PAP0883 - Pleasure in the Body, Pain in the Soul: the Identity Construction in BDSM
INTRODUCTION
For my presentation I would like to share a knowledge renewal, or revival, inspired in my academic monography, developed for the purpose of obtaining the undergratuade level. The central theme of the research was BDSM, that is, bondage/Discipline, Domination/submission and Sadomasochism. These are erotic and sexual practices that (re)create situations of power and pain in the pursuit of pleasure. The size of the first letters of each word was intentionally written to express that the power equilibrium is not balanced. On one side, the masterful; on the other, the obedient. Yet, due to the demands of deep communication and understanding of each parts, BDSM is perhaps one of the most egalitarian worlds of power exercise. These terms are interchangeable, that is, there is a blend between all these possibilities.
OBJECTIVES
One of the main objectives, and given the lack of studies in this area, was to assess the evolution of BDSM until the aggregation into pathologized pratices and identities. My presentantion will focus on the paths that practitioners choose when managing their personal and grupal identities facing the discrimination which they are targets.Their sources of inspiration, their relations to the group, and the association of the BDSM with their other social roles will be taken into account. To this end, their interpretations about BDSM,about the ways they think society sees and treats them, and the ways they seem themselves, will be revealed.
Methodology
The initial contacts were made through a portuguese internet forum dedicated to BDSM. After, some observations were made on a weekly basis on a bar where the participants of that forum usually gathered. From there, it was possible to achieve a sample of 11 interviewees.
CONCLUSIONS
As expected, the identity management is highly conflituous. The consciousness of the discrimination they could be faced to leads them to occult or dissimulate any revealing signal. Discrete symbols are used to express the belonging to the group, but they are only recognizable by other members. Even participants that seem more secure and open about their choices, demonstrate some sort of difficulties to treat BDSM as another part of their identity. Coping strategies are created and shared between them, generating an individual and collective form of handling with the feelings of stigma.
Keywords: BDSM, Bondage, Discipline, Domination, Submission, Sadomasoquism, identity, sexuality, body