Roles

BDSM can be characterised as having two (or more) participants with a marked inequality or disparity of power between them. This gives rise to the idea of distinct roles whose titles suggest the sorts of activities engaged in by the people acting in these roles. Or, put another way, how this disparity of power is enacted by a person determines their role.

Common roles in BDSM include:

See also

• Roles and authority
• Obligation to use
• List of roles