Mutual agreement to the terms of a scene or ongoing BDSM relationship.
Consent occurs when all parties involved in a sexual act give permission to participate in specific acts or specific types of relationships. For many partners, consent may be as simple as asking if it’s okay to touch a partner in a certain way and only doing so when the partner says “yes.” Consent is an important aspect of sexual relationships because it helps ensure that all people are respected and feel safe.
In BDSM, consent tends to be obtained through detailed negotiation before a scene (either by contract or verbal agreement) and maintained by using safe words during a scene. This is because BDSM play often pushes more personal boundaries and involves play that may be uncomfortable, painful or even dangerous. Consent can be revoked at any point during a BDSM scene or relationship.
Consent within BDSM is when a participant gives their permission for certain acts or types of relationships. It bears much in common with the concept of informed consent. It is an issue that attracts much attention within BDSM, as well from outside observers.
Legal consent is a separate and largely unrelated matter. The importance of consent is simultaneously a personal, ethical, and social issue. Acts undertaken with a lack of consent may be considered abusive and shunned within the BDSM subculture.
Related
- Week in Review: February 4-10, 2018In case you missed them, this is a listing of the TPOK Educational Podcasts and Radio Shows that were released during the week of February 4-10, 2018.
- Ep. 28 - Repeat Consent Violators - What do we do with them?
- Week in Review: January 28-February 3, 2018ICYMI - this is a listing of the TPOK Educational Podcasts and Radio Shows that were released during the week of January 28-February 3, 2018.
- Ep. 50 - Deviant Desires
- Week in Review: December 10-16, 2017
- Consent Communication Caring and CautionA Consent and Negotiation framework for BDSM play and relationships proposed by the Cener for Positive Sexuality (DJ Williams, et al)
- Sex PositiveThe idea that individuals should openly embrace their own sexuality rather than suppress it.
- Responsible Non-MonogamyAny relationship that is not sexually and/or emotionally exclusive by the explicit agreement and with the full knowledge of all the parties involved.
- PolyfidelityA group in which all partners are primary to all other partners and sexual fidelity is to the group.
- PolyamoryThe state or practice of maintaining multiple sexual and/or romantic relationships simultaneously, with the full knowledge and consent of all the people involved.
Author
TPOK Archivist
Reader's opinions
You may also like
Continue reading

