• The BDSM community consists of submissives who enjoy taking on a role during sex or sensual role play, and there are various types of submissive roles.
• Sexual submission involves submissives taking a bottom role during sexual activities and allowing their partner to take the lead.
• Service submission refers to submissives who provide services for their Dominant partner, ranging from domestic tasks to more specialized tasks.
• Slaves are highly devoted submissives who are willing to give up everything for their Dominant partner and are eager to submit to any form of pain, anguish, punishment, or exercise that their Master desires.
• Brats are submissives who take pleasure in being playful, cheeky, and disobedient to their partner, often in a lighthearted manner.
• Smart-Assed Masochists (SAMs) are provocateurs who challenge and test their Dominant, and they are known for their intelligence and quick wit.
• Littles are submissives who take on the role of a much younger person in a consensual age-play relationship or scene.
• Pets can be drawn to primal play and may adopt the characteristics of specific animals, but this type of play does not involve bestiality.

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In the BDSM community, submissives are individuals who enjoy playing a character during sex or sensual role play. This is similar to how actors in movies take on the personality of their roles. There are various types of submissive roles that people can explore, but because everyone is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to being a sub. Although no two submissives are exactly alike, there are common categories in which they can be grouped.

It's worth noting that individuals can also switch between being a dominant or submissive role. This practice is known as "switching." If you're interested in learning more about the different types of submissives in BDSM, keep reading!

Sexual Submission

In BDSM, some submissives enjoy taking on a bottom role, allowing their partner to take the lead. Consent is paramount in this dynamic, and it is important to establish boundaries and communicate openly with your partner. Sexual submission can take many forms, ranging from following orders and being of service to the dominant partner, to exploring primal desires that involve resistance and challenge.

Service Submission

Service submission is a type of submission that does not necessarily involve sexual acts. It refers to submissives who provide services for their Dominant partner, which can range from domestic tasks like cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry to more specialized tasks like doing taxes, mowing the lawn, cleaning the pool, or fixing the car. What matters most is the intention behind the act, which is to make the Dominant's life more comfortable and to be of service to them. While service submission may not involve sexual acts, it is an important part of the BDSM dynamic and can provide a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction for both partners. 

Slaves

A slave is a type of submissive who is highly devoted and willing to give up everything for their Master or Dominant partner. They are eager to submit to any form of pain, anguish, punishment, or exercise that their Master desires. 

Like other forms of submission, there is a spectrum of behaviors and desires among slaves. Some slaves prefer to be micromanaged, with their Master deciding when they eat, what they eat, when they use the bathroom, and even when they speak. Other slaves may have a "slave heart," meaning they have a deep desire to serve and submit to their Dominant partner, even if they don't engage in as many outward acts of submission. Most, if not all, slaves have a slave heart, but each individual defines it for themselves. It's important to note that slaves tend to give up even more control to their Dominant partner than other types of submissives, which requires a high level of trust and communication between partners.

Brats

A brat is someone who takes pleasure in being playful, cheeky, and disobedient to their partner, often in a lighthearted manner. The intention behind this behavior could be to elicit various reactions from their partner. Bratting can be either a temporary or an enduring aspect of one's identity. Typically, submissives are more likely to identify as brats, but Dominants can also display bratty behavior. It's important to note that the label "brat" is not specific to any gender and can apply to anyone.

Behaviors such as laughing in your partner's face when given instructions, being particular about the way a request is made, or simply saying "no" can all be examples of bratty behavior. However, it's important to understand that these actions are not inherently bratty; it's the context and motivation behind them that give them their meaning. As with many kinks, bratting often has psychological roots, and understanding these motivations can facilitate better communication between partners.

Smart-Assed Masochist (SAM)

SAMs, or Smart Ass Masochists, are a unique subset within BDSM. While not all SAMs are masochists, they do share a common trait of being provocateurs to their Dominant. Their behavior can be seen as a form of bratting, which is aimed at eliciting a response from their Dominant. Some SAMs are motivated by the punishment they receive, while others derive pleasure from the pain they experience.

In addition to being provocateurs, SAMs are known for their intelligence and quick wit, which they use to challenge and test their Dominant. This can make for an exciting dynamic within a BDSM relationship, as it requires the Dominant to be attentive, adaptable, and creative in their responses.

Little

A Little is an individual who takes on the role of a much younger person, sometimes a version of themselves, within a consensual age-play relationship or scene. By adopting child-like attitudes and behaviors, a Little will often identify as a specific age, ranging anywhere from infant to teen (also known as “middles”). They may incorporate physical mannerisms and activities associated with children, such as changing their voices, playing with toys and dolls, and dressing in age-appropriate clothing.

It's important to note that anyone, regardless of age, gender, or sexuality, can identify as a Little. One of the primary appeals of being a Little is the sense of escape from the responsibilities and pressures of adulthood. By entering "little space" as part of their age play with their Big, a Little can leave behind their real-world issues and concerns. While some Littles may also include a sexual element in their play, it's not a requirement for all.

Pets

Pets can be drawn to primal play, which is often more animalistic and based on notions of strength and dominance. Alternatively, they may adopt the characteristics of specific animals, much like Littles. It's important to note that this type of play does not involve bestiality, just as Caregiver/little dynamics do not involve pedophilia. In these scenarios, the animal is limited to the actions and behaviors that their Master/Dom/Caretaker allows them to engage in, although they do possess their own personalities and desires.

It's also worth noting that not all pets or furries are docile and obedient. Some have minds of their own and may resist or push back against their dominant partner's commands. While kittens and puppies are the most commonly associated animals in furry play, there are many other options available for those who wish to explore different aspects of their animal personas.

Professional Submissive

A professional submissive is a sex worker who specializes in taking on the submissive role during BDSM activities. Although they are less common than professional dominants, they can be found working in BDSM dungeons or through specialized websites. Professional submissives are often hired by individuals who are single or attached, but whose partners do not share their BDSM interests or are unaware of them. Some professional submissives also cater to couples.

The services provided by a professional submissive can vary depending on the desires of the client. Some clients enjoy role-playing, while others prefer bondage, sadism, or other activities. Professional submissives will adapt their services to suit their client's desires and may engage in activities such as being tied up, spanked, tickled, or flogged. They may also take on different submissive characters such as a student, secretaries, pet, or sex slave. While professional submissives work hard to please their clients, they often have limitations on what is considered acceptable play.