The Sub-Types of Submissives
written by Micah Brown
BDSM Terminology
When one thinks about BDSM and kink, their minds often segregate the various practitioners of these activities into one of three buckets:
Dominants
Submissives
Switches
From a wide view, this does break down the dynamics in a fairly clear triad, but it does not tell the whole story. Within each of these groupings, there are various different types of each.
My focus today is going to be strictly on submissives. We will touch on Dominants and switches later in the month of December.
The sub Types
All of the subtypes we will talk about today fall under this broad category. As the name implies, submissives in a BDSM dynamic are individuals of any gender who seek to relinquish control of their bodies and minds to one (or more) Dominant(s). This sort of relationship can look very different depending on the primary dynamic of the participants.
Perhaps the most frequent image people see in their head when somebody identifies as a submissive is a bound person or a person kneeling on the floor before a Dominant. It shocks some people to learn that not all subs kneel in such a way. Still, others are surprised to learn that not all subs consider themselves to be of the slave variety.
1. Bedroom-only submissives
Those submissives who only practice submission during sexual situations fall into this category. While we can break this down further into various types of submissives who are "Just in the Bedroom" it's far easier to say that most submissive types can be practiced just for sexual gratification.
2. Service submissives
A service submissive is one who gets enjoyment out of providing any variety of services to their Dominant. Whether these are sexual services, domestic services, or even professional services, a service sub lives to find ways to help their Dominant succeed in any number of ways.
In many cases, a service submissive will have a list of tasks that they are expected to perform as their service to their Dom. This could be something like keeping the house clean or even doing the family taxes. Of course, this can fall into sexy times as well, with the service sub "servicing" their Dom sexually in whatever way the Dom wants (within the agreed-upon boundaries, of course).
3. Pets
A pet is a submissive who tends to exhibit the traits of a pet. Some may call this "Puppy play" or "Kitten Play," but there is a variety of potential "pets" within the pet subtype.
Pets enjoy encouragement from their Doms, they like to play, and frequently they partake in various trainings that may look similar to what a dog may go through. Clicker training, as with a dog, is not uncommon between partners who practice pet play.
4. littles and middles
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood and demonized aspects of the BDSM and Kink community is Age Play. However, for Littles and Middles this type of play is extremely important.
I will pause here to clarify that those who identify as Littles or Middles are adults and while they may roleplay a younger version of themselves, they are not actual children.
When somebody identifies as a Little, they generally roleplay ages 1 - 7. While sex-play can happen in these scenarios, there is also the sense of being cared for and adored that may have been lacking in their own childhood.
If a person is identifying as a Middle, that's generally anywhere from 8 - 14. These roleplay ages may have a more sexual side to them simply because of those ages and how they tend to act. This is, again, an adult who is roleplaying in order to achieve a desired result for themselves.
5. Slaves
Many would view the slave type submissive as one of the most extreme examples of a submissive. This can be the case in many dynamics, but it will depend on how the idea of ownership and slavery is approached by those involved.
A slave is a submissive who gives their entire body and decision-making over to their Dominant. They no longer feel as though they own their body, and they agree to let their owner make decisions for them.
This is a very broad view of what a slave is in the BDSM community misses some of the nuances of the station of a slave.
Within the BDSM lexicon, being a slave is considered a type of Total Power Exchange (TPE for short) relationship where the submissive concedes their autonomy to somebody else. We will touch on other TPE types later in this entry.
Once again, you will find subtypes of the slave subtype, including the two most well-known types which are sex slaves and domestic slaves.
5a. sex slaves
When somebody agrees to be a sex slave, they give up their ability to decline sex (within an agreed-upon dynamic that uses a safe word) and agree to serve their Dominant sexually whenever it is requested of them within the boundaries they have set. This can be anything from giving blow jobs in the theater to fucking in an alleyway to having a quickie in the kitchen during Thanksgiving dinner with the entire family just one open door away (I am guilty of that last one). Essentially, it is the "I get to fuck you anywhere, any time I want, and you cannot refuse" (again, within the pre-set boundaries).
5b. Domestic slaves
A domestic slave is one who may appear to be more of a 1950s style housewife. Their duties may include making dinner, keeping the house clean, taking care of chores like mowing the lawn, or cleaning the litter boxes. A domestic slave is one who gives up their life outside the home to perform duties within it.
5c. Full slaves*
A full slave would be an individual who gives up every aspect of their decision-making and gives it to their Dominant. This can look different depending on the agreements that they've come to within their dynamic, but often includes aspects of the Domestic slave and the sex slave.
This level of dedication from both the slave and the Master/Mistress may seem a bit overwhelming at first, especially in a world where most adults must be working and you rarely find single-income households. To that end, a slave may have specific requirements from their Dom during their workday to keep them reminded of the fact that they are owned.
*Let’s remember one type of a slave or submissive in general is in no way better than the others.
6. FinSub (financial submissive)
Sometimes called a paypig or human ATM, these are submissives who may go well beyond the idea of a “sugar” type. Their whole lives may be dominated by their financial subservience to their Master. In extreme cases, the FinSub may give over their entire paycheck to their Dominant and allow their entire life to be dictated by the one they’re giving money to. In many cases, the FinSub may never actually meet their dominant and simply lives in service to them through their monetary tributes
7. Masochist/Pain Slut/Pain Doll
Masochists are those who get sexual gratification from feeling pain. They pair well with Sadists, who get sexual gratification from causing pain. It is important to note that when a Sadist and a Masochist are playing together, they should be doing so consensually. Masochists may look like they’re not enjoying the pain, but when the session is over, they will almost always have a big smile on their faces and may even have experienced an intense orgasm. For some, pain can actually cause orgasm!
8. Brat
Bratting can be associated with the behavior of littles or middles, but that is actually the minority of cases. A brat may often act like an entitled teenager, but that does not mean that they are in little or middle space. It usually means that they like to be confrontational and try to aggravate their Dominant - but each brat will have their own take on why they are bratting. They tend to be very playful, they like to provoke their Dom, either emotionally or sexually, and they’re simultaneously trying to get into trouble and talk their way out of it.
If they do not have a good fit for a Dominant, they could end up “Topping from the bottom” which is a way of saying that while they’re considered the sub in name, they’re the ones really calling the shots.
You need a Brat Tamer type Dom to really be able to keep this type of sub in line.
9. Cuck
A cuckold, “cuck” for short, is a submissive coded masculine presenting individual who enjoys watching his partner having sex with other people, while he watches. A cuckqueen would be the female presenting version of this..
The cuck, whether cuckold or cuckqueen, or a gender-neutral cuck, may then be made to clean up the mess the two lovers made while engaging in sex. One of the thrills for a cuck is watching their partner perform sexual acts they would outright refuse to do with them.
Tying it all up…
These are just a few of the many types of submissives out there in the kink world. Many of these submissive types can exist together in the same individual. You can have a bratty cuck, or a masochist service sub. If you’re seeking a submissive partner, knowing what type of submissive best fits your Dominant type will help you find a partner that you truly click with and can truly build a dynamic with.
Once you find that perfect submissive, you may want to try using the Obedience App to help create habits, rules, rewards, and punishments for them, whether they live with you or on the other side of the globe.
