Levels Of Submission

The following isn't intended as a rigid classification. It was 
written by Diane Vera and published in Lesbian S/M Safety Manual, 
edited by Pat Califia, from Alyson Press (still in print). 

Within the S/M subculture, different people use the 
words "submissive and slave" to mean many different things. When 
submissives say "I want to be your slave," sometimes they mean only 
that they want to be tied up and whipped. Many professional 
dominants routinely refer to their (usually _not_ very genuinely 
submissive clients) as "slaves." At the other extreme, there are 
people who want to be full-time personal servants, and who truly 
want to exist solely for their Dom(me)'s use, pleasure and 
convenience. And there are many shades in between these two 
extremes. 





1. THE OUTRIGHT NON-SUBMISSIVE MASOCHIST or KINKY SENSUALIST.
Not into servitude, humiliation or giving up control; just pain 
and/or spiced-up sensuality, on the masochist's own terms and for 
the masochist's own direct pleasure (i.e. turned on solely/mainly by 
one's own bodily sensatons rather than by being "used" to gratify 
one's partner's sadism). 

2. PSEUDO-SUBMISSIVE NON-SLAVE.
Not into even playing "slave," but into other "submissive" role-
playing, e.g. schoolteacher scenes, infantilism, "forced" 
transvestism. Usually into humiiation, but NOT into servitude, even 
in play. Dictates the scene to a large degree. 

3. PSEUDO-SUBMISSIVE PLAY SLAVE.
Likes to play at being a slave; likes to feel subservient; may in 
some cases like to feel one is being "used" to gratify partner's 
sadism; may even really serve the dominant in some ways, but only on 
the "slave's" own terms. Dictates the scene to a large degree; often 
fetishistic (e.g. foot worshippers). 

4. TRUE SUBMISSIVE NON-SLAVE.
Really gives up control (only temporarily and within agreed-upon 
limits), but gets her/his main satisfaction from aspects of 
submission other than serving or being used by the dominant. Usually 
turned on by suspense, vulnerability, and/or giving up 
responsbility. Doesn't dictate the scene except in very general 
terms, but still seek mainly her/his own direct/pleasure (rather 
than getting one's pleasure mainly from pleasing the dominant). 

5. TRUE SUBMISSIVE PLAY SLAVE.
Really gives up control (though only temporarily; only during 
brief "scenes" and within limits) and gets main satisfaction from 
serving/being used by dominant-but only for FUN purposes, usually 
erotic. May/may not be into pain. If so, is turned on by pain 
indirectly, i.e. enjoys being the object of one's partner's sadism, 
on which the submissive places very few requirements or 
restrictions. 

6. UNCOMMITTED SHORT-TERM BUT MORE THAN PLAY SEMI-SLAVE.
Really gives up control (usually within limits); wants to serve and 
be used by the dominant; wants to provide practical/non erotic as 
well as fun/erotic services; but only when the "slave" is in the 
mood. May even act as a full-time slave for, say, several days at a 
time, but is free to quit at any time (or at the end of the agreed 
upon several days). May or may not have long-term relationship with 
one's Mistress, but, either way, the "slave" has the final say over 
when she will serve. 

7. PART-TIME CONSENSUAL-BUT REAL SLAVE.
Has an ongoing commitment to an owner/slave relationship and regards 
oneself as the dominant's property at all times. Wants to obey and 
please dom(me) in all aspects of life-practical/non erotic and 
fun/erotic. Devotes most of time to other commitments (e.g. job) but 
Dom(me) has first pick of the slave's free time. 

8. FULL-TIME LIVE IN CONSENSUAL SLAVE.
Within no more than a few broad limits/requirements, the slave 
regards herself/himself as existing solely for the Dom(me)'s 
pleasure/well being. Slave in turn expects to be regarded as a 
prized possession. Not much different from the situation of the 
traditional housewife, except that within the S/M world the slave's 
position is more likely to be fully consensual, especially of the 
slave is male. Within the S/M world, a full time "slave" arrangement 
is entered into with an explicit awareness of the magnitude 
carefully, with more awareness of the magnitude of power that is 
being given up, and hence is usually entered into much more 
carefully, with more awareness of the possible dangers, and with 
much clearer and more specific agreements than usually precede the 
traditional marriage. 

9. CONSENSUAL TOTAL SLAVE WITH NO LIMITS.
A common fantasy ideal which probably doesn't exist in real life 
(except in authoritarian religious cults and other situations where 
the "consent" is induced by brainwashing and/or social or economic 
pressures, and hence isn't fully consensual). A few S/M purists will 
insist that you aren't really a slave unless you're willing to do 
absolutely anything for your Dom(me), with no limits at all. I've 
met a few people who claimed to be no-limit slaves, but in all cases 
I have reason to doubt the claim.