Women who engage in S/M (sadomasochistic) interactions for money: A descriptive study

Previous research has not systematically studied S/M (sadomasochistic) professionals. In this questionnaire study, 31 women who engaged in S/M interactions for money on a regular basis were obtained by a variety of sampling techniques. Results show that these women were S/M practitioners and tended to be dominant in their personal lives. They maintained primary relationships, reported satisfaction with their lives, tended to be sexually adventurous, and often had experience in other areas of sex work. They saw themselves as different from traditional prostitutes. They were no more likely to report a history of sexual abuse than women in the general population. The implications of these results are discussed and possibilities for future research outlined.