Safe, Sane and Consensual

This book includes work on sadomasochism from across the social sciences including discussions of the history and culture of SM, medical and legal issues, along with theory and original research on the topic. With contributions from academics, practitioners and activists, this book represents some of the most recent cutting edge work in the field.

“'One could say that Safe, Sane and Consensual poses more questions than it answers, but it is not necessarily a criticism it was high time that these questions were asked, dispelling some damaging stereotypes in the process.' - Toni Brennan, Feminism & Psychology ”

'One could say that Safe, Sane and Consensual poses more questions than it answers, but it is not necessarily a criticism it was high time that these questions were asked, dispelling some damaging stereotypes in the process.' - Toni Brennan, Feminism & Psychology

'[A]n impressive collection of empirical, theoretical, historical, clinical, personal, and legal perspectives on sadomasochism and related practices...The collection spans an impressive array of subjects, beginning with a section on the history and basic principles of S/M that would likely work well for graduate and undergraduate students as well as those unfamiliar with or underinformed about S/M... [B]oth in its scope and in its sensitivity to the multi-faceted dimensions of S/M practices, [it] offers a unique and much needed look at S/M as powerful, revealing, and nonpathological.' - Breanne Fahs, Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy

'The book is a valuable contribution to the field...In the face of a scarcity of research into S/M culture and practice, the book provides an excellent entry point into many of the discussions around S/M. Its didactic structure, its attempts to dispel common myths and stereotypes, and the lack of heavy theoretical jargon turns it a good teaching source.' - Christian Klesse, Sexualities

ROBIN BAUER Lecturer in Gender and Science Studies and Queer Studies, University of Hamburg, GermanyANDREA BECKMANN Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Lincoln, UKROBERT V BIENVENU II Team Leader of the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities and Chair of the CARAS Research Advisory Committee, USAERIC CHALINE a PhD candidate, London South Bank University, UKGRANT DENKINSON calls himself male, bisexual and polyamorousLISA DOWNING is Chair of French Discourses of Sexuality and Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Study of Sexuality and Gender in Europe (CISSGE), University of Exeter, UKDOSSIE EASTON one of the most prolific writers on the subject of SMCAMELIA GUPTA is a mental health worker, independent researcher and journalistWILLIAM HENKIN is a licensed psychotherapist and a board certified sex therapistALESSANDRA IANTAFFI is an active researcher and lecturer in the fields of diversity, inclusion, identities and research theories and methodologiesPEGGY J. KLEINPLATZ Associate Professor of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Psychology, University of Ottawa, CanadaCHARLES MOSER is Chair, Department of Sexual Medicine, Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco, USAKATHY SISSON, MA is an independent scholar in California, USASOPHIA is polyamorous, bisexual and identifies as a switchRICHARD A SPROTT Executive Director of the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities, and Lecturer, Department of Human Development, California State University, USAMATTHEW WEAIT Senior Lecturer in Law and Legal Studies, Faculty of Continuing Education, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK

Psychological and medical perspectives on sadomasochism (SM) have historically been concerned with understanding it as a form of psychopathology. In the past (but still often today) studies of SM have been concerned with extreme and most often non-consensual acts. More recently, however, there has been growing interest in exploring the meaning of sadomasochism in non-pathological ways. Safe, Sane and Consensual includes work from across the social sciences exploring a variety of aspects of SM from a non-pathological perspective. There are discussions of the history and culture of SM, medical and legal understandings, along with theory and original research on the topic. There are also sections on SM and psychotherapy and writing on bridging the academic/activist divide. This book, now in paperback with a new introduction, includes contributions from an international group of academics, practitioners and activists and represents some of the most recent cutting edge work in the field by leading scholars

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