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A Critical Microethnographic Examination of Power Exchange, Role Identity and Agency with Black BDSM Practitioners

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A Critical Microethnographic Examination of Power Exchange, Role Identity and Agency with Black BDSM Practitioners University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- 2020 A Critical Microethnographic Examination of Power Exchange, Role Identity and Agency with Black BDSM Practitioners Amber Norman University of Central Florida Part of the Counselor Education Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020 University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Norman, Amber, "A Critical Microethnographic Examination of Power Exchange, Role Identity and Agency with Black BDSM Practitioners" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-. 260. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020/260 A CRITICAL MICROETHNOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF POWER EXCHANGE, ROLE IDENTITY AND AGENCY WITH BLACK BDSM PRACTITIONERS by AMBER R. NORMAN B.A. Florida A&M University, 2010 M.A. University of Central Florida, 2014 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology in the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Summer 2020 Major Professor: S. Kent Butler © 2020 Amber R. Norman ii ABSTRACT The practice of BDSM (Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, and Sadomasochism) is a roleplay activity that facilitates the examination of power dynamics through erotic play. Historically, the mental health community relegated BDSM as a deviant sexual practice. Modern therapeutic perspectives, however, affirm the normality of practitioners and report psychological benefits of BDSM. Nevertheless, the practice remains stigmatized and misunderstood. The goal of this research was to examine how BDSM works, and how power is exchanged within relationships. More specifically, the experiences of Black BDSM practitioners were investigated to add nuance to how racial dynamics further impact power relationships. Ethnographic procedures were applied to help deconstruct relational interactions in BDSM practice. Observations were carried out at three public BDSM dungeons, and 13 Black BDSM practitioners were interviewed to examine how power plays out with respect to role identity, communicative behaviors, negotiation and consent. Dramaturgical analysis was applied to outline observable and obscure behaviors within BDSM social interactions. The findings of this study present structural insights into BDSM practice that may be applied to mental health counselor’s increased understanding of power relationships. Furthermore, findings suggest dynamics observed in BDSM can be applied to non-BDSM relational interactions with regards to negotiating power and exercising personal agency. Lastly, the narratives of Black BDSM practitioners provide insight into how marginal identity statuses can impact psychological safety within unequal power relationships. Keywords: BDSM, power dynamics, role identity, dramaturgy, microethnography iii This work is dedicated to Black and Queer people, everywhere. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my immense appreciation and sincere gratitude to all who have contributed to this research study and given their invaluable support to my doctoral journey. To my committee, Drs. Kent Butler, David Boote, Richelle Joe, John Super, and Jessica Martin, thank you for nurturing my ideas, challenging me to go harder, and helping me develop into the scholar I am today. Most of all, I am indebted to Dr. Kent Butler, my Chair and mentor, for his encouragement, understanding, patience and enthusiasm throughout this doctoral experience, and beyond. Thank you for pushing me further than I thought I could go. I give thanks to my higher power that I call God. It is from this divine source of intelligence that I am continuously informed and inspired. I give thanks to my ancestors, my parents, and the fearless souls that have come before me. Without you, I have no frame to reference my life, my struggle, my joy and my liberation. I am grateful for my doctoral cohort, The Feisty Five, my Queer Family, friends, lovers, ex-lovers, and all other systems of support. Thank you for holding space for me whenever I felt frustrated, defeated or otherwise lost. Your unwavering faith in me means everything. Immeasurable thanks and gratitude to the BDSM community, particularly the 13 radiant souls who offered their narratives to this work. Your audacious will, conscious awareness and determination is awe-inspiring. You make me want to be a better human. Lastly, I am thankful to the NBCC Foundation for funding this ethnographic work. Thank you for your continuous support of Black scholarship and students of color. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ x LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 Power Dynamics ......................................................................................................................... 2 Black Sexuality ........................................................................................................................... 3 Power Play .................................................................................................................................. 6 Power Relationships in Counseling ............................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................... 11 BDSM Practice ......................................................................................................................... 11 BDSM and Mental Health ........................................................................................................ 15 BDSM and Queer Space ........................................................................................................... 19 BDSM and Ethnography ........................................................................................................... 21 Symbolic Interactionism ........................................................................................................... 26 BDSM and Dramaturgy ............................................................................................................ 28 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................ 30 Purpose. ..................................................................................................................................... 32 vi Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 32 Participants ................................................................................................................................ 33 Sampling and Recruitment ........................................................................................................ 36 Researcher Positionality............................................................................................................ 38 Setting ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Ethics and Informed Consent .................................................................................................... 40 Data Collection and Analysis.................................................................................................... 42 Stage One: Compiling the primary record ............................................................................ 43 Stage Two: Reconstructive analysis ..................................................................................... 44 Stage Three: Dialogical data generation ............................................................................... 45 Interview Protocol ................................................................................................................. 45 Stage Four: Describing system relations............................................................................... 46 Validity and Trustworthiness .................................................................................................... 47 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS ............................................................................................................ 51 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 51 BDSM as a Social Setting ......................................................................................................... 51 BDSM and Power Dynamics ...................................................................................................
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