ABSTRACT

Despite seemingly heightened curiosity in recent years among the general population, there is a reluctance among scholars to seriously explore consensual erotic practices generally falling under the broad umbrella of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism (BDSM). BDSM is typically performed by individuals, who after thorough negotiation and consent, control what will happen in a particular “scene,” and those who enjoy yielding to such control. People have long participated in the activities, dynamics, and relationships that people now refer to as BDSM. Despite scholars’ familiarity with Foucault’s classic documentation that science has largely taken over regulatory duties from religion concerning sexuality, modern sexuality scholars, for the most part, purposely continue to distance themselves from their topic, thus promoting the illusion of objectivity or neutrality. Despite tensions and challenges rooted in sex-negativity, the science of BDSM is shifting toward a much broader, multidisciplinary approach.