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You are here: Home / Trent's Thoughts / 30 Days of Kink — Day 20

30 Days of Kink — Day 20

August 22, 2013 By Trent Evans

Day 20: Talk about something within kink/bdsm that you’re curious about/don’t understand.

I’d like to talk about two different topics here — one I don’t understand, and one I’m curious about.

“Stop doing kink that way! You’re going to ruin everything!”

I’m probably going to step on some toes here, but one of the things I don’t understand with regard to kink is why a significant cohort of kink practitioners/proponents feel a need to lecture or instruct others on what the “proper” form of kink expression is.  Note that I’m not referring to people who talk about safety — it should go without saying that advocating safety is a good thing.

No, what I’m getting at is this idea that’s put forth that certain types of kink are beyond the pale, or that if anyone decides to engage in activity outside the protective confines of SSC or RACK then they have somehow gone off the reservation. Often it’s quite subtle, but I’m seeing it more and more online — and it baffles me. One of the best, most freeing aspects of kink is the basically subversive nature of it; in many ways, kink is a rebellion against the confines of vanilla sexuality or mores. I’m guessing that that very nature of kink is the source of at least some of its appeal.

There is an ongoing movement afoot to get kink entirely removed as a psychological disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (commonly referred to as the DSM). The most recent iteration, DSM-V, while not removing paraphilias as a disorder per se, has demoted the status of paraphilias from a full-blown disorder by applying a nebulous if/then equivocation to potential diagnosis: if the paraphilia causes distress then it is a disorder, otherwise, go about your perverted ways, you sickos!

I think this particular type of reevaluation is a good thing indeed, despite the gray areas that remain in APA treatment of kink. Those who’ve followed along with me know that I usually hesitate to deem the experiences of the LGBT community as analogous to those of the kink community (it’s difficult to deem anything as a clear analog to kink), but it is worth noting that the evolution of the treatment of the two respective communities by modern psychology seems to be following a somewhat similar trajectory. The bottom line, to me, is that things appear to be (slowly) moving in the right direction.

But what I’m seeing more and more often is this tendency to “normalize” (read: homogenize) kink in the popular culture. When I see instances of it, the tone often feels like a clumsy sort of kink sales roadshow; frequently it’s discussed in terms or ways that are “lighter” or interspersed with (or drowned in) nervous humor. Perhaps this is an effort to make the “lifestyle” less threatening to people out in the vanilla world? Or maybe it’s just that these kink normalizers simply want to help destigmatize kink? If so, their motives are laudable. However, an effort to destigmatize kink that results in a watering down of the things that make kink distinctive is ultimately (IMHO) self-defeating. Maybe I’m weird — okay, not much “maybe” about that — but I don’t want kink to be “normalized”. Life is full of enough guidelines, rules, and laws as it is, so the last thing I want is kink forced into some neat, tidy, sanitized box.

It’s possible (even likely) that I’m not seeing the “big picture” with this normalization of kink, but what I’ve seen thus far is … troubling. If there are any out there who’d like to explain to me why this brand of kink normalization is a great thing, I’d love to hear from you — either in the comments or privately via the contact form above. I’m genuinely baffled, so I’m open to being edumacated on this subject:)

Now, on to the “curious” topic.

I think it’s fairly clear where my own orientation within kink falls. No, Sheri, bat-shit crazy is not my orientation:) Where was I? Oh yes. Curious.

I am very curious about female switches. Always have been. I’m going to digress a little here, but I promise it will eventually steer back on topic. In fiction, I’m not particularly a fan of femdom where the Domme treats the male sub as a disgusting worm, with really heavy humiliation, and where she generally regards him with outright contempt. That doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with that particular kink though. It’s just not for me. YKINMKBTOK.

What does sometimes interest me, if it’s written well, is the depiction of “strong” male submissives in a more loving (though still strict) D/s dynamic with their Domme. Joey W Hill does this particularly well. I’m certainly not normally oriented toward the male sub mindset, but when depicted in that way, I can definitely see the motivation, feel how that dynamic might work for the couple. It’s something I have to be able to do with female subs when I write about them, so I think it’s valuable to be able to get into that headspace with a male sub too. This is where female switches come in.

They are comfortable in both roles, though in my (admittedly limited) interaction with real-life switches, I’ve noticed that they often seem to lean toward one side more than the other. What fascinates me about them is that they don’t see things in a binary way; they don’t feel either dominant or submissive, rather they seem to have a fluid sort of orientation that’s adaptable to the situation at hand. I actually admire them for being that comfortable with themselves that they aren’t threatened by embracing both halves of the D/s dynamic.

Even as I admire them, I’m curious as to how they actually do it. To be blunt, I would not feel comfortable in a male submissive role (I think I’d be constantly trying to take over and do shit my way), so it amazes me when other people can be both dominant and submissive, depending upon the needs or wants of the situation or relationship. I don’t know. I’m not 100% closed off to trying it — I’ll try just about anything once — but it’s definitely not natural for me:)

If there are any switches out there who’d like to chime in with how they’re able to do it, I’d definitely love to hear your take.

Until Day 21.

Trent

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Filed Under: Trent's Thoughts Tagged With: 30 Days of Kink, APA, baffled Trent, BDSM psychology, BDSM safety, D/s, destigmatizing kink, DSM-V, female submission, female switches, health, kink normalization, kink shaming, male submission, mental-health, paraphilias, trent's thoughts

About Trent Evans

Trent Evans is an independent author of BDSM erotic romance and erotica. Putting pen to paper since he was a wee lad, he decided to try to share some of the tales cooked up in his fevered imagination. Some readers might not be horrified. He tries to write stories that appeal to both women and men (wow, threading the needle), but will follow wherever the story takes him.

A long-time resident of the Pacific Northwest, the author believes that the high percentage of authors in the region (compared to the nation as a whole) is chiefly due to the fact that it’s so damned wet and miserable all the time there. They tend to use their long hours cooped up inside making up stories that depict things they’ll never see or experience – such as sunshine.

Comments

  1. Nikki Blue says

    August 22, 2013 at 11:54 am

    Okay, I found this fascinating. So much that I didn’t go back to bed after confusing people with deer while driving the teen to the bus stop at the asscrack of dawn.

    I identify as a switch who leans pretty hard towards dominant. I’m not into the whole femdom, latex, humiliation, and red lipstick thing, though. Personally, I think it’s a little on the dramatic side. And sometimes ridiculous. By they way, I’m not saying you are, but I have to agree with Sheri. Bat-shit crazy is totally an orientation. I have the ex-husband to prove it.

    Anyway, I switch with my boyfriend and the change is very fluid for us. Kind of a ‘go with the flow’ transition. Some may need more preparation to get into the necessary headspace, but this way works well for us. I guess you could say we feed off of the other.

    We don’t really play with pain much. He has a hard time hurting me, even though I can take a fair amount. I, on the other hand, could easily hurt him, but he’s no masochist.

    A lot of our switching revolves around anal play. He’s a huge ass worshipper. Not saying I have a huge ass, but you get my point. Also, bottoming will throw me headlong into submission and is usually last on the night’s sex menu because I need more aftercare than he does.

    We’re comfortable in both roles. I guess you could say the dynamic of our relationship is analtastic.

    • authortrentevans says

      August 23, 2013 at 12:39 am

      Yes. I suppose you do have a point on the bat-shit crazy; I must have forgotten (or blocked out) my own ex as I was writing that. Wakie wakie, Trent.

      So, it’s interesting that you brought up your boyfriend’s love of ass worship. I too love it — what’s NOT to love about a woman’s ass amirite? — but I do it in a dominant context. Maybe that sounds contradictory, but to me, enjoying every part and aspect of a woman’s ass is an expression of my possessiveness. Her ass is (literally) mine:)

      That probably made zero sense.

      I’m really glad you two are so comfortable together and can take on either role as the mood dictates — never a dull moment, I’d imagine.

      Thanks for stopping by, Nikki (and I LOVE your blog, btw).

      • Nikki Blue says

        August 23, 2013 at 8:27 pm

        Thank you, sugarbritches!

        I’ll be back.

        I totally sounded like Arnold Schwhat’shisname there. I swear.

  2. Sheri Savill says

    August 22, 2013 at 3:04 pm

    I’ll go on record (shock) as saying I don’t want kink “normalized” or homogenized either. I mean, big tent and all — cool, and welcome, here, have a donut and a coffee and sit the fuck down — but dayum Trent, when they make a hit TV show called “BDSM Anal-Slave- Wives of Beverly Hills,” well, “Enid, we may have to move!” (as Belushi said). And won’t kink, by definition, pretty much lose its raison d’être if it’s any more ‘mainstreamed’ than it’s already been … lately? Urghh. Hm. You probably already said that. OK, babbling time is over, leaving now …

    • authortrentevans says

      August 23, 2013 at 12:45 am

      If ever a show called “BDSM Anal-Slave Wives of Beverly Hills” makes it onto the air, then I will know I’ve died and gone to heaven. Or is that Hell? No matter, it would still be RAD television.

      +1 on working raison d’être into a sentence. I heart you even more now just for using that.

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