BDSM is different for different people.
Since their needs are different, the description of the people is different.
Some words are used to describe these
different people.
Terminology will vary from groups,
or even between different geographical locations. This article is here
to shed some light on these description but it is up to you to see if
it is appropriate for you.
In BDSM, we have four primary types
of "players":
1. The one who is in control is the
Top or Dominant.
For many, these two expressions mean
the same thing. But in some groups, a Dominant would be someone in a Domination/submission
realtionship compared to a Top who would just be the giver in a S&M scene.
2. The one who receives or is being
controlled is the submissive, or the bottom.
Again, for many, those two words are
interchangeble. In the same fashion, a submissive would be someone in
a relationship with a Dominant compared to a bottom who is the "receiver"
in a S&M scene.
It is interesting to notice that the
older S&M and "Domination" books refer more to Top and Bottom. The usage
of Dominant and submissive seems to be "newer".
Male Dominants are often refer to "Dom"
and females as "Domme"
3. Switch:
A switch is someone who "plays" both
sides of BDSM. Sometimes, they are the Top or Dominant and other times
they are bottom or submissive. In some groups, switches are frowned upon
and considered to be "not real". I remember a gentleman who was a Top
telling Catharine that he didn't believe in the existence of switch and
she was telling him: "Look at me, I am one!!!" Slave is used by some to
describe a submissive or bottom but the difference between a slave and
submissive is wide between groups.
Slave is used by some to describe a
submissive or bottom but the difference between a slave and submissive
is wide between groups.
4. Master (Mistress):
In the dictionary, master mean "the
owner of slave" and BDSM'ers use it in this aspect. Some believe that
a Master should only be one who is a specialist in a particular field
(a Master in whips for example).
As usual, you see that there are no
particular rules about the terms used in BDSM to describe players. Since
people's needs of BDSM is different, and since that the same word could
mean different things for different people, while talking with others,
don't be surprised if you hear conflicting terms. Just politely ask the
person to whom you are talking for clarification and don't jump quickly
to conclusions if you are not certain
|