Removing Judgement: Discussing BDSM in Adult Sexuality Education

With increasing cultural attention to kink and BDSM (Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, and Sadism/Masochism), it is more important than ever for sexuality educators to teach these topics with respect and acceptance. Many depictions of BDSM in the media are deliberately shocking. With limited resources and research surrounding the topic, it can be difficult for educators to not fall into the same trap. This paper discusses the impact of the shock-culture surrounding BDSM and offers suggestions for combating it in the classroom via implementing a combination of affective and cognitive learning.