City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 6-2014 I Didn't Consent to That: Secondary Analysis of Discrimination Against BDSM Identified Individuals Larry Iannotti Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/229 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] I DIDN’T CONSENT TO THAT: A SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BDSM-IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS By LARRY IANNOTTI A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Social Welfare in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The City University of New York 2014 ii © 2014 Larry Iannotti All Rights Reserved iii This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Social Welfare in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. SJ Dodd, PhD Date Chair of Examining Committee Harriet Goodman, DSW Date Executive Officer Professor Irwin Epstein Professor Gerald Mallon Supervisory Committee THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK iv Abstract I DIDN’T CONSENT TO THAT: A SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BDSM-IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS by Larry Iannotti Dissertation Chair: Professor SJ Dodd Sadomasochistic (BDSM) sexual behavior is an understudied phenomenon within the social sciences generally, and social work in particular. While BDSM sexuality encompasses a wide variety of activities a community of individuals interested in BDSM is identifiable and has coalesced around organized groups, events, political activism, and shared sexual interests. This community has experienced discrimination, violence, and harassment (DVH) as a result of social approbation and stigma associated with BDSM practices. The study examines results of a secondary analysis of data from the Survey of Violence & Discrimination against Sexual Minorities, conducted in 2008. Severity and frequency of various types of DVH are explored and relationships between demographic characteristics, BDSM activities, and frequencies of DVH are examined. An emancipatory social work frame is used to contextualize the results of the analysis, and implications for both practice and policy are discussed. v Acknowledgements There are many people who need to be thanked for their help, encouragement, and time. First and foremost, my gratitude goes to SJ Dodd, not only for agreeing to chair the committee established to review this dissertation, but for her intellectual guidance, editorial skill, and cheer- leading talents, without which this project would never have come to completion. To Irwin Epstein, who helped guide me through my doctoral career, listened to my seemingly endless fears and frustrations, and even still, agreed to sit on the committee. To Gerald Mallon, who encouraged me from the very beginning and whose prolific writing inspires me to try and do the same. To Susan Wright, to whom I owe a large debt of gratitude, who is entirely responsible for the Survey of Violence & Discrimination against Sexual Minorities, and whose continuous advocacy for the BDSM community should serve as an example of how to move mountains. To Andrew Park, who has worked tirelessly for sexual rights and freedoms in the national and international arenas, and who was always ready to lend an ear (or organize a mock-defense!). To my friends who supported, cajoled, and challenged me; in particular, Johnny Flynn (for all those weekend hikes spent talking over my work), Maddy Petrow-Cohen (for listening, and listening and listening), Philip DiMauro, Eric Hartman, Matt Brim, Joe Eval, and Rich Lynn. To my entire family, of course, but with particular thanks to my mother and father, who instilled in me an inquisitive nature and a great respect for the value of an education; and to Sue Addis, who stayed excited about the potential of this research even when I wasn’t. To my professors and colleagues who provided both direction and inspiration, particularly Gayle Rubin, Ruth Ann Robson, Robin Bauer, Elizabeth Danto, and the doctoral faculty at the Silberman School of Social Work. And most of all to my partner in life, John Weis, for his quiet patience, gracious support, and his constant willingness to take Gruber for another walk so I could keep writing. vi Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... iv! Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ v! Tables .............................................................................................................................................. x! Figures ......................................................................................................................................... xii! Chapter I: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1! Discrimination of Sadomasochistic and Fetishistic Sexual Minorities ....................................... 1! Why the Survey Data should be analyzed: Social Work and Empowerment of Marginal Populations. .............................................................................................................................. 3! Social Work with BDSM-identified Individuals. ..................................................................... 8! Surveying Discrimination - Clinical Implications. .................................................................. 9! Chapter II: Terminology and Context ...................................................................................... 11! BDSM Terminology: Safe, Sane and Consensual ..................................................................... 11! BDSM vs. Abuse and Violence: An Important Distinction. .................................................. 13! Types of Activities. ................................................................................................................ 14! Contextualizing BDSM: Legal, Psychological, and Sociological Perspectives ........................ 17! Legal Theorizing .................................................................................................................... 18! Psychological Theorizing ....................................................................................................... 24! Sociological and Anthropological Theorizing ....................................................................... 30! Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 38! Chapter III: A Review of the Literature on Discrimination ................................................... 40! Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination ............................................................................. 40! vii Theories of Discrimination. ................................................................................................... 40! Group Prejudice, Stigma and Discrimination. ....................................................................... 42! Individual Prejudice, Stigma and Discrimination. ................................................................. 44! The Relationship of Prejudice to Discrimination. .................................................................. 46! Literature on Quantitative Surveys of Discrimination of Sexual Minorities ............................. 48! BDSM as a Sexual Minority. ................................................................................................. 48! BDSM and LGB: Similarities and Differences. ..................................................................... 49! Significant LGBT Discrimination Research. ......................................................................... 53! The Hate Crimes Statistics Act. ............................................................................................. 55! Two Previous Anti-BDSM Surveys .......................................................................................... 57! Chapter IV: Discrimination in the BDSM Community ........................................................... 60! BDSM and Popular Culture: the Formation of Social Groups and Sexual Identities ................ 60! Discrimination of BDSM-identities and communities .............................................................. 62! Discrimination from the Heterosexual Community. .............................................................. 63! Discrimination within the LGB Community: the Minority’s Minority. ................................ 65! Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 69! Chapter V: Methodology ............................................................................................................ 72! Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 72! Sampling ...................................................................................................................................