9 Facts About the BDSM Lifestyle

BDSM is a lifestyle that involves power play between two or more people. It is often between a dominant and a submissive but there are a variety of different forms that BDSM takes on. The exact lifestyle is up to you. Many people are curious about BDSM and as such want to know more about it.

In this post, you will find some facts about BDSM that will hopefully pique your interest. It doesn't hurt to explore, so keep reading.

What does BDSM stand for?

BDSM stands for Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, and Sadism and Masochism. It is a catch all term for a large collection of sexual styles/practices. There are many more that fall into these categories.

There are both male and female dominants.

A popular myth for those outside the BDSM world is that BDSM is full of men who like to dominate women and take advantage of them. Sometimes this has lead to claims of BDSM being sexist. However, there are dominant personalities to be found among both men and women. And the percentages aren't that far from equal.

BDSM is natural.

Over the years many people have attempted to claim that BDSM is unnatural and some have gone as far as to say it is a sin. This is far from true. BDSM is a natural sexual style that is about following our existing tendencies to be dominant or submissive. Many psychologists actually believe it to be a good way to explore one's desires and enhance a relationship.

BDSM Is Not 50 Shades of Gray

50 Shades Of Gray is a fantasy movie. It has given the BDSM world a bad name while making some want to try things that are against the lifestyle. You are supposed to build trust when you are in a BDSM relationship. There is also always a no in BDSM, a safe word to tell your partner when they need to stop.

Sex isn't always a part of BDSM.

The term BDSM does not have the word sex in it anywhere. While the practices may be considered sexual in nature, sex isn't always involved. In fact, there are professional dominatrixes and dominants around the world who charge money to be dominant. Most of these people would never have sex, no matter how much you paid them.

There Are BDSM Dating Sites

Just like there are swingers communities and gay communities, there are BDSM communities. A large number of these communities are online dating sites where people can feel free of judgement. Like BDSMdatingonly, Alt.com, Fetlife, there are a lot of BDSM dating sites you can choose from. In fact, whole businesses have evolved from the BDSM world.

You can even find BDSM conventions.

Just As Many People Like BDSM

There are a lot of people who like vanilla sex but it might surprise you to hear that there are just as many people who enjoy BDSM over vanilla sex. While not every member of the community will have something as elaborate as a dungeon, that doesn't mean they don't enjoy it.

Similarly, just because someone likes BDSM does not mean that they don't enjoy vanilla sex.

An encounter with BDSM is known as a scene.

When you set up an encounter with BDSM, such as a hookup or even just having sex between partners, it is known as participating in a scene. Some say this evolves from when BDSM was discouraged in normal relationships and you had to pay a professional for a scene.

BDSM Can Incorporate Toys But It Doesn't Have To

Many people think of whips and chains when they think of BDSM. It is true that both of these things have been a part of the BDSM community for ages but they don't make the BDSM community what it is. Everyone in the community has their own preferences and that sometimes includes toys and sometimes doesn't.

BDSM is a large community that has followers worldwide. While it may still be shunned in some parts of the world, most of the world is open to its practice. It is a healthy sexual passtime that a lot of people can learn and grow from. Why don't you take a chance and try it with your partner?