IC : BDSM Dictionary : Sadomasochism: history

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This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted by Informed Consent.

Sadomasochism

"Sadomasochism" is a combination of two sexual traits: sadism and masochism. Sadism is the sexual pleasure or gratification in the infliction of pain and suffering upon another person and derives from the name of the Marquis de Sade, an 18th century French writer of sadistic novels. Masochism, the sexual pleasure or gratification of having pain or suffering inflicted upon oneself, and in turn derives from name of a 19th century author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, who was best known for his novel "Venus in Furs" that described a masochistic relationship.

Within the fetish scene sadomasochism (S&M or SM) encompases a number of different sub categories (often overlapping):

• 24/7: The dominant and submissive live out their fantasies 24 hours a day seven days a week.
• BDSM: Bondage and discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism
• Bondage: Tying people up!
• CBT: Cock and ball torture
• Corporal punishment: Caning and spanking (usually in a school or institutional setting).
• Flogging: The use of Floggers
• Electrical play: Use of toys such as a TENS Unit or Violet Wand
• Edgeplay: SM play involving blood, permanent marking, knives, or fire, sometimes with a greater risk of danger.
• Foot worship: The submissive has a fetish for (usually) womens feet, legs, shoes and/or stockings.
• Needle play: Temporary piercing of the skin done with sterile needles of varying gauges.
• Pony play: The submissive takes on the role of a pony or horse.
• Power exchange: Where the submissive gives up control of what happens to him or her to the dominant.
• Roleplay: The dominant and submissive assume roles during the scene
• Sensation play: Any SM play they involves a sensation (usually painful) being inflicted on the sub.
• Switching: Where the participants exchange roles as dominant and submissive.
• Wax play: The Dominant drips hot wax on the sub.

Any SM based activity between two or more participants is know as a scene. If the scene takes place in a room designed for SM play it is called a dungeon. Dungeons can be extensively fitted out with SM equipment costing many thousands of pounds.

The wearing of fetish clothing and imagery is closely associated with the SM world, particularly in fetish clubs. However it would be wrong to say that everybody who is into SM also has a fetish for leather/rubber clothing, likewise many people who have a strong fetish for rubber or leather are not into sadomasochism.

See Also

Sadism

Sadist

What does S&M mean?

External Links

• Where to beat
• BDSM vs. Abuse
• The Eulenspiegel Society
• "ABC News" Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down: Pain for Pleasure
• SM vs. Abuse by the "National Coalition for Sexual Freedom "

(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the Sadomasochism article in Wipipedia.)

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