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A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Consensual Sadomasochism

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A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Consensual Sadomasochism BOUND IN THEORY AND PRACTICE: A MIXED-METHODS EXPLORATION OF CONSENSUAL SADOMASOCHISM by KATHERINE MARTINEZ B.A., University of Colorado at Boulder, 2004 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Sociology 2011 This thesis entitled: Bound in Theory and Practice: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Consensual Sadomasochism written by Katherine Martinez has been approved for the Department of Sociology Joanne Belknap, Ph.D., Chair, Dissertation Committee Jason Boardman, Ph.D., Member, Dissertation Committee Christina Sue, Ph.D., Member, Dissertation Committee Matthew Brown, Ph.D., Member, Dissertation Committee Arturo Aldama, Ph.D., Member, Dissertation Committee Date The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above- mentioned discipline. IRB protocol # 1008.14 iii Martinez, Katherine (Ph.D., Sociology) Bound in Theory and Practice: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Consensual Sadomasochism Thesis directed by Professor Joanne Belknap This mixed-methods dissertation is an exploration of bodily experiences of difference and contradiction for consensual sadomasochists. With the data from an on-line survey completed by 259 self-identified consensual sadomasochists and 25 in-depth, semi-structured interviews, I explore the ways in which these participants explain their participation in consensual sadomasochism (CS) in three different, but related facets of their lives. First, I test the relationships between participants’ genders, sexual orientations, and CS role performances to try and elucidate how consensual sadomasochists use their bodies to perform masculinity and femininity outside of heteronormative standards. Here, I specifically use feminist and queer theoretical perspectives to discuss the implications of being able to switch from dominant to submissive roles for subverting heteronormativity. I also use these frameworks to explore sexual objectification in the second data chapter. In this chapter consensual sadomasochists describe sexual objectification as beneficial for their own body-satisfaction as well as how this sexual objectification has helped them come to terms with their experiences and feelings of difference. Finally, I discuss participants’ experiences with race and class using critical race theories that are also attentive to experiences of difference. This framework allows for the examination of participants’ discourses around race and ethnicity, as well as class, within their CS communities. Overall, these explorations into gendered, sexualized, raced, and classed experiences of difference for consensual sadomasochists reveal the importance of the participants’ bodies in deconstructing and subverting heteronormative conceptions of these very characteristics. This dissertation is dedicated to “The Perverts.” v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank all of my participants. As a group of individuals who practice sexually “deviant” activities, getting involved in social research can be worrisome, especially given the trends in early sexuality research and its penchant for pathologizing those with alternative sexualities and their communities; their participation in this study, therefore, is greatly appreciated. On the same note, I would like to thank all of those who made comments about the on-line survey; their feedback was invaluable for improving this study. Without the feedback, guidance, and support from my advisor and chair, Dr. Joanne Belknap, this project would have never even begun. As it turns out, sexuality research is just as taboo as it ever has been, but Dr. Belknap gave her full support and encouragement the moment I mentioned my research goals. Beyond this, she provided important advice about getting through the IRB process, which turned out to be more crucial to this project than had been expected. Finally, Dr. Belknap has read and edited many versions of my work, including two articles sent out for publication; without this amount of dedication and support from my advisor, I would surely have ended my academic career with a Masters instead of a Doctorate. I am forever grateful for having Dr. Belknap in my life. Similarly, one of my dissertation committee members, Dr. Matthew Brown inspired me to take on the subject that I chose for this dissertation. Having likewise researched a taboo topic as a graduate student, Dr. Brown provided the encouragement that I needed to continue with my dissertation. He has also made a world of difference in my personal life, making me feel more comfortable in my skin than I have felt before. My only hope is to be as inspiring to my students as he has been to me. I am also indebted to Dr. Jason Boardman, Dr. Christina Sue, and Dr. Arturo Aldama for their support and feedback on this dissertation. Without Dr. Boardman’s expertise in statistical research methods vi and his encouragement to continue developing these skills, I am certain this study would not be as strong. My friends have also provided an undeniable amount of support during my academic career. My writing partners, Leith Lombas and Courtney McDonald, have been especially important in the completion of this dissertation; their feedback and encouragement have been priceless, as have been their friendship, their love, and their support. I also want to thank Casey Blalock for meeting with me outside of his office hours to explain statistics to me, as well as Jenn Roark for explaining statistics to me during her office hours, and Bryan Snyder for sharing his wealth of knowledge on Bourdieu. Thank you to all of those wonderful people in my life who have kept me smiling and laughing: Will Corvey, Nathan DeWaele, Adam Morenberg, Zach Owens, Tim Quintana, and Kim VanderWeert. Finally, a thank you to Marshall Smith for reminding me early in my graduate career that graduate school was where I needed to be. Although my family may never read this dissertation, they are the ones that I want to thank for making this dissertation possible. Without my mother’s undying love and encouragement, I would have never made it to college. She showed me what it meant to grow up a strong and independent woman, and her strength to this day amazes me. I am also very lucky to have the support and love of four siblings: Dave, Dom, Sarah, and Haley. Thank you, Dave, for moving with me to Maryland to show your support; I wouldn’t have survived alone. Thank you, Dom, for being as stubborn as you ever have been; I continue to learn from you. Thank you, Sarah, for harassing me every chance you get; I look forward to it every day. Thank you, Haley, for coming at the right time; you brought us all back together. And last, but certainly not least, thank you Shiva for giving me an excuse to be distracted. vii BOUND IN THEORY AND PRACTICE: A MIXED-METHODS EXPLORATION OF CONSENSUAL SADOMASOCHISM TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 PROBLEM STATEMENT ......................................................................................................... 1 DEFINING CONSENSUAL SADOMASOCHISM (CS) ......................................................... 6 Consensual Sadomasochism in Practice ................................................................................. 7 Consensual Sadomasochism in Theory .................................................................................. 8 EMBODIED EXPERIENCE .................................................................................................... 12 Performative Bodies.............................................................................................................. 13 Valued Bodies ....................................................................................................................... 15 Historicizing Experience ....................................................................................................... 17 DISSERTATION OVERVIEW................................................................................................ 18 CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODS .................................................................................. 21 QUANTITATIVELY MEASURING SELF-OBJECTIFICATION ........................................ 22 Instrument ............................................................................................................................. 22 Procedures ............................................................................................................................. 26 Participants ............................................................................................................................ 28 QUALITATIVELY MEASURING SELF-OBJECTIFICATION ........................................... 30 Interviewing Using Feminist Research Methods .................................................................. 30 Procedures ............................................................................................................................. 35 Participants ............................................................................................................................ 38 RESEARCHING SEXUALITY IN 2010 ................................................................................. 39 viii METHODOLOGICAL CONCERNS
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