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"It Felt Sexually Liberating": An Examination of How Black Women's Awareness of Kink and BDSM Informs Their Sex Lives.

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Title: "It Felt Sexually Liberating": An Examination of How Black Women's Awareness of Kink and BDSM Informs Their Sex Lives.
Authors: Malone, Natalie (AUTHOR), Johnson, Jasmine N. (AUTHOR), Thorpe, Shemeka (AUTHOR), Kerney, Monyae A. (AUTHOR), Duroseau, Brenice (AUTHOR), Stewart, Marla Renee (AUTHOR), Coston, B. Ethan (AUTHOR), Vigil, Kasey (AUTHOR), Hargons, Candice N. (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Sex Research. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 63 Issue 3, p363-376. 14p.
Subjects: BDSM, Black women, Sexual freedom, Identity (Psychology), Sexual minorities, Human sexuality, Healing
Abstract: Kink and BDSM can have healing and liberatory potential for practitioners, whether kink-identified or not, particularly Black women and those who are members of alternative sexual communities. This study presents data from N = 22 kink/BDSM-identified, experienced, and non-kinky/BDSM Black ciswomen on their awareness of and engagement in kink and BDSM (bondage and discipline, sadism and masochism, dominance, and submission). Qualitative data were from Phase Two of The Big Sex Study, a #HotGirlScience participatory action project. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in four themes: (1) Kink/BDSM Introductions, (2) Identity Within/Outside of Kink/BDSM, (3) Kink/BDSM in Action (subthemes: Principles and Values, Sexual Practices, Partner Compatibility, and Digital Spaces), and (4) Liberation and Healing. Participants reported 49 kink/BDSM activities and demonstrated an awareness of kink/BDSM identities, values, and behaviors regardless of their experience or identification with kink/BDSM. We conclude with implications for research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: "It Felt Sexually Liberating": An Examination of How Black Women's Awareness of Kink and BDSM Informs Their Sex Lives.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Malone%2C+Natalie%22">Malone, Natalie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Johnson%2C+Jasmine+N%2E%22">Johnson, Jasmine N.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thorpe%2C+Shemeka%22">Thorpe, Shemeka</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kerney%2C+Monyae+A%2E%22">Kerney, Monyae A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Duroseau%2C+Brenice%22">Duroseau, Brenice</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stewart%2C+Marla+Renee%22">Stewart, Marla Renee</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Coston%2C+B%2E+Ethan%22">Coston, B. Ethan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vigil%2C+Kasey%22">Vigil, Kasey</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hargons%2C+Candice+N%2E%22">Hargons, Candice N.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Sex+Research%22">Journal of Sex Research</searchLink>. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 63 Issue 3, p363-376. 14p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22BDSM%22">BDSM</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Black+women%22">Black women</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+freedom%22">Sexual freedom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Identity+%28Psychology%29%22">Identity (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+minorities%22">Sexual minorities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+sexuality%22">Human sexuality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Healing%22">Healing</searchLink>
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  Data: Kink and BDSM can have healing and liberatory potential for practitioners, whether kink-identified or not, particularly Black women and those who are members of alternative sexual communities. This study presents data from N = 22 kink/BDSM-identified, experienced, and non-kinky/BDSM Black ciswomen on their awareness of and engagement in kink and BDSM (bondage and discipline, sadism and masochism, dominance, and submission). Qualitative data were from Phase Two of The Big Sex Study, a #HotGirlScience participatory action project. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in four themes: (1) Kink/BDSM Introductions, (2) Identity Within/Outside of Kink/BDSM, (3) Kink/BDSM in Action (subthemes: Principles and Values, Sexual Practices, Partner Compatibility, and Digital Spaces), and (4) Liberation and Healing. Participants reported 49 kink/BDSM activities and demonstrated an awareness of kink/BDSM identities, values, and behaviors regardless of their experience or identification with kink/BDSM. We conclude with implications for research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192312977
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        Value: 10.1080/00224499.2024.2426002
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        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Black women
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      – SubjectFull: Sexual freedom
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      – SubjectFull: Identity (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Sexual minorities
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      – SubjectFull: Human sexuality
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      – SubjectFull: Healing
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: "It Felt Sexually Liberating": An Examination of How Black Women's Awareness of Kink and BDSM Informs Their Sex Lives.
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              Text: Mar/Apr2026
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              Y: 2026
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