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

This is the version from 25 Nov 10, 11:41 AM. The full history of this entry will show any more recent versions.

ICcode for "Submissive"

As an adjective,
"being" [about=submissive]submissive[/about] is wanting to or being
willing to submit to orders or wishes of another. 

[heading]Noun

In [about=BDSM]BDSM[/about], "a" [b]submissive[/b] refers to the person
who takes on the submissive role for the duration of a scene or is a
submissive partner within a [about=power exchange]power exchange
[/about]
relationship.  They are not necessarily submissive generally.

This term can be associated with being on the receiving end of
[about=bondage]bondage[/about], [about=discipline]discipline[/about] or
[about=sadism]sadism[/about] but need not necessarily be any of these.

The term [about=submissive]submissive[/about] as a noun is mostly
synonymous with [about=sub]sub[/about] but some people use it more
widely to denote anyone disposed to be submissive and would therefore
say that a submissive might be a [about=Bottom .BDSM.]bottom[/about], a
[about=sub]sub[/about] or a [about=slave]slave[/about].  Not all slaves
feel themselves to be submissive, however and not all bottoms are
submissive.

Note that it is not uncommon for two partners to switch roles from one
encounter to the other, or even during a [about=Scene]single
encounter[/about], depending on mood and preference. See
[about=switch]switch[/about].

[heading]Submissive behavior

A [b]submissive[/b] person submits of their own
[about=Informed consent]free will[/about] and seeks to submit to
another, or consents to
another's dominance. Submissives vary in how seriously they take their
position, training, and situation. Motivations for engaging in
submissive behaviour may include relief from responsibility, being the
object of attention and affection, gaining a sense of security, showing
off endurance, and working through issues of shame. Others simply enjoy
a 'natural' feeling when they are in the presence of their more
[about=Dominant]dominant[/about] partner. What are known as
[about=Service oriented]service-oriented[/about] submissive may also
have a deep seated desire to be "of use". Submissives also vary in the
extent to which they engage in [about=play]play[/about], in how often
they play, and even in whether they consider their role "play" at all.

Within a [about=Sadomasochism]S&M[/about]-only context particularly,
submissive is often considered synonymous with
[about=Bottom]bottom[/about] while others opine that a
[b]submissive[/b] is
specifically pursuing a [about=D/s]D/s[/about]
[about=power.exchange]power exchange[/about] as a key element, whereas 
a
'bottom' may
or may not be interested (or even willing) to engage in a power 
exchange
relationship.  Some have proposed the "pitcher" and "catcher" (borrowed
from American baseball terminology) as more neutral terminology, with 
the
"pitcher" delivering the sensation, the instruction, etc; and the
"catcher" receiving what is "pitched."


[heading]See also


[item] [about=BDSM Roles]BDSM Roles[/about]

[item] [about=Sub]Sub[/about]

[item] [about=Power exchange]Power exchange[/about]

[item] [about=Domination and submission]Domination and submission
[/about]

[item] [about=Supplicant]Supplicant[/about]


[heading]External Links


[item][url=http://www.takeninhand.com/node/524]Linguistically
submissive[/url]

[item][url=http://www.saroftreve.com/home/bdsm/submission.htm]
Submission, Service,
Slavery, Surrender[/url]




(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the
[url=http://www.londonfetishscene.com/wipi/index.php/Submissive]
Submissive[/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.