Male submission

A submissive man bound to a bedframe

Male submission describes BDSM and other sexual activities in which the submissive partner is male. It generally refers to sexual activities and desires in which a male-identified person, such as a man, plays a subservient role to a dominant partner. The term "male submissive" and its abbreviation malesub are widely used in BDSM subcultures to refer to such a person. The female dominant counterpart is abbreviated femdom, while the male dominant counterpart is abbreviated maledom.

Variations of submissive expression

The particular activities considered submissive for men vary widely depending on local and cultural custom as well as the context for a particular encounter. For people whose sexuality is strongly heteronormative and "vanilla", merely breaking from traditional sexual positions such as having sexual intercourse with the partner who has a vagina "on top" may be considered a form of male submission. Within the context of sexual or romantic power-exchange (D/s) relationships, male submission may take a number of other forms, including sadomasochistic sex or non-sexual servitude.

Use of attributes

Often several attributes may be used to show that a man is submissive within an BDSM-play. Of a high symbolic meaning is the wearing of a leather or even steel slavecollar, whereas being locked up in a chastitybelt makes clear that a submissive has handed over the say about his own sexuality to the dominant. Muzzles, gags and headmasks may attribute further to demonstrate the unequal relationship existing between sub and top, which may also be enhanced by a lot of rules about behaviour as a kind of SM-etiquette.

A submissive man in an appropriate position, sitting on his knees, hands behind his head, and wearing the characteristic attributes of a heavy stainless steel chastity belt and a leather muzzle gag

Impact on feminism

The existence and arguable prevalence of submissive men[1] threatens the common belief in masculinity as inherently dominant.

The views of people who have criticized femdom porn have been accused by sex-positive feminists to be silencing or excluding the voice of sex workers from feminist discourse surrounding submissive male sexuality.[2]

Relationship to chivalry

Some interpretations of male submission draw analogies to chivalry, in both positive and negative contexts.{cn} While some people believe that cultural incentives to promote traditionally chivalrous actions promote negative stereotypes of men,[3] others base their concept of male submission around the perceived strength of "the knight in shining armor."

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Male submission.

References

  1. ↑ Uebel, Michael. "Masochism in America". American Literary History. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  2. ↑ Highleyman, Liz. "Professional Dominance: Power, Money and Identity." Whores and Other Feminists. Edited by Jill Nagle. (Routledge, 1997), p146
  3. ↑ Ranat. "Why I Revile the Memory of Arthur Pendragon".