Roles and Functions (BDSM)

This article is part of the SM-201 Macropedia

This page was created to show how some of the various roles within BDSM interact. It should be noted that these words often have different meanings in various geographical areas; cultures; and even within personal contexts.

In some communities, the terms Dom and sub may be synonymous with top and bottom. Other people see Doms and sub as people who are more B&D oriented, while Top and Bottom are more SM oriented. While you may think you understand which definition is being used, it is advisable to ask all of the people involved.

It should also be noted that not all slaves or bottoms wear chains or a visible collar; nor is leather and/or latex de rigueur for the Master, Top or Dom.

---

Bottom

Main article: Bottom (BDSM)

(Verb) and (noun)

• An descriptor of action, as opposed to personality trait.
• This word was derived from the Gay community, indicating the submissive or receiving person in a specific scene.

(Also see "Service Bottom below)

Domina

Main article: Domina

(Noun)

• A female who engages in acts of domination, displays dominance and is the dominator in a D/S relationship.

Do-me Dom

• A dominant or top who is interested in having his/her needs met without regard to those of their partner

Dominant

Main article: Dominant

(Adjective) (Dom'i'nant)

• A personality trait
• The Dominant is the person in charge of a D&S relationship, which is usually defined as a superset of Master/slave relationships.
• It should be noted that in general usage, the word Dom is a short, gender non-specific replacement for the word Dominant.
• During the past few years, a new word, "Domme" (usually pronounced "doe-may'") has come on the scene to indicate a female Dominant.

Domination

Main article: Domination

(Verb) (Dom'i'na'tion - Pronunciation Key dm-nshn)

• Control or power over another or others.
• The exercise of such control or power.

Dominatrix

Main article: Dominatrix

(Noun)

• Not exactly the same meaning as Domina in that a dominatrix is a weakened version of a Domina. Dominatrix is more of a generic term with connotations simply of one who assumes a controlling position. The term 'Domina' implies true domination rather than mere control such as that which occurs in a top/bottom exchange.

"Domly Dom"

A derogatory term implying a Dom is highly inexperienced, and possibly defective in some fashion. "So where's your Domly Dom now?" or "The Magnificent, Omnipotent, Domly Dom" It can also be used to connote an affectation or exagerated role of dominance.

FemDom

Main article: FemDom

Noun

• Usually used to denote a person who works as a Dominatrix or professional "Female Dominant".

FemSub

Main article: Submissive

Noun

• Usually used to denote a submissive female

Humiliatrix

Main article: Humiliation

• A Dominatrix who specializes in humiliation

MaleDom

Main article: MaleDom

Noun

• Usually used to denote a dominant male

MaleSub

Noun

• Usually used to denote a submissive male

Master

or Mistress (Noun)

• A Master or Mistress is usually defined as the dominant person in a Master/slave relationship, usually defined as a full time D&S relationship.

Slave

(Noun) (Pronunciation Key slv)

• In the BDSM lifestyle, the submissive person in a Master/slave relationship
• One bound in servitude as the property of a person or household.

• One who is abjectly subservient to a specified person or influence: "I was still the slave of education and prejudice" (Edward Gibbon).
  
• One who works extremely hard.
  
• A machine or component controlled by another machine or component.

---

Authors note:

A slave's primary purpose in life is to serve the needs and desires of the Master.

• The slave relinquishes all control to the Master, because the slave knows the Master will care for the slave, in the same way he cares for other property owned.
• The "Prime Directive for Slaves" should be "To take care of the Master, and his property. Since you are also property, you are required to not allow anything to harm you!"

---

Switch

(Noun or Verb)

• Dom, Sub, Master and Slave are usually defined as full time roles. Someone who switches who plays both Dom and Sub roles, usually with different partners.

Submissive

(Sub'mis'sive - Pronunciation s&b-'mis-iv)

• adj: inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination; "submissive servants"; "a submissive reply"; "replacing troublemakers with more submissive people" [ant: domineering]
• adj: willing to submit without resistance to authority; deferent
• adj: abjectly submissive; characteristic of a slave or servant; "slavish devotion to her job ruled her life"; "a slavish yes-man to the party bosses"- S.H.Adams; "she has become submissive and subservient" [syn: slavish, subservient]
• noun: In BDSM, a submissive is the person who follows the orders of the Master, Dom or Mistress, Domme.
• adj: Submissive is a personality trait

Submission

(Noun) (Sub'mis'sion - Pronunciation key sb-mshn)

• The act of submitting to the power of another: Oppression that cannot be overcome, does not give rise to revolt but to submissionΓÇ¥ (Simone Weil).
• The state of having submitted. See Synonyms at surrender.
• The state of being submissive or compliant; meekness.

Service-oriented (sexuality)

• Service-oriented is a term commonly used in the BDSM community to refer to a specific relationship dynamic.

Service Bottom

(Noun)

• A Bottom who simply does whatever the "Top" or "Master" wants, without one's own needs being considered. There is no domination and submission in this type of exchange: it is simply physical acts being done for the sake of creating and receiving sensations.

Service Top

(Noun)

• A Top who simply does whatever the "bottom" or "submissive" wants, without one's own needs being considered. (See Service Bottom above)

Smart-assed Masochist (or SAM)

(Noun)

A derogotory description of a person who will intentionally antagonize a Sadist in the hope of receiving more pain, with quips like:

• "Can't you hit harder?"
• "Are you still back there?"
• "Is that all you got?"

Top

(Verb)

• Descriptor of action, as opposed to personality trait.
• indicating the dominant or controlling person is a specific scene. (This word was apparently derived from the Gay SM community.)

See also [ Capitalization ]

Jump to: Main Page • Micropedia • Macropedia • Icons • Time Line • History • Life Lessons • Links • Help
What links here • References and Sources • Contact info • Category:Root ⤴