View source for Sadomasochism

''Sadomasochism'' is a combination of two sexual traits: sadism and masochism. '''Sadism''' is the sexual pleasure or gratification in the infliction of pain and suffering upon another person and derives from the name of the [[Marquis de Sade]], an 18th century French writer of sadistic novels. '''Masochism''', the sexual pleasure or gratification of having pain or suffering inflicted upon oneself, and in turn derives from name of a 19th century author [[Leopold von Sacher-Masoch]], who was best known for his novel ''Venus in Furs'' that described a masochistic relationship.

Within the fetish scene sadomasochism (S&M or SM) encompases a number of different sub categories (often overlapping): 

*[[24/7]]: The dominant and submissive live out their fantasies 24 hours a day seven days a week.
*[[BDSM]]: Bondage and discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism
*[[Bondage]]: Tying people up!
*[[CBT]]: Cock and ball torture
*[[Corporal punishment]]: Caning and spanking (usually in a school or institutional setting).
*[[Flogging]]: The use of [[Floggers]]
*[[Electrical play]]: Use of toys such as a [[TENS Unit]] or [[Violet Wand]]
*[[Edgeplay]]: SM play involving blood, permanent marking, knives, or fire, sometimes with a greater risk of danger.
*[[Foot worship]]: The submissive has a fetish for (usually) womens feet, legs, shoes and/or stockings.
*[[Needle play]]: Temporary piercing of the skin done with sterile needles of varying gauges.
*[[Pony play]]: The submissive takes on the role of a pony or horse. 
*[[Power exchange]]: Where the submissive gives up control of what happens to him or her to the dominant.
*[[Roleplay]]: The dominant and submissive assume roles during the scene
*[[Sensation play]]: Any SM play they involves a sensation (usually painful) being inflicted on the sub.
*[[Switching]]: Where the participants exchange roles as dominant and submissive.
*[[Wax play]]: The Dominant drips hot wax on the sub.

Any SM based activity between two or more participants is know as a [[scene]]. If the scene takes place in a room designed for SM play it is called a [[dungeon]]. Dungeons can be extensively fitted out with [[SM equipment]] costing many thousands of pounds.

The wearing of [[fetish]] clothing and imagery is closely associated with the SM world, particularly in [[clubbing|fetish clubs]]. However it would be wrong to say that everybody who is into SM also has a fetish for leather/rubber clothing, likewise many people who have a strong fetish for rubber or leather are not into sadomasochism.

==External Links==

* [http://mcncirce.com/whereto.html Where to beat]
* [http://www.domsubfriends.com/library/bd-v-ab.shtml BDSM vs. Abuse]
* [http://www.tes.org The Eulenspiegel Society]

[[Category:BDSM]]