Sex is one of the basic human needs that we all require in one way or another in order to live a healthy, balanced life. Even though our society conforms sex to “making love,” it actually exists in many forms. BDSM has long been a part of sex, no matter how taboo and “weird” society makes it out to be. The whole point is that people have different sexual appetites and that none of them are superior to others.
These BDSM statistics will show you that more people than you realize enjoy non-mainstream kinks and fetishes. Open your mind to the world of fantasies, roleplay, pain, and pleasure, and you might discover something new about yourself. This article will introduce you to the exciting world of BDSM and its accepting community. The research you do on the topic will help you understand the appeal and show you the ropes of BDSM, forever eliminating the fear of something that’s actually not scary or unusual at all.
Top BDSM Statistics to Be Aware Of:
- Family court judges used to remove visitation rights and child custody from parents who participated in consensual BDSM.
- BDSM doesn’t cause more distress in sexual functioning than non-BDSM sex.
- BDSM practitioners may be more satisfied with their sexual functioning and sexuality.
General BDSM Statistics
1. Family court judges used to remove visitation rights and child custody from parents who participated in consensual BDSM.
(The Journal of Sexual Medicine)
Before the American Psychiatric Association made a clear difference between consensual kinks and fetishes associated with BDSM and paraphilic disorders, family court judges frequently took away child custody and visitation rights from parents.
Discipline, bondage, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, cross-dressing, and fetishes are all part of being a sexual deviant and not related to paraphilic disorders. Positive statistics on BDSM show that, thanks to this differentiation, the discrimination against those who practice BDSM has decreased over the years.
2. 46.8% of Belgians said they participated in a BDSM activity sometime in their lives.
(The Journal of Sexual Medicine)
If that isn’t enough to prove how common BDSM actually is, 22% of respondents said they had fantasies about it, little known BDSM facts reveal. 12.5% of respondents said they performed BDSM regularly. 26% said BDSM interested them, while 7.6% identified themselves as BDSM practitioners.
3. 61% of Italians aren’t familiar with the BDSM community.
(Statista)
While the majority hasn’t heard about the BDSM community, 21% are not a part of it, nor do they want to become a part of it, according to fetish stats. Also, 7% stated they were curious about it, while 4% expressed aversion towards the BDSM community. Only 2% said they belonged to the community. It seems that the human sexual activity is less open in Italy than in Belgium.
4. 23% of women add handcuffs to the list of kinks they would like to try in the bedroom.
(Statista)
21% expressed interest in using vibrators, while 20% said they would like to use BDSM equipment like ropes and whips during sex. The same fetish facts say 20% wanted to use love eggs, while 18% said they would like to try using a lubricant. 15% of women said they would bring anal toys and strap-ons into the bedroom. 21%, though, said they wouldn’t like to use any of the toys mentioned above.
5. Sex facts: Sexual fantasies are more common than you think.
(Wiley Online Library)
Even though most people think sexual fantasies are rare or unusual, out of 55 ranked sexual fantasies, 30 were considered to be common. Fetish statistics clearly state that only nine were labeled as unusual, while only two were found to be rare. Fantasies concerning submission and domination were common for both genders and closely related to each other.
6. 1.8% of Australians were involved in BDSM in the year 2001.
(Science direct)
Out of this number, 2.2% were men, and 1.3% were women. As well as that, BDSM was more common among those who belonged to the LGBTQ+ community.
7. Those Australians were more likely to have non-mainstream sexual experiences.
(Science direct)
Kink statistics tell us that those who engaged in BDSM have also experienced oral and/or anal sex, as well as sleeping with someone other than their partner. Phone sex, watching porn, using sex toys, having group sex, rimming, and fisting, were also parts of their fetish list. It should be noted that these people were no more likely to be forced into sexual activity and weren’t more likely to be unhappy or anxious.
BDSM Psychology Stats & Facts
8. BDSM doesn’t cause more distress in sexual functioning than non-BDSM sex.
(Wiley Online Library)
Mental health and BDSM statistics have shown that BDSM contexts cause the same amount of distress in sexual functioning for women as non-BDSM contexts do. When it comes to men, it was shown that there’s actually less distress in sexual functioning in BDSM contexts. Sexual satisfaction remained the same for both genders regardless of the context.
9. Those who practice BDSM show more favorable character traits.
(Wiley Online Library)
Even though society would have you believe that people who practice BDSM need clinical treatment, results from the Big Five questionnaire have shown that BDSM practitioners display more favorable traits. Sexual fetish statistics show they were more extraverted and conscientious, had a higher openness to new experiences and higher subjective well-being, and they were less neurotic and agreeable. This proves that BDSM isn’t a way of expressing psychopathological processes, but is instead a fun pastime activity.
10. BDSM practitioners may be more satisfied with their sexual functioning and sexuality.
(The Journal of Sexual Medicine)
An important part that contributes to feelings of satisfaction (especially in dominants) is the open discussion about sex, and the preferences, desires, and needs of both partners. The fact that explicit consent is required may also play a significant role in these results.
FAQ
What is BDSM?
(Her Campus)
The BDSM meaning is actually for bondage, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism. The definition of bondage is to tie your partner’s limbs using restraints, the most common being handcuffs, rope, or chains. It may also include psychological restraint and physical punishment (such as spanking or whipping).
Dominance and submission are the mental aspects of BDSM. It’s a common misconception that BDSM is all about pain, but one of the most evident BDSM facts states that it’s actually about the exchange of power. One partner is in control while the other one agrees to give up control as much as they’re comfortable with. The key to such a relationship is consent, as the point of BDSM is for everyone to enjoy themselves.
Sadism and masochism are also very important aspects closely tied to consent. This is the exchange of emotional and physical pain between partners. Sadists draw pleasure from inflicting pain on their partner, while masochists draw it from receiving the pain.
Is BDSM sex safe?
(Her Campus) (GQ)
Safety and consent might just be the two most important aspects of submissive sex. Nobody in this community actually wants to hurt someone else, it’s all a part of roleplaying and going along with what the submissive partner is comfortable with. This is why the submissive partner can set hard limits, i.e. list the things they would not be willing to do under any circumstances.
If the submissive partner feels they just aren’t emotionally or physically comfortable at any point during the sexual forte, they can use their safe word, as S&M statistics clearly show. This is a clear sign for the dominant partner to stop immediately.
To ensure both partners are comfortable with what just happened, as well as to ensure nobody crossed any boundaries, aftercare is a consistent part of BDSM. Aftercare mostly focuses on the submissive partner because they are typically the ones with the emotional and physical bruises. Reassurance, gentle physical contact like cuddling, and open communication are key to sustaining a healthy and trusting BDSM relationship.
What do I need to know about DDLG?
(DDLG playground)
DDLG BDSM is an acronym for Daddy/Little Girl and a subcategory of BDSM. This is a type of BDSM relationship where one partner (Daddy or Mommy) nurtures the Little Girl/Boy or acts like their caregiver. The submissive partner plays the role of the “child.”
This kind of relationship typically involves age regression to various extents while giving up control at the same time. That’s why it’s also called age play. Essentially, the submissive allows the dominant to take care of them in any way they’re both comfortable with. There are a lot of different variations of this fetish. In fact, sometimes the relationship doesn’t have to be sexual at all; just emotional.
Why is DDLG so popular?
(DDLG playground)
Even though a DDLG relationship may be just pure innocence combined with a deep emotional connection, it can actually be quite kinky and sexually freeing. Behaviors are rewarded and punished, depending on whether the Little Boy/Girl has played by the dom’s rules. Punishments may involve flogging, spanking, or whipping. Fetish statistics note that consent plays a huge part here too, which allows both partners to get out of their comfort zone safely and explore their sexuality together.
Orgasm denial, using various toys for pain and pleasure, and not allowing the Little to masturbate without permission can all be different types of kinks found in a DDLG relationship.
Conclusion
BDSM is a wonderful form of sex that lets people be who they really are and allows them to live out their wildest fantasies. It’s human nature to be curious, and these BDSM statistics show us that a lot of people have actually given in to the curiosity regardless of how taboo the topic might be in their community.
Expressing yourself sexually and enjoying your sexual freedom can only help you mature and live a happier life. Regardless of whether BDSM is your thing or not, we can all agree there’s something purely fascinating about it.
