Flogging, spanking and being tied up are topics that are usually considered taboo among college students, but learning more about kink and consent may enlighten our experiences with intimacy. On Wednesday, Shippensburg students gathered in CUB 119 to discuss such topics with a conversation led by Megan Yost, Dickinson College professor of psychology and women’s gender and sexuality studies.

Upon entry, attendees were given a blank index card to write down questions they may have to submit in a bucket during the discussion, so their questions could be asked anonymously. This conversation allowed students to become more educated on topics they normally cannot speak about and ask questions within a safe, judgment-free space.

PAGE (Pride and Gender Equity) Center Director Miller Hoffman began by thanking former PAGE Center Peer Educator Jenna Cornell for her efforts in elevating several programs that promoted the idea of “sexy consent,” such as Sexy Bingo, Lube-a-palooza and the annual Sex Toy Egg Hunt, which had over 100 attendees this year.

Cornell proposed the idea of the Kink and Consent workshop. “‘Sexy Education,’ as we call it, came to fruition because everyone has a different experience with sex education growing up,” Cornell said. “If we are properly equipped and able to talk candidly about what we like, we are, in turn, more able to be open with what we don’t.”

The discussion began with Yost defining what kink and BDSM is, sharing that BDSM stands for Bondage, Discipline, Sadism and Masochism. Yost then discussed consent practices in the BDSM community, sharing that consent is strongly enforced throughout the community, sometimes even more enforced than what is common in regular sexual encounters.

Yost discussed the importance that all participants can define what they want from the experience in advance and discuss what is off-limits. It is integral that all participants understand that they have power and autonomy in each scenario, even in scenarios that entail a power imbalance between players. Yost discussed that BDSM scenarios may involve consensual non-consent, which require a great deal of trust between participants. 

Yost then discussed that it is important for participants to understand that all acts that involve harm also carry risk. For example, the act of choking is not endorsed by the BDSM community, as there is no way to ensure cardiac arrest will not occur. It is important for all participants to know how to reduce the risk of harm before engaging in an activity. 

Yost also shared BDSM demographics. More men than women engage in BDSM, and roughly an equal amount of straight and LGBTQ+ people participate in BDSM. Stigmas surrounding BDSM were also addressed. Some BDSM activities can be prosecuted as assault, even if the actions are granted consent, as a person cannot consent to their own assault.

Later in the event, audience members felt encouraged to ask Yost questions, to which she provided detailed answers based on research from the BDSM community. One of the questions asked was about the act of flogging, where a participant may use a whip tool on another participant.

The impact of the whip may vary depending on its material and is most commonly used on a person’s backside. However, the kidneys are located on the back of the body below the ribcage, and do not have a great deal of protection from this impact that may result in kidney damage. “There needs to be care taken that the kidneys are not getting bruised through the skin,” Yost said.

For more resources on consent and safe sex practices, visit the PAGE Center located in CUB 232, open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

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