Indeed it is recognized that the “term” BDSM originated in 1969, yet the behavior and its’ practice has been known and enjoyed or practiced well prior to this date. There is archaeological evidence suggesting that the D/s sexual practices may date back to 5000 years ago! In research and writing of such, Anne Nomis discovered ancient and one of the earliest form of writing in civilization referred to as cuneiform script – kind of like clay tablets – that detailed ritual fetishisms of worship to a Goddess named Inanna – Sumerian Goddess of love, fertility, and warfare). Also found was that the Western world also performed ritual practices of flagellation of young men, and stories of such flagellation for sexual arousal in Petronius’s Satyricon. Petronius was a writer of serious and comic verse of which some were erotic, during the early Roman Empire. Further the Karma Sutra – an ancient Indian Hindu text – which is widely thought to be a standard on sexual practices in Sanskrit literature. Which also is accredited with the spreading of many sexual practices – including BDSM – around the world. There is also a lot of imagery throughout centuries that gives us a historical look at BDSM prevalence through the centuries.
One of the oldest imagery of sadomasochistic activities may be seen in the Tomb of Etruscan. Painting scenes of whipping, flagellation of women with use of canes and hands in erotic situations. These date back to the fifth century B.C. In Pompeli scenes of a whip-mistress with wings is displayed on the walls of the Villa of Mysteries, which are considered to be an initiation process of young women into the Mysteries. Further there are reports evidencing during the 14th century of people willingly being bound and whipped, as a substitute for sex. This medieval phenomenon of “courting” for love has been suggested to be a precursor of BDSM. Some sources do claim that BDSM as a form of sexual behavior initiated at or around the beginning of the 18th century when the Western World began to categorize sexual behavior. Of course others would saw the use a flagellation in BDSM like activities existed in earlier times as mentioned above. Some even point to medieval flagellations and physical rituals of some Native American societies.
Of course BDSM imagery, thoughts on sexual practices has lived on the fringe of society in the Western culture throughout the twentieth century. Robert Bienvenu cites evidence of modern BDSM origins in three sources, which he named as “European Fetish” (from around 1928), “American Fetish” (around 1934) and the “Gay Leather” (around 1950). And of course it was known that sexual games played in brothels dating back to the 19th century and earlier quite possibly.
The culture of BDSM has become the norm of alternative sexual practice in modern society. Today estimates within just the United States suggest that approximately 5-10% of adults practice BDSM. Though that may seem like a minority and makes many others outside of the BDSM Community to have misconceptions and extreme bizarre interpretation about the practice of BDSM. And recently cited as a leading misconceiver book/movie series – “50 Shades of Grey” – has only cemented certain outsiders opinions. Some misconceptions assume traditional gender roles as – male/dominant; female submissive. However statistics state otherwise in that it is pretty evenly split or there are equal amount of “maledom” as there are “femdom” couples living in a D/s Dynamic. Further the culture of BDSM is much more tolerant of gender role neutrality in sexual preferences. BDSM is also more tolerant of homosexuality, pansexuals, bisexuals, transgenders, gender-fluid, bi-gender, and dual genders individuals. BDSM as seen by the outside world is not and far from being the misogynistic practice thought of by the outside world. The books/movies of 50 Shades of Grey did not help any since the book infantilizes the female lead, suggest an abuse fantasy and makes a mockery of the BDSM culture.
Where in fact the BDSM culture centers on the condition of “consenting” adults practicing alternative or a normative sexual behavior to achieve mutually sexual gratification. For those in the BDSM Community or Lifestylers, there may be a feeling of a minority, however with the world of today’s Internet a greater and better understanding of the BDSM Culture will become better understood and enhanced. As the BDSM Culture receives heighten complimentary, appreciative exposure, from more knowledgeable sources of the Lifestyle, public misconception, and their stereotypical views will evaporate over time.