illness", and "illness" is ill-defined itself in two different legal ways. The first is "any anatomical or functional alteration of the organism" (thus technically including little scratches and bruises too); The second is "a significant worsening of a previous condition relevant to organic and relational processes, requiring any kind of therapy". This makes somewhat risky to play with someone, as later the "victim" might call for foul play using any sort of little mark as evidence against the partner. Also, any injury requiring over 20 days of medical care must be denounced by the professional medic who discovers it, leading to automatic indictment of the person who caused it. BDSM play between nonconsenting adults or minors or in public is of course punished according to "normal" laws.^[109]

Austria

§90 of the criminal code declares bodily injury (§§ 83, 84) or the endangerment of physical security (§89) to not be subject to penalty in cases in which the "victim" has consented and the injury or endangerment does not offend moral sensibilities. Case law from the Austrian Supreme Court has consistently shown that bodily injury is only offensive to moral sensibilities (and thus punishable) when a "serious injury" (meaning a damage to health or an employment disability lasting more than 24 days) or the "death" of the "victim" results. A light injury is considered generally permissible when the "victim" has consented to it. In cases of threats to bodily well-being, the standard depends on the probability that an injury will actually occur. If serious injury or even death would be a likely result of a threat being carried out, then even the threat itself is considered punishable.^{[citation needed]}

Switzerland

The ... years. Certain practices, however, require granting consent to light injuries and thus are only allowed for those over 18. Since Articles 135 and 197 of the Swiss Criminal Code were tightened, on 1 April 2002, ownership of "objects or demonstrations [...] which depict sexual acts with violent content" is punishable. This law amounts to a general criminalization of sado-masochists, since nearly every sado-masochist will have some kind of media which fulfill these criteria. Critics also object to the wording of the law, which puts sado-masochists in the same category as pedophiles and pederasts.^[110]^[111] is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Not to be confused with Ephebophilia. ... Pederasty or paederasty (literally boy-love, see Etymology below) refers to an intimate or erotic relationship between an adolescent boy and an adult male outside his immediate family. ...

Contents

Fundamentals

Safety

Aspects

Bondage/Discipline

Dominance and submission

Sadomasochism

Physical aspects

Relationship models

Play relations

Common role models

Non-erotic

Professional services

Scene: subculture and public

Symbols

Prejudices

Coming out

Parties and clubs

Psychology

Incidence

Psychological categorization

History

Origins

Leather movement

Internet

Etymology

Legal status

Germany

Great Britain

Italy

Austria

Switzerland

See also

References

Further reading

External links

Contents

Fundamentals GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Safety

Aspects

Bondage/Discipline

Dominance and submission

Sadomasochism

Physical aspects

Relationship models

Play relations

Common role models

Non-erotic

Professional services

Scene: subculture and public

Symbols

Prejudices

Coming out

Parties and clubs

Psychology

Incidence

Psychological categorization

History

Origins

Leather movement

Internet

Etymology

Legal status

Germany

Great Britain

Italy

Austria

Switzerland

See also

References

Further reading

External links

Fundamentals