The Social World of BDSM - A Descriptive Phenomenological Investigation

Langdridge and Butt (2004) describe the beginning of the 21st century as a time for sexual stories. Sexual practices such as bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism (BDSM) are now becoming more evident in society and BDSM related themes are apparent in mainstream films and television programmes such as ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (Burr 2006). Weiss (2006) reports that media representations of BDSM are on the increase, however, Barker, Iantaffi & Gupta (2007) argue that it is the BDSM imagery, rather than the sexual practises, that have become more socially acceptable, while ‘real’ BDSM remains an illegal and pathologised practice.