IC :
BDSM Dictionary : Slave : ICcode
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted by Informed Consent.
This is the version from 26 Jul 06, 2:39 AM. The full history of this entry will show any more recent versions.
[heading]Gender The term [b]slave[/b] is gender-independent: slaves can be male or female and of any [about=sexual orientation]sexual orientation[/about]. In English, if a slave's gender must be indicated, use a phrase like "female slave" or "male slave", or the common compound terms [about=slave-girl]slave-girl[/about] or [about=slave-boy]slave-boy[/about]. Some male slaves are 'sissified' - i.e., they prefer to be treated in a traditionally feminine manner. [heading]Being Owned [b]Slave[/b] is a term often used to conote a submissive or servile partner in a [about=Master/Slave]Master/Slave[/about] relationship. Such a person could also be a [about=masochist]masochist[/about] or "[about=Bottom (BDSM)]bottom[/about]" but this is not always the case. The slave has usually given the right for their [about=owner]owner[/about] to exercise authority over them in some sense, within a relationship that may extend to a full time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Connotatively it refers to a person who has surrendered their personal property and freedoms and become the property or chattel of their owner or [about=Master]Master[/about]. Strictly speaking, to be a slave, one must be owned but many people searching for an owner will call themselves "slave" as an indication of the position they are hoping to eventually have. It should be noted that the relationship is strictly [about=Informed consent]consensual[/about], and whether purely symbolic or due to a state of psychological [about=Enslavement]Enslavement[/about], no legal ownership is involved. [heading]Casual Usage and Variation Some people in a relationship enjoy the psychological impact of calling their partner "slave" or having their partner call them "slave". Such usage is not by itself an indication that they are a slave any more than calling a partner 'bitch' indicates that they are a female dog. Many [about=Online dating]matchmaking[/about] web sites will encourage the usage of the term 'slave' for someone who is currently single and looking for a partner. Strictly speaking, this is an indication that the person has the orientation of a slave and is interested in being enslaved, or in acting the role of slave and is not an indication that they are currently owned. The term "slave" is widely used, as it has a certain self-affirming weight. The difference between submissive and slave is the degree of submission. There is considerable debate over the exact definition of ""slave"". [heading]Contracts Some people draw up "[about=Contracts]slave contracts[/about]" that define the relationship, but these usually have no legal weight and are not intended to be used in court. After signing a slave contract, many people celebrate the commitment with a "[about=Collar]collaring[/about] ceremony", which can be simple or elaborate and friends are usually invited. The slave then wears a "[about=Collar]collar[/about]", which symbolizes their status. The collar may be an actual piece of neckwear, or may be a bracelet or other piece of jewelry that symbolizes their slavery. Some collars are not removed until the relationship is disolved, although some slaves have a "formal" and a "subdued" collar for work and [about=vanilla]vanilla[/about] situations. [heading]External Links [item] [url=http://www.enslavement.org.uk/soyouwant]So you want to be a slave: the Realities[/url] [item] [url=http://www.takeninhand.com/node/247]Could you be a slave, owned, property?[/url] [item] [url=http://instruct.uwo.ca/anthro/211/slavery.htm]Slavery: Remarks and Definitions[/url], a cultural look at slavery in general [item] [url=http://www.slaveregister.com/]www.slaveregister.com[/url] A website where you can register your ownership of a slave (needless to say this is consentual slavery). [heading]Personal Experiences [item][about=Slave - Personal Experiences]Slave - Personal Experiences[/about] [item]External : [url=http://www.albanypowerexchange.com/TPE/to_be_a_slave.htm]To be a slave[/url] [item]External : [url=http://www.takeninhand.com/node/787]My life, my choice[/url] [heading]See Also [item] [about=Slavery]Slavery[/about] [item] [about=BDSM Roles]BDSM Roles[/about] [item] [about=Sub]Sub[/about] [item] [about=Bottom (BDSM)]Bottom[/about] [item] [about=Submissive#noun]Submissive[/about] [item] [about=Contracts]Slave contracts[/about] [item] [about=Consensual-nonconsent]Consensual-nonconsent[/about] [item] [about=Domination and submission]Domination and submission[/about] [item] [about=Supplicant]Supplicant[/about] (This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the [url=http://www.londonfetishscene.com/wipi/index.php/Slave]Slave[/url] article in Wipipedia.)
This entry is published under the terms of the GFDL. People with profiles on Informed Consent can improve this entry: see the BDSM Dictionary help page for details.
