Safe, Sane, and Consensual: Contemporary Perspectives on Sadomasochism

by Darren Langdridge (Editor/Contributor), Meg Barker (Editor/Contributor), Robin Bauer (Contributor)

This book includes work on sadomasochism from across the social sciences including discussions of the history and culture of SM, medical and legal issues, along with theory and original research on the topic. With contributions from academics, practitioners and activists, this book represents some of the most recent cutting edge work in the field.

Genres: BDSM, Sexuality, Nonfiction, Psychology, Academic, Queer

310 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2007

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

ILL

toc from a website

Introducing sadomasochism -- Situating sadomasochism / Darren Langdridge and Meg Barker -- The cultural formation of S/M : history and analysis / Kathy Sisson -- Themes of SM expression / Charles Moser and Peggy J. Kleinplatz -- Is SM pathological? / Peggy J. Kleinplatz and Charles Moser -- Sadomasochism and the law / Matthew Weait -- Theorising pain and injury -- Speaking the unspeakable : S/M and the eroticisation of pain / Darren Langdridge -- The 'bodily practices' of consensual 'SM', spirituality and 'transcendence' / Andrea Beckmann -- Beyond safety : erotic asphyxiation and the limits of SM discourse / Lisa Downing -- Empirical research -- Sexual fantasies of S/M practitioners : the impact of gender and S/M role on fantasy content / Megan R. Yost -- On becoming a gay SMer : a sexual scripting perspective / Eric Chaline -- Playgrounds and new territories : the potential of BDSM practices to queer genders / Robin Bauer -- Therapeutic perspectives -- The power of play : the potentials and pitfalls in healing narratives of BDSM / Meg Barker, Camelia Gupta and Alessandra Iantaffi -- Shadow play : S/M journeys to our selves / Dossie Easton -- Some beneficial aspects of exploring personas and role play in the BDSM context / William A. Henkin -- Bridging the academic/activist divide -- CARAS : an initiative to link alternative sexuality communities and academic researchers / Richard A. Sprott and Robert V. Bienvenu II -- Turning the world upside down : developing a tool for training about SM / Meg Barker -- Who is in charge in an SM scene? / Sophia -- SM and sexual freedom : a life history / Grant Denkinson -- Experiences of a pro-domme / Mlle Alize -- Total power exchange in a modern family : a personal perspective / Rachel Green

[Teela Hudak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe, Sane, and Consensual is an amazing look at BDSM and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It presents the reader with information on BDSM from a social context as well as the normal positive practicioner view. The book not only challenges many of the notions and assumptions of the mainstream view on BDSM but also offers some reasoning as to why they exist as well as suggestions and phrasing that helps dispell incorrect assumptions and garner a level of understanding and sympathy. Langdridge & Barker provide you with a expansive look at what the various aspects of "Safe, Sane, & Consensual" really means that delve into depths not typically covered by other authors. The variety of topics open your perception and provide you with a strong informational base from which to consume other BDSM literature. The examples, when used within the book, were creative and engaging and all the chapters were expertly sourced. Some of the chapters did use a higher level of language which I would expect to be difficult and less accessible for some readers and the depth of information given may be overwhelming for anyone just starting in BDSM. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in more of the social aspects and history of BDSM or for anyone looking to increase their understanding and round out their knowledge.

[Kate Davis]

read chapters 1, 6, 12

[Carl Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novelists need to know SM.

[Joli Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong collection in an under-explored area of psychological theory and application. Should be on any sex-therapist,-educator, or-researcher bookshelf. Some articles are more structured than others, but each lends strength to the overall presentation of the S/M literature as it stands.