Community Psychology Commons^™

Practice Of Consensual Bdsm And Relationship Satisfaction, Hannah M.E. Rogak

Culminating Projects in Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy

Sexual behaviors and styles that differ from that of the majority culture have been pathologized since civilizations began to form. One such category of sexual variation is BDSM (bondage-discipline/dominance-submission/sadism-masochism), which remains subject to widespread discrimination in the United States. Research on the treatment of BDSM practitioners by the legal, medical and mental health systems, as well as popular culture representations, suggests widespread discrimination in the United States. Feminist theory posits that such routine stigmatization from one's social context can lead to significant emotional and social stress. A growing body of literature, however, describes those who engage in BDSM activities as …