Bottom (BDSM)
Encyclopedia
In BDSM
, a bottom or submissive is the partner in a BDSM relationship or a BDSM scene
who takes the passive, receiving, or obedient role, to that of the top or dominant
.
A bottom can, for example, be subject to acts such as flogging, servitude
or humiliation and can be physically restrained by bondage, which can itself be painful. A person who submits control of a large percentage of their day-to-day life to a dominant partner, or who submits within a formal set of rules and rituals is sometimes referred to as a slave to that of the master or mistress.
The term bottom originates from a more general use of the word, especially among the gay
male community, to mean receptive partner. (See bottom (sex))
s. A bottom who has dominance over the activities or the relationship is said to be topping from the bottom, even though they are really expressing dominance from the bottom.
Within communities of lifestyle BDSM devotees, there exists a widespread prejudice against both service tops and bottoms that top from the bottom. Both are considered by many to be failing to achieve a "proper" BDSM relationship dynamic – especially if the partners are purported to be trying to achieve dominant-top/submissive-bottom relationship.
Bottoms or submissives who are also comfortable assuming a top or dominant role are referred to as switches
.
.
A common means by which a bottom or submissive can signal to a top or dominant partner that their limits are being approached, pushed, or even crossed is the use of safewords; Extreme forms of submission or the practice of edgeplay
can remove the safeword option from the bottom or submissive, although, this somewhat risky situation is entered into with the consent of the bottom or submissive.
BDSM
BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of sexual expression involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role-play. The compound acronym BDSM is derived from the terms bondage and discipline , dominance and submission , and sadism and masochism...
, a bottom or submissive is the partner in a BDSM relationship or a BDSM scene
Scene (BDSM)
In BDSM, a scene is the stage or setting where BDSM activity takes place, as well as the activity itself. The place where a BDSM activity takes place is usually called a dungeon. A BDSM activity can but need not involve sexual activity or sexual roleplay. A scene will vary, depending on the wishes...
who takes the passive, receiving, or obedient role, to that of the top or dominant
Top (BDSM)
In BDSM, a top or dominant is the partner in a BDSM relationship or in a BDSM scene who takes the active or controlling role over that of the bottom or submissive partner....
.
A bottom can, for example, be subject to acts such as flogging, servitude
Servitude (BDSM)
In BDSM, servitude refers to performing personal tasks for their dominant partner, as part of their submissive role in a BDSM relationship.In domestic servitude roles, the submissive can receive pleasure and satisfaction from performing personal services for their dominant, such as serving as a...
or humiliation and can be physically restrained by bondage, which can itself be painful. A person who submits control of a large percentage of their day-to-day life to a dominant partner, or who submits within a formal set of rules and rituals is sometimes referred to as a slave to that of the master or mistress.
The term bottom originates from a more general use of the word, especially among the gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
male community, to mean receptive partner. (See bottom (sex))
Terminology
The behaviors of bottoms and submissives are similar, and in many cases overlap. For this reason, the terms are used interchangeably in some discussions, although there are differences between the two. Behaviors of submissives and bottoms often overlap, with the bottom also being submissive, but this is not always the case. Someone who is "topping" may be doing so at the request, or even the direction, of the bottom partner(s). In such a case, the dominant's function would reside with the bottom(s). Tops who act within this kind of relationship dynamic are sometimes called a service topService top
Within a BDSM context, a Service Top is a partner who is the active participant, applying the activities or techniques of BDSM "play" upon bottom partner, but who does not dominate the bottom, and instead acts upon the wishes and desires of the bottom...
s. A bottom who has dominance over the activities or the relationship is said to be topping from the bottom, even though they are really expressing dominance from the bottom.
Within communities of lifestyle BDSM devotees, there exists a widespread prejudice against both service tops and bottoms that top from the bottom. Both are considered by many to be failing to achieve a "proper" BDSM relationship dynamic – especially if the partners are purported to be trying to achieve dominant-top/submissive-bottom relationship.
Bottoms or submissives who are also comfortable assuming a top or dominant role are referred to as switches
Switch (BDSM)
In BDSM, a switch is someone who participates in BDSM activities sometimes as a top and other times as a bottom or sometimes as a dominant and other times as a submissive. Partners may switch roles based on mood, desire, or to allow each partner to experience their preferred activity...
.
Limits to submission
The acceptance of a bottom or submissive role in a BDSM relationship, is seldom absolute, often operating within a set of defined limitsLimits (BDSM)
In BDSM, limits refer to those activities that participants in a BDSM scene feels strongly about, and to which special attention must be paid....
.
A common means by which a bottom or submissive can signal to a top or dominant partner that their limits are being approached, pushed, or even crossed is the use of safewords; Extreme forms of submission or the practice of edgeplay
Edgeplay
In BDSM, edgeplay is a subjective term for types of sexual play that are considered to be pushing on the edge of the traditional S.S.C. creed. They would be considered more R.A.C.K...
can remove the safeword option from the bottom or submissive, although, this somewhat risky situation is entered into with the consent of the bottom or submissive.
See also
- Dominance & submission
- Female dominanceFemale dominanceFemale dominance is those BDSM relationships and BDSM scenes in which the dominant partner is female. Often a dominant woman, she may prefer to be called a Domme , Femdomme, Domina, or Dominatrix, depending on context or personal preference...
- Male dominanceMale dominanceMale dominance, or maledom, refers to BDSM activities where the dominant partner is male.Maledom scenarios are common in BDSM fiction, including works such as the Story of O and the works of John Norman and Adrian Hunter...
- Top (BDSM)Top (BDSM)In BDSM, a top or dominant is the partner in a BDSM relationship or in a BDSM scene who takes the active or controlling role over that of the bottom or submissive partner....
- Top and bottom in sex and BDSMTop and bottom in sex and BDSMIn human sexuality, the terms top, bottom, and versatile describe roles during sexual intercourse, particularly among gay and bisexual men. A top is a person who penetrates, a bottom is one who receives penetration, and a versatile engages in both activities...
- Switch (BDSM)Switch (BDSM)In BDSM, a switch is someone who participates in BDSM activities sometimes as a top and other times as a bottom or sometimes as a dominant and other times as a submissive. Partners may switch roles based on mood, desire, or to allow each partner to experience their preferred activity...
- Sadomasochism