The history of BDSM

We’ve all heard about it—and since Fifty Shades of Grey, many people think we invented it. But Bondage, Discipline/Domination, Sadism, and Masochism (BDSM) has been around for thousands of years. The term BDSM itself only emerged in modern times. It’s a combination of BD (Bondage and Discipline), DS (Dominance and Submission), and SM (Sadism and Masochism). The acronym first appeared in the 1960s and was popularised in academic and subcultural contexts by 1969—a fitting year, for obvious reasons. Some sources suggest its formal academic use began in the 1980s, but the practices themselves have ancient roots. As far back as ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, we find evidence of erotic practices involving dominance, submission, and physical stimulation. Greek pottery and Roman texts depict scenes of flagellation and power exchange, suggesting a cultural acceptance of what we’d now recognize as kink.

Ancient Japanese rope bondage, known as Hojojutsu, began in the Samurai era (approximately the 1400s) as a martial art for restraining prisoners. It was highly ritualistic and emphasized aesthetics and control. Over time, it evolved into Kinbaku-bi (the beauty of tight binding) or simply Kinbaku, which developed into an erotic art form by the Edo period (1603–1868). The myth that ropes broke bones as they dried is likely exaggerated—Hojojutsu was painful, but not necessarily bone-breaking. Today, Shibari, a more artistic and sensual form of rope bondage, is celebrated worldwide for its intricate knots, emotional intensity, and visual impact.

The Kama Sutra, compiled between 400 BCE and 200 CE in India, is often misunderstood as just a sex manual. In truth, it’s a sophisticated treatise on relationships and pleasure. It includes chapters on biting, scratching, slapping, and other forms of erotic stimulation. Crucially, it discusses mutual enjoyment, consent, and the understanding that not all acts are pleasurable for all participants—making it one of the earliest known texts to explore consent in erotic play.

No history of BDSM is complete without the infamous Marquis de Sade (1740–1814). A French nobleman, writer, and libertine, de Sade is the namesake of sadism. His works describe and sometimes glorify acts of dominance, cruelty, and submission. He wrote openly about flogging, whipping, and even wax play, often involving sex workers. While his legacy is complicated—he was imprisoned for much of his life due to his extreme behaviours—he undeniably shaped modern perceptions of erotic power play. However, many of his actions were non-consensual, making him a controversial figure within consensual BDSM communities today. Victorian England (1837–1901) is a fascinating era for kink history. Publicly, society was buttoned-up and repressed, but behind closed doors, erotic exploration flourished. Flagellation-themed pornography, erotica, and specialized brothels for caning and

whipping emerged. The contradiction between public morality and private desire led to a rich underground kink culture. One legendary figure was Theresa Berkley, a 19th-century dominatrix who ran a high-end brothel in Soho. She invented the Berkley Horse, a spanking bench designed to position clients for flogging—a kind of prototype for modern BDSM furniture. Her invention sits in the Royal Society of Medicine’s Museum in London today. The Victorian obsession with corporal punishment in schools and homes is believed to have influenced the development of modern impact play fetishes, linking discipline with eroticism.

In the early 20th century, BDSM practices were mostly underground due to strict social and legal norms. Nevertheless, private communities and coded publications began to emerge, particularly in post-WWII Europe and America. The gay leather subculture played a major role. Larry Townsend’s The Leatherman’s Handbook (1972) was a groundbreaking guide that introduced safe, consensual BDSM to a wider audience and helped shape the values of modern kink, including safe, sane, and consensual (SSC) principles.

Meanwhile, The Story of O (1954) by Pauline Réage (the pen name of Anne Desclos) became a cult classic. It tells the tale of a woman’s journey into submission and explores themes of ownership, devotion, and physical endurance. Controversial and erotic, it challenged gender roles and inspired real-world BDSM enthusiasts for generations.

Fast forward to the 21st century and enter Fifty Shades of Grey. Whatever your opinion of the writing, there’s no denying its impact. It brought BDSM into the mainstream and sparked public conversation about kink, consent, and sexual exploration. The anonymity of eBooks definitely helped people read it without shame—until everyone was reading it.

The internet revolutionized access to BDSM knowledge. From forums and videos to virtual munches and online workshops, people can now explore their kinks with more resources and community support than ever before. Consent has become the golden rule. Ethical BDSM is based on clear communication, mutual agreement, and safety. Frameworks like RACK (Risk Aware Consensual Kink) and PRICK (Personal Responsibility, Informed Consensual Kink) emphasize self-awareness and mutual respect.

In many countries, BDSM is still legally ambiguous—especially when physical injury is involved. However, attitudes are shifting. As societies grow more accepting of diverse sexual expression, BDSM is increasingly recognized as a valid and consensual form of adult intimacy. The First Known Dominatrix? The earliest written reference to a professional dominatrix is from the 18th century, in a book titled Nocturnal Revels (1779), which details the lives of London’s sex workers, including women who specialized in whipping and roleplay. 

In medieval Europe, certain Christian sects practiced ritual self-flagellation as a form of penance and spiritual purification—blurring the line between pain, discipline, and ecstasy. Some BDSM historians trace psychological parallels to this practice. One of the earliest known pornographic films, A Free Ride (1915), includes scenes of dominance and spanking, showing that BDSM themes appeared even in the silent film era Nazira Zein: A Forgotten Pioneer In the 1920s and 30s, Syrian-Lebanese writer Nazira Zein wrote erotic fiction with themes of female dominance, bondage, and power play, well before it was socially acceptable. 

In the 1950s and 60s, discreetly labelled fetish magazines like Bizarre, Exotique, and Diana Slip catered to a growing underground audience of BDSM enthusiasts. They often featured corsets, high heels, spanking scenes, and elaborate roleplay.  The practice of using safe words became formalized in the 1980s and 90s within organized BDSM communities, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, as a way to ensure clear, non-verbal consent even during intense scenes. The Leather Pride Flag Designed by Tony De Blase in 1989, the Leather Pride Flag became a symbol for the leather and BDSM community. It includes black and blue stripes with a red heart, symbolizing leather culture, love, and kink.

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association removed consensual BDSM practices from its list of mental disorders in the DSM-5, as long as they are not causing distress or functional impairment—helping to de-pathologize kink. The 1990s saw a surge of BDSM clubs and public dungeon events in cities like New York, Berlin, San Francisco, and Tokyo. Events like Folsom Street Fair (San Francisco) and Torture Garden (London) made kink more visible and celebratory.

NASA astronaut Alan Shepard allegedly brought BDSM-themed erotic fiction into space (though unofficial and disputed). While apocryphal, this story has become part of kink folklore—underscoring that sexual fantasy knows no boundaries. From ancient temples to Victorian parlours, Samurai ropes to eBook erotica, BDSM has had a wilder ride than a dominatrix on a mechanical bull. The tools and terminology might have changed, but the human desire to explore power, pleasure, and trust remains timeless.

Luckily, we’ve come a long way from hiding our kink under floorboards or behind velvet curtains. These days, you can explore your deepest desires with just a click—no secret knock or candlelit dungeon required (unless you’re into that, of course). And if you’re  wondering where to begin—or where to upgrade your toy box—Lola Montez www.lolamontez.co.za has you covered. From beginner-friendly restraints to products that would make the Marquis de Sade blush, we stock a variety of adult delights to indulge any fantasy. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or kinky-as-hell, there’s something for everyone—yes, even you, vanilla sponge. So go on, explore your pleasure. Just remember the only safe word you’ll need at Lola Montez is: “Add to Cart.”