Dominance and submission

Dominance and submission (also known as D&S, D/s or D/s) is a set of behaviors, customs, and rituals involving the giving by one individual to another individual of control over them in an erotic episode or as a lifestyle.

Overview

Dominance and submission‏‎ is a part of BDSM, a form of consensual power exchange between two or more individuals. The dominant partner exercises control and the submissive partner allows the dominant partner to have control. The dominant partner is often referred to as the "Dom" or "Domme" and the submissive partner is often referred to as the "sub" or "slave".

Roles

In a D/s relationship, the dominant partner takes on the role of the leader or controller and the submissive partner takes on the role of the follower or controlled. These roles can be fluid and can change from situation to situation, or they can be fixed and unchanging.

Activities

Activities in a D/s relationship can range from simple acts of control such as the dominant partner making decisions for the submissive partner, to more complex acts of control such as the dominant partner controlling the submissive partner's diet, clothing, or social activities. These activities are often negotiated and agreed upon before they are carried out.

Safety

Safety is a key concern in D/s relationships. All activities should be consensual and the submissive partner should always have the ability to stop any activity at any time. This is often facilitated through the use of a safeword, a pre-agreed upon word or phrase that the submissive partner can use to stop any activity.

See also

• BDSM
• Power exchange
• Master/slave
• Dominatrix
• Submission