Abstract
The gay S/M (sado-masochistic or slave-master) subculture is considered an extreme test case of the risks encountered in casual sex with strangers. The experiences of 35 gay male practitioners of S/M sex show a relatively low rate of fright and injury arising from casual sexual encounters where one man has allowed himself to become prisoner of another. Protected territories, screening processes, negotiation of the S/M scenario, and maintenance of consent throughout the encounter are considered aspects of social control for the level of risk of physical injury and involuntary detention. The dramaturgical sociology of Erving Goffman is used to explain S/M as an alternative sexual lifestyle. S/M is considered a significant form of recreational sex with implications for a social analysis of the intersection of sex and power in North American society.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
