Top, bottom and versatile
In human sexuality, the terms top, bottom, and versatile describe roles during sex positioning, particularly among gay and bisexual men. A top is a person who penetrates, a bottom is one who receives penetration, and a versatile engages in both activities. These terms may be elements of self-identity that indicate an individual's usual preference, but might also describe broader social, psychological, and/or sexual identities.
Top, bottom, and versatile are also used in BDSM to describe similar - but distinct - BDSM identities and practices.
See also [ Roles and Functions ]
Top
A top is a person who engages in the penetrative role in sexual intercourse, most often with their penis during anal sex. Top is also used as a verb meaning "to penetrate another." Top may also describe a broader personal identity involving dominance in a romantic and/or sexual relationship; however, this stipulation is not a requesite element of being a top.
Several related terms exist. A total top is one who tops exclusively. A power top is one noted for their great skill and/or aggressiveness in topping. A service top is one who tops under the direction of an eager bottom. A versatile top is one who prefers to top but who bottoms more than occasionally.
The terms penetrative partner or giver are synonyms of top created to describe the act of penetrating without implying non-egalitarian relations among participants.
Bottom
A bottom is an individual who receives penetration during intercourse, usually through the anus during anal sex. Bottom is also used as a verb meaning "to be penetrated by another." Bottom may also describe a wider social context of submission within a romantic and sexual relationship, although this element does not apply to all people who prefer to bottom.
A power bottom is someone who aggressively enjoys being the receptive partner. A versatile bottom is one who prefers to bottom but who tops more than occasionally. The term receiver or receptive partner may be preferred by some.
Versatile
Versatile, also known as switching, refers to a person who enjoys both topping and bottoming, or being dominant and submissive, and may alternate between the two in sexual situations. Flip-flop commonly describes switching from top to bottom bottom during one sexual encounter between two men.
Both participants penetrate the other and get penetrated.
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Top,_bottom_and_versatile ]
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