Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, and Sadism and Masochism (BDSM) Identity Development

Identity shapes how people make sense of the world. Sexual minorities’ sexual orientations and gender identities fall outside of heteronormative categorizations. Adults engage in diverse relationships: many of them fall outside of heteronormative boundaries. As an instrument of social justice, Adult Education can be a site for BDSM identity development.

“Learning the Ropes”: An Exploration of BDSM Stigma, Identity Disclosure, and Workplace Socialization

Relationship development is a key factor for workplace socialization. People with stigmatized identities often choose to (not) disclose experiences or identities due to potential consequences. A perceived need to not disclose stigmatized, BDSM-related activities or identities can restrict relationship development at work, which should concern human resource development professionals.