Power Exchange
BDSM play involves ‘Power and Dominance’, in particular ‘Power Exchanges’ in various forms. One person (the ‘Submissive’) willingly gives up some or all of his or her power and freedom to a dominant party (the ‘Dominant’) and this party accepts it for the purpose of sensual excitement.
Commonly, this is not a replacement for conventional sex but is considered to be an enhancement or expansion of current sexual activities.
The power exchange should always be negotiated. Before play, the participants should discuss their physical and psychological limitations, establish safe words (words that will signal the immediate end of the scene (see Safe Words)) and work out what activities they will engage in.
It is fair to say that some practitioners seriously engage in pain, physical restraint and servitude but there are degrees or levels that couples can participate in that do not necessarily reach any extremes.
These activities must be engaged in with the mutual consent of the participants and typically result in mutual enjoyment. |
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It should also be understood that BDSM activities do not necessarily include ‘sexual’ acts or sexual gratification. However, in many cases, this is a natural component of the scene and is simply used as more adventurous foreplay.
Some people simply get mental stimulation from being in someone’s control and do not achieve or seek sexual excitement. The rewards are what you want them to be and there are no predefined rules or boundaries that suggest what you should or should not get out of your participation.
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