Somebody's Fetish: Self-Objectification and Body Satisfaction Among Consensual Sadomasochists

Abstract

Considering that sexuality scholars claim consensual sadomasochists experience sexual objectification differently from the general population (Califia, 1994; Connell, 2002; Nussbaum, 1995), this study explored self-objectification (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) and body satisfaction among 121 self-identified consensual sadomasochists, 67 of whom also self-identified as women. Participants responded to an online survey and reported their self-objectification, self-surveillance, body shame, and body satisfaction measures, along with their body mass index (BMI) and identification as dominant, submissive, or switch. The data revealed that the study participants’ differed greatly in their sexual objectification experiences according to their genders, sexual orientations, and sadomasochistic identities, suggesting that consensual sadomasochism offers participants an environment partially free of the negative consequences resulting from Western beauty ideals.