Switch (sexuality)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section does not cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by introducing appropriate citations. (help, get involved!) This article has been tagged since July 2006.

In the field of human sexuality, a switch is someone who chooses to change from one sexual role to another; the act of doing so is called switching.

[edit] Switches in BDSM

In BDSM, a switch is someone who participates in BDSM activities sometimes as a top and other times as a bottom or (in the case of domination and submission) sometimes as a dominant and other times as a submissive. Switches are very common; partners may switch roles based on mood, desire, or to allow each partner to experience their preferred activity. For example, a switch may be in a relationship with someone of the same primary BDSM orientation (e.g., two dominants), so switching provides each partner with an opportunity to realize his or her BDSM needs.

It is also common for people to switch with different partners, such as when a person acts exclusively as a top with one partner and exclusively as a bottom with another.

The act of "switching" may also refer to a spontanaeous reversal of roles, initiated by the bottom, who then takes control.

A person who engages in self-bondage can be viewed as taking both roles simultaneously.

[edit] Switches in homosexuality

"Switch" is also a term used by homosexuals. For gay men, a switch is someone who acts alternately as both a penetrative and receptive partner in anal intercourse. A switch lesbian enjoys being alternately the active partner and the receptive partner, for example while engaging in oral sex or while using a strap-on. "Pitcher" and "catcher" are also used metaphorically.