"Everything is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power": A thematic analysis of women’s submissive experiences in the dominant-submissive dynamic.
(2021) SIMV21 20211Graduate School
Master of Science in Social Studies of Gender
- Abstract
- In majority of academic literature related to BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and sadism-masochism) the focus is often centred on men and their experiences within the community. The limited focus on women and their motivations to engage in BDSM dynamics has been a driving force in this thesis. Therefore, this research aims to address this gap and explore female BDSM practitioners' experiences with submission in the dominant-submissive dynamic. In this study, I analyse what motivates participants and the type of environment they need to engage in submission; their navigation of feminism within BDSM and their understanding of stigma as BDSM practitioners and how this can be challenged. In order to do this, semi-structured... (More)
- In majority of academic literature related to BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and sadism-masochism) the focus is often centred on men and their experiences within the community. The limited focus on women and their motivations to engage in BDSM dynamics has been a driving force in this thesis. Therefore, this research aims to address this gap and explore female BDSM practitioners' experiences with submission in the dominant-submissive dynamic. In this study, I analyse what motivates participants and the type of environment they need to engage in submission; their navigation of feminism within BDSM and their understanding of stigma as BDSM practitioners and how this can be challenged. In order to do this, semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with nine women, aged 22-30, based in the UK with experience as a submissive in the dominant-submissive dynamic. Analysis of my respondents demonstrated that trust and negotiation were foundational factors participants needed in order to engage in submission. These elements manifest in participants' engagement in the dominant-submissive power exchange alongside feminist tension as they feel their dynamic is mutually beneficial, healthy, and consensual. Discomfort around talking about sex and more deviant forms of sex like BDSM was addressed with the suggestion community and education are key to challenging social stigma found with BDSM. The results indicate that my participants took careful consideration before engaging in submission and prefaced their play on established principles, trust and communication were two themes that arose throughout participants' reflections as well as the personal gratification and satisfaction they feel with engaging in this power dynamic. This research is not to offer generalised conclusions considering my sample size, the focus is rather to offer insight into my nine participants experiences as individuals rather than a collective. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9053278
- author
- Ademokun, Olawumi LU
- supervisor
-
- Bo Isenberg LU
- organization
- course
- SIMV21 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- BDSM, dominance, submission, stigma, power, pleasure, sex
- language
- English
- id
- 9053278
- date added to LUP
- 2021-06-16 10:32:36
- date last changed
- 2021-06-16 10:32:36
@misc{9053278,
abstract = {{In majority of academic literature related to BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and sadism-masochism) the focus is often centred on men and their experiences within the community. The limited focus on women and their motivations to engage in BDSM dynamics has been a driving force in this thesis. Therefore, this research aims to address this gap and explore female BDSM practitioners' experiences with submission in the dominant-submissive dynamic. In this study, I analyse what motivates participants and the type of environment they need to engage in submission; their navigation of feminism within BDSM and their understanding of stigma as BDSM practitioners and how this can be challenged. In order to do this, semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with nine women, aged 22-30, based in the UK with experience as a submissive in the dominant-submissive dynamic. Analysis of my respondents demonstrated that trust and negotiation were foundational factors participants needed in order to engage in submission. These elements manifest in participants' engagement in the dominant-submissive power exchange alongside feminist tension as they feel their dynamic is mutually beneficial, healthy, and consensual. Discomfort around talking about sex and more deviant forms of sex like BDSM was addressed with the suggestion community and education are key to challenging social stigma found with BDSM. The results indicate that my participants took careful consideration before engaging in submission and prefaced their play on established principles, trust and communication were two themes that arose throughout participants' reflections as well as the personal gratification and satisfaction they feel with engaging in this power dynamic. This research is not to offer generalised conclusions considering my sample size, the focus is rather to offer insight into my nine participants experiences as individuals rather than a collective.}},
author = {{Ademokun, Olawumi}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{"Everything is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power": A thematic analysis of women’s submissive experiences in the dominant-submissive dynamic.}},
year = {{2021}},
}