BDSM and the importance of Community

A sense of belonging is central to our experience as humans. When our interests and lifestyles do not match those of the majority, it can be challenging to fully allow ourselves to be authentic. Community is essential in BDSM culture and research shows that it may be more complex that it seems. 

Graham et al. (2016) evaluated the perspectives of 48 BDSM practitioners who used 133 terms to express their experience of how community played a role in their lives. These terms were partitioned into 3 categories: social, personal development, and resources. Participants experiences of community ranged from fun to spiritual and from activism to safety. 

Membership in a kink community allows for individuals to learn new skills, develop meaningful connections and also provides accountability and support for when negotiations do not go as planned. Research showed that while community participation has its downfalls, such as social politics and the drama that can accompany it, the majority of participants found it to have a positive and meaningful influence on their lives (Graham et al., 2016). 

In regards to clinical practice, researchers suggest that therapists familiarize themselves with local kink communities and recognize that their client may benefit from this type of connectivity.

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