Some Background about BDSM

History of BDSM

The historical origins of BDSM are obscure. There are anecdotal reports of people willingly being bound or whipped, as a prelude to or substitute for sex, going back to the fourteenth century. The medieval phenomenon of courtly love in all of its slavish devotion and ambivalence has been suggested by some writers to be a precursor of BDSM. Some sources claim that BDSM as a distinct form of sexual behavior originated at the beginning of the eighteenth century when Western civilization began medically and legally categorizing sexual behavior. There are reports of brothels specializing in flagellation as early as 1769, and John Cleland's novel Fanny Hill, published in 1749, mentions a flagellation scene. Other sources give a broader definition citing BDSM-like behavior in earlier times and other cultures, such as the medieval flagellants and the physical ordeal rituals of some Native American societies.

Although the names of the Marquis de Sade and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch are attached to the terms sadism and masochism respectively, the question remains as to whether their ways of life would meet with modern BDSM standards of informed consent.

Etymology

The terms "S&M" and "SM" were originally derived from the clinical terms sadism, masochism and sadomasochism. Some practitioners, especially those producing pornography, attempted to distance themselves from what was then classified as a mental illness and began to use the term "B&D" (bondage & discipline). The terms "DS", "D/s", "domsub" or "subdom" were also used to refer to some or all of BDSM, including sadomasochistic activities (for example, in "Different Loving" and "The Loving Dominant".) However, BDSM was developed as a composite abbreviation for B&D, D/s and SM, although some practitioners believe that D/s should not be linked to BD/SM or "physical BDSM".

The terms "S&M" and "SM" were originally derived from the clinical terms sadism, masochism and sadomasochism. Some practitioners, especially those producing pornography, attempted to distance themselves from what was then classified as a mental illness and began to use the term "B&D" (bondage & discipline). The terms "DS", "D/s", "domsub" or "subdom" were also used to refer to some or all of BDSM, including sadomasochistic activities (for example, in "Different Loving" and "The Loving Dominant".) However, BDSM was developed as a composite abbreviation for B&D, D/s and SM, although some practitioners believe that D/s should not be linked to BD/SM or "physical BDSM".