Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Sociology Dissertations Department of Sociology Spring 5-10-2013 Assume the Position: Exploring Discipline Relationships Melissa E. Travis Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/sociology_diss Recommended Citation Travis, Melissa E., "Assume the Position: Exploring Discipline Relationships." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2013. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/sociology_diss/71 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Sociology at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sociology Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. ASSUME THE POSITION: EXPLORING DISCIPLINE RELATIONSHIPS by MELISSA TRAVIS Under the Direction of Wendy S. Simonds ABSTRACT Discipline relationships are consensual adult relationships between submissive and dominant partners who employ authority and corporal punishment. This population uses social media to discuss the private nature of their ritualized fantasies, desires, and practices. Participants of these relationships resist a sadomasochistic label of BDSM or domestic abuse. I conducted in-depth in- terviews and narrative analysis of social media to explore experiences and identities of people in discipline relationships. The sample includes social media bloggers and past and present partici- pants in discipline relationships. I compared explanations participants give for wanting and partic- ipating in discipline relationships. I combine identity theory, constructionism, post-structuralism, and critical feminism as an analytic frame to understand this practice sociologi- cally. I found gender differences in the media format and communication style of participants, but the ritualized expressions for discipline relationships remain consistent regardless of gender.