Three Major Categories of “BDSM” By Ryder,
dominantguide.com June
27th, 2016
When starting to look at all that falls under the “BDSM”
umbrella, one starts to notice that there are so many things that can be
included. It can be overwhelming when you realize that intricate rope art, ABDL
(adult baby/diaper lovers), Dominants and submissives, and people who long for
blood play all exist in the same world. It is really beautiful when you are
lucky enough to experience how the BDSM community gathers such a broad range of
interests and everybody gets along and supports one another. But one of the
struggles along the way, particularly for newcomers, is the thought that, “Well
wait up. I am not remotely into that, do I even belong here?” as well as the
dreaded “One True Way” issue. We’ve all seen it before. You read online that
one Dominant teaches their submissive positions to be commanded so that becomes
“the way.” Or the notion that all power exchange dynamics need to include
punishment. Or all submissives should be naturally masochistic. Or Dominants
can’t be bottoms.
This is ridiculous.
There is absolutely no one true way to “BDSM.”
I want to break down the three major categories of what BDSM
includes based on what my experience has been.
Three major categories. SM. Kinky sex. Power Exchange.
SM: Sadism is “the tendency to derive pleasure, especially
sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on
others.”Masochism is “the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual
gratification, from one’s own pain or humiliation.” Sado-masochisitc activity
is often referred to as a scene or play. It typically involves a designated Top
and bottom, indicating who is doing what. The
Top is the one in charge of
deciding what is happening in the scene. The bottom is the one on the receiving
end of the Top’s decisions. And in the definitions you can start to see how
varied SM can be. Deriving either pleasure or sexual gratification or both of
those, from any or all of pain or suffering or humiliation. Examples of SM
would involve anything falling under the pain (emotional, mental, or physical)
category. Impact play is one of the most common. Flogging, spanking, whipping,
paddling, caning, etc. Also humiliation scenes, interrogation, some bathroom
play if it causes pain. If it pleases somebody to be hurt in a way, or it
pleases somebody to hurt someone in a way, it is
included in the SM category.
Sex or power exchange is NOT a requirement.
Kinky Sex: If it is an “unconventional” sexual fetish
fantasy, or concept. If it turns you on sexually, it falls under kinky sex.
Being sexually attracted to xyz, being turned on by xyz, xyz getting your dick
hard or panties wet. Of course xyz can be any number of alternative sexual
preferences. The goal of this category is sexual gratification.
Pain or Power Exchange is NOT a requirement.
Power Exchange: Power Exchange is a relationship dynamic,
even if that “relationship” is only for the duration of a scene. It involves
two parties, one of them giving up agreed upon control and one taking said
control from the other person. Examples of this are the many designations of
“Dominance and submission,” including D/s itself, Master/slave,
Caregiver/little, etc.
Pain or kinky sex is NOT a requirement.
You don’t have to be into more than one of these to be
involved with the BDSM community. You do not have to be interested in all of
them. Just one. One tiny piece of any one of these categories is all it takes
to join in and include yourself. Sometimes the categories overlap for people.
Sometimes not.
You can be into pain but not want to have sex after a
spanking. Not want to give up control to your
Top during the scene. That’s
okay.
You can be turned on by sexualizing bimboification. You do
not have to want to control every aspect of your partners life. You do not have
to want to cause him/her pain. That’s okay.
You can be into control and want to live as Master/slave and
have a completely vanilla sex life and never pick up a paddle. That’s okay.
You can do rope to cause/feel pain. You can do rope because
it gets you wet. You can do rope to take control of another’s body. They’re all
okay.
Your BDSM is your BDSM. Don’t ever let anybody else define
it for you. Don’t ever believe that one way is the only way.
That said, there are some cornerstones of BDSM that all
practitioners should follow.
Everything under all three categories should be done
consensually on behalf of all parties involved.
Take time to have an open dialogue and proper negotiation
before you engage in any of these categories.
Be aware of the risks that are associated with your kink and
educate yourself on safety.
Other than that, the vast world of BDSM is your playground and
you have a lifetime to figure out these divisions and their significance in
your life. Take your time, trust your instincts, listen to other people’s kink
with an open mind and accepting heart, and do what feels good to you.
Not what you read somewhere is supposed to feel good.