BDSM

Question 1

what does BDSM stand for?

Answer 1

Bondage; Dominance/Discipline; Submission/ Sadism; Masochism

Question 2

which account are you explaining?

Answer 2

BDSM as replicating Patriarchy

Question 3

how does BDSM replicate patriarchy? (including Hopkins 1994)

Answer 3

they involve the same things: sexual domination

BDSM embodies same values as heterosexual practices of domination and violent practices like rape (Hopkins)

inequality within BDSM - e.g. sub/dom dynamic; inflicting/receiving pain - replicated idea that women are objects to be used

Question 4

against the account: not replication, but simulation (including Califia 1994, 2000)

Answer 4

BDSM is fantasy; ‘scenes’ like part of a drama

‘A sadomasochist is well aware that a role adopted during a scene is not appropriate during other interactions’ (Califia)

e.g. wanting to be tied up (consensually) during sex is not actually wanting to be kidnapped

e.g. rollercoasters

Question 5

against the account: subs have real power, at least equal to that of doms

Answer 5

sub has power to set limits on what they would/wouldn’t like to happen in the scene (just as dom does)

this equality of power is definitely not one present in the patriarchal society that critics suggest BDSM is replicating

in non-BDSM patriarchal context, females often forced in some way to submit to males; in BDSM can choose for this to happen (under their control)

consent = central to beds - BDSM offers more positive model of consent than other sexual practices normalised within patriarchy

Question 6

against the account: ‘invisibilises’ (Banerjee et al) many dynamics within BDSM

Answer 6

in patriarchy, hetero PIV sex is the norm

BDSM is not phallocentric or genital-centric - BDSM challenges heteronormativity + resists patriarchal norms

the account focuses on only het female sub, male dom dynamics and incorrectly generalises the idea of patriarchy playing a role in these, to say patriarchy plays a role across all BDSM

Question 7

supporting the account: some truth; words and meanings; BUT

Answer 7

perhaps some truth in idea that SOME BDSM practices play out dynamics seen in patriarchy of female submission to men

could be the case that patriarchal socialisation shapes individuals’ desires - e.g. may like the use of slur words during sex which would be considered offensive in other contexts

words mean nothing without the context of how people use and experience them

so maybe when individual asks for ordinarily offensive words to be used in a sexual context, it’s a way to claim control over what would usually be used against them - would suggest patriarchy shapes desires and BDSM involves similar practice to happenings in patriarchy

BUT still account implies all BDSM practice is shaped by patriarchy (too broad a claim)

Question 8

conclusion

Answer 8

reject the account as hetero-normative

for an account of this kind to possibly redeem itself, it needs to narrow its claim to say SOME BDSM replicates patriarchy

and even then, use of ‘replicates’ needs distinction from ‘simulates’; and still fails to recognise power a (female) submissive can have during a scene with a male dominant

Question 9

in this essay I will…

Answer 9

s1: outline account of BDSM replicating patriarchy
s2: against the account (3 parts)
s3: supporting the account

Question 10

what are the three parts of your s2: against the account ?

Answer 10

1. not replication, but simulation
2. subs have real power
   3: ‘invsibilises’ other dynamics

Question 11

important names to remember (3)

Answer 11

Hopkins (1994)
Califia (1994, 2000)
Banerjee, Merchant, and Sharma (2018)

Question 12

title of Banerjee, Merchant, and Sharma’s paper

Answer 12

Kink and Feminism – Breaking the Binaries

Question 13

title of Hopkins’ paper

Answer 13

Rethinking Sadomasochism: Feminism, Interpretation, and Simulation