Editing BDSM (section)

=== Gender differences in research ===
{{See also|Feminist views on BDSM}}
Several recent studies have been conducted on the gender differences and personality traits of BDSM practitioners. Wismeijer and van Assen (2013) found that "the association of BDSM role and gender was strong and significant" with only 8% of women in the study being dominant compared to 75% being submissive.;<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Wismeijer | first1 = Andreas | last2 = van Assen | first2 = Marcel | year = 2013 | title = Psychological Characteristics of BDSM Practitioners | journal = The Journal of Sexual Medicine | volume = 10 | issue = #8| pages = 1943–1952 | doi = 10.1111/jsm.12192 | pmid = 23679066 }}</ref> Hébert and Weaver (2014) found that 9% of women in their study were dominant compared to 88% submissive;<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Hébert | first1 = Ali | last2 = Weaver | first2 = Angela | year = 2014 | title = An examination of personality characteristics associated with BDSM orientations | journal = The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality | volume = 24 | issue = #1| pages = 49–62 | doi = 10.3138/cjhs.2467 | s2cid = 143570286 }}</ref> Weierstall1 and Giebel (2017) likewise found a significant difference, with 19% of women in the study as dominant compared to 74% as submissive, and a study from Andrea Duarte Silva (2015) indicated that 61.7% of females who are active in BDSM expressed a preference for a submissive role, 25.7% consider themselves a switch, while 12.6% prefer the dominant role. In contrast, 46.6% of men prefer the submissive role, 24% consider themselves to be switches and 29.5% prefer the dominant role.<ref>{{cite thesis |title=Through Pain, More Gain? - A Survey into the Psychosocial Benefits of Sadomasochism |year=2015 |last1=Silva |first1=Andrea Duarte |pages=41 |url=https://www.duo.uio.no/handle/10852/48652 |access-date=26 February 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303222125/https://www.duo.uio.no/handle/10852/48652 |url-status=live }}</ref> They concluded that "men more often display an engagement in dominant practices, whereas females take on the submissive part. This result is inline with a recent study about mate preferences that has shown that women have a generally higher preference for a dominant partner than men do (Giebel, Moran, Schawohl, & Weierstall, 2015). Women also prefer dominant men, and even men who are aggressive, for a short-term relationship and for the purpose of sexual intercourse (Giebel, Weierstall, Schauer, & Elbert, 2013)".<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Weierstall | first1 = Roland | last2 = Giebel | first2 = Gilda | year = 2017 | title = The Sadomasochism Checklist: A Tool for the Assessment of Sadomasochistic Behavior | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 46 | issue = #3| pages = 735–745 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-016-0789-0 | pmid = 27488306 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Similarly, studies on sexual fantasy differences between men and women show the latter prefer submissive and passive fantasies over dominant and active ones, with rape and force being common.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Wilson | first1 = Glenn | year = 2010 | title = The Sex Fantasy Questionnaire: An update | journal = Sexual and Relationship Therapy | volume = 25 | issue = #1| pages = 68–72 | doi = 10.1080/14681990903505799 | s2cid = 144679434 }}</ref>

==== Gender differences in masochistic scripts ====
[[File:Female whipping two women.jpg|thumb|170px|A whipping scene where both dominant and submissives are female, Paris, 1930]]

One common belief of BDSM and [[Kink (sexuality)|kink]] is that women are more likely to take on masochistic roles than men. [[Roy Baumeister]] (2010) had more male masochists in his study than female, and fewer male dominants than female. The lack of statistical significance in these gender differences suggests that no assumptions should be made regarding gender and masochistic roles in BDSM. One explanation why we might think otherwise lies in our social and cultural ideals about [[femininity]]; masochism may emphasize certain stereotypically feminine elements through activities like [[Feminization (activity)|feminization]] of men and ultra-feminine clothing for women. But such tendencies of the submissive masochistic role should not be interpreted as a connection between it and the stereotypical female role—many masochistic scripts do not include any of these tendencies.<ref name="a4" >{{cite journal | last1 = Baumeister | first1 = R. F. | year = 1988 | title = Gender differences in masochistic scripts | journal = Journal of Sex Research | volume = 25 | issue = #4| pages = 478–499 | doi=10.1080/00224498809551477}}</ref>

Baumeister found that masochistic males experienced greater: severity of pain, frequency of humiliation (status-loss, degrading, oral), partner infidelity, active participation by other persons, and [[cross-dressing]]. Trends also suggested that male masochism included more bondage and oral sex than female (though the data was not significant). Female masochists, on the other hand, experienced greater: frequency in pain, pain as punishment for 'misdeeds' in the relationship context, display humiliation, genital intercourse, and presence of non-participating audiences. The exclusiveness of dominant males in a heterosexual relationship happens because, historically, men in power preferred multiple partners. Finally, Baumeister observes a contrast between the 'intense sensation' focus of male masochism to a more 'meaning and emotion' centred female masochistic script.<ref name="a4" />

Prior argues that although some of these women may appear to be engaging in traditional subordinate or submissive roles, BDSM allows women in both dominant and submissive roles to express and experience personal power through their sexual identities. In a study that she conducted in 2013, she found that the majority of the women she interviewed identified as bottom, [[Female submission|submissive]], captive, or slave/[[Sexual slavery (BDSM)|sex slave]]. In turn, Prior was able to answer whether or not these women found an incongruity between their sexual identities and feminist identity. Her research found that these women saw little to no incongruity, and in fact felt that their feminist identity supported identities of submissive and slave. For them, these are sexually and emotionally fulfilling roles and identities that, in some cases, feed other aspects of their lives. Prior contends that third wave feminism provides a space for women in BDSM communities to express their sexual identities fully, even when those identities seem counter-intuitive to the ideals of feminism. Furthermore, women who do identify as submissive, sexually or otherwise, find a space within BDSM where they can fully express themselves as integrated, well-balanced, and powerful women.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Prior|first1=Emily|title=Women's Perspectives of BDSM Power Exchange|journal=Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality|date=2013|volume=16|url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA365455101&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=c799ed9c2682c1c57c56ec8c16af7e4d|access-date=4 March 2015|archive-date=25 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125033351/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA365455101&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=c799ed9c2682c1c57c56ec8c16af7e4d&userGroupName=anon%7Ece315a29|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Women in S/M culture ====
Levitt, Moser, and Jamison's 1994 study provides a general, if outdated, description of characteristics of women in the sadomasochistic (S/M) subculture. They state that women in S/M tend to have higher education, become more aware of their desires as young adults, are less likely to be married than the general population. The researchers found the majority of females identified as heterosexual and submissive, a substantial minority were versatile—able to switch between dominant and submissive roles—and a smaller minority identified with the dominant role exclusively. Oral sex, bondage and master-slave script were among the most popular activities, while feces/watersports were the least popular.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Levitt | first1 = E. E. | last2 = Moser | first2 = C. | last3 = Jamison | first3 = K. V. | year = 1994 | title = The prevalence and some attributes of females in the sadomasochistic subculture: A second report | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 23 | issue = #4| pages = 465–473 | doi=10.1007/bf01541410 | pmid=7993186| s2cid = 28743901 }}</ref>