Bondage
Written by TPOK Archivist on August 12, 2017
Acts involving the physical or psychological restraint of a partner. Bondage may refer to total body restraint, or restraint of a particular body part, such as breast bondage.
Bondage is a form of sex play in which one person restrains another for sexual pleasure. There are also people who practice self-bondage during masturbation.
People enjoy bondage for many different reasons. They may do it because they want to please their partner, they like the feeling of being out of control of their own pleasure, or they like the idea of being “used,” even if it’s in a consensual manner.
Bondage is the practice of consensually tying, binding, or restraining a partner for erotic, aesthetic, or somatosensory stimulation. Rope, cuffs, bondage tape, self-adhering bandage, or other physical restraints may be used for this purpose.
Bondage itself does not necessarily imply sadomasochism. Bondage may be used as an end unto itself, as in the case of rope bondage and breast bondage. It may also be used as a part of sex or in conjunction with other BDSM activities. The letter “B” in the acronym “BDSM” comes from the word “bondage”. Sexuality and erotica are an important aspect in bondage but are often not the end in itself. Aesthetics also plays an important role in bondage.
A common reason for the active partner to tie up their partner is so both may gain pleasure from the restrained partner’s submission and the feeling of the temporary transfer of control and power. For sadomasochistic people, bondage is often used as a means to an end, where the restrained partner is more accessible to other sadomasochistic behaviours. However, bondage can also be used for its own sake. The restrained partner can derive sensual pleasure from the feeling of helplessness and immobility, and the active partner can derive visual pleasure and satisfaction from seeing their partner tied up.
Acts involving the physical restraint of a partner. Bondage typically refers to total restraint, however, it can be limited to a particular body part, such as breast bondage.