Eng 202 Essay 2 Final - Grade: A PDF

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Eng 202 Essay 2 Final...

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Running head: RIHANNA SONG

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Penn State University English 202

What is That Rihanna Song About?

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If you have ever read the wildly popular book Fifty Shades of Grey, you probably have an idea of what BDSM means. If you have never even heard of this book, allow me to provide you with a brief description. Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey are two people who meet unexpectedly and engage in a sexual relationship. Their sexual relationship is not like that of many others, as they explore the use of whips, blindfolds, and forms of bondage including a grey silk tie. Sex that employs these types of items is referred to as BDSM. BDSM stands for: bondage and discipline, domination and submission, and sadomasochism. BDSM is classified as an ‘umbrella’ term, meaning that all of previously mentioned aspects fall under it. Although it is clear what the acronym stands for, it is not well understood what BDSM actually is. Is it how Rihanna describes it in her song “S&M”? It is sexual violence or is it sexual expression? To explain the possible meanings of this term more clearly, I will be reviewing three different articles. The first article I will be reviewing is “BDSM Disclosure and Stigma Management: Identifying Opportunities for Sex Education” written by Tanya Bezreh, Thomas Weinberg, and Timothy Edgar (2012). The second article is “Consensual Sadomasochistic Sex (BDSM): The Roots, the Risks, and the Distinctions Between BDSM and Violence” written by Eva Jozifkova (2013). The third article I will be reviewing is “Beyond the Pleasure Principle: The Criminalization of Consensual Sadomasochistic Sex” written by Monica Pa (2001). Each of these articles views BDSM through a different lens. The first article describes BDSM as being an ‘evolutionary’ behavior. Jozifkova (2013) states, “According to evolutionary biology, sexual arousal by overemphasized hierarchical status (e.g., dominance and submissiveness) during sadomasochistic interaction is probably a strengthened manifestation of a proximate mechanism for accomplishing a common reproductive strategy” (p. 2). What this implies is that being sexually aroused by someone of a higher or lower

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ranking than oneself is in direct correlation with the common population. In the common population, when women search for a mate they tend to search for men of high status whom they know can support them. Men tend to search for women who are young, healthy, and appear to have the ability to bear children. The social hierarchy is also connected to the level of hormones including: testosterone, cortisol, and oxytocin (Jozifkova, 2013). By consistently switching partner roles, the changes in hierarchy ranks cause changes in the levels of these hormones which influence human behavior (Jozifkova, 2013). With these thoughts in mind, we can summarize that sadomasochistic sex is not based on pathology, but rather by natural reproduction patterns. This means that it is not strange, but that it is evolution. The second article describes BDSM as a normal sexual preference. It is sometimes even described as a sexual orientation. This is different from the first article in the way that the first article says that BDSM is evolutionary and is based on human interaction, while this article says that BDSM is more or less a sexual orientation the same way that being homosexual is an orientation. It is based on what a person likes, and he or she cannot control it. BDSM is an opportunity for better sex education as more and more individuals are becoming interested in it. The exact prevalence of BDSM in the U.S is unknown, but a 1993 study found that 14% of American Males and 11% of American females have engaged in some form of sadomasochism (SM) (Bezreh, Weinberg, & Edgar, 2012). An interest in SM can appear at an early age, and usually appears by the time individuals are in their twenties. With an interest peaking in the teens and possibly even earlier, it is important to properly educate these individuals. It is imperative that they understand they are not deviants and are not alone in their interests. Sadism and masochism have a long history of being medically stigmatized. According to Bezreh et al., (2012), “The DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual) first classified sadism and masochism as a

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sexual deviation, and later as sexual disorders” (p. 39). Due to the lobbying of BDSM groups identifying the lack of evidence supporting the pathology of SM, the APA (American Psychological Association) took a step towards demedicalizing SM (Bezreh et al., 2012). With demedicaliztion comes the removal of major barriers to education, anti-stigma, and outreach campaigns. It is important to destigmatize SM because there are many documented cases of individuals suffering discrimination and becoming targets of violence. There are also cases of individuals losing jobs, clearances, and custody of their children (Bezreh et al., 2012). While it is not realistic for everyone to agree with those who engage in SM, it is important that we as a society do not live in ignorance. We should educate ourselves so that we can educate our children. The third article focuses on the unfair criminalization of BDSM. This is different from the previous two articles because both of those articles stated that being properly educated about SM sex would prevent anything that could lead to criminalization. Pa (2001) states “An SM exchange should not be classified as violence because the presence of negotiation and consent removes core features of sexual or domestic violence” (p. 77). In most cases of sexual assault reported in an SM scenario, there is no consent defense available. If an activity is classified as sex, it is only a crime if the individual did not express consent to the particular act (Pa, 2001). However, if an activity is conceived only as violence in the way that SM is, no consent defense is available because the ‘violent’ act is viewed not only as a harm to the individual, but to society as a whole. BDSM is unfairly criminalized because there is no positive means of educating people about it. Instead of being viewed as a form of sexual expression, it is viewed as violent sexual deviance. Pa (2001) states “Equating sadomasochism with violence loses sight of the activity’s social meaning for those who participate in it (p. 78). This criminalization reflects back on the

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lack of education explaining what BDSM is truly about. BDSM communities follow a mantra of ‘safe, sane, and consensual.’ BDSM is not about violence; it is about sexual expression. After doing my own personal research, I would agree most with the second article. I do not believe that BDSM is violence, nor do I believe it is meant to be an excuse to control someone else. The first article also makes sense in the way that the attributes that most people search for in relationships, such as power and control, are found in BDSM and that is why people are attracted to it. The third article is not describing how the authors believe that BDSM is wrong, but rather what they have noticed has happened in certain cases. Although I do not agree with the idea of BDSM being violent, I do agree with the author that this is how it is portrayed. I believe the best option in helping to discover a clear definition would be educating people on the subject. It is important for people to know that BDSM is not only meant to be safe, but it is also meant to be expressive. Although it is understood what BDSM stands for, it is not understood what it entails. Lack of education leads much of the population to believe that BDSM is an excuse for committing violence against women. It also leads those who engage in BDSM to believe that they are sexual deviants because they enjoy it. Sex should be something that a person feel safe and happy to engage in. As long as he or she is being safe, getting consent, and getting enjoyment, nothing else should matter.

References

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Bezreh, T., Weinberg, T., & Edgar, T. (2012, March 12). BDSM Disclosure and Stigma Management: Identifying Opportunities for Sex Education. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 7(1), 37-61. Jozifkova, E. (2013, August 11). Consensual Sadomasochistic Sex (BDSM): The Roots, the Risks, and the Distinctions Between BDSM and Violence. Current Psychiatry Reports, 18. Pa, M. (2001, September 18). Beyond the Pleasure Principle: The Criminalization of Consensual Sadomasochistic Sex. Texas Journal of Women and the Law, 11(2), 52-91....