Does Tribute Belong in the Lifestyle: A Comparative Study of Lifestyle and Professional Dominatrices

Abstract

This study is a qualitative study to analyze the similarities and differences between lifestyle dominatrices (women who are not paid money to perform dominant acts on submissives) and professional dominatrices (women who are paid money to perform dominant BDSM acts on submissives). Three professional dominatrices and three lifestyle dominatrices were interviewed one on one as part of this study. There were also Three professional dominatrices blogs and three lifestyle dominatrices blogs used as well. These two types of dominatrices were compared on how they view the other type of dominatrix and tribute (money and gifts). The lifestyles seem to all believe that professionals do serve a purpose, but do not want them to advertise to submissives at kink events. There is also a belief, held by lifestyles, that professionals are not genuinely interested in BDSM because they are being paid to perform BDSM. However, a majority of the professionals would consider themselves lifestyles as well, because they practice BDSM with their romantic partners. When it comes to tribute professionals of course accept it, but there is a split between lifestyles on this subject. Some lifestyles are completely against tribute and believe accepting tribute makes you a professional. Then there are some lifestyles who accept and expect tribute from submissives. The purpose of this study is to expand our understanding of lifestyle and professional dominatrices. This study has been approved by IU’s Institutional Review Board.