For the Aussies on here

[@}-}rebecca----]

If you're interested here are 100 posts (at time of writing) in reply to a discussion on The Catch-Up, a silly women's discussion show which I don't usually watch but wanted to see if they would say anything about the 60 Minutes show.

http://thecatchup.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=271102

If you only read a few of the posts, you'll see so many misconceptions. Most of them seem to think submissive = doormat, low self esteem, no brain or any opinions of their own. One seemed to think being submissive means we can't handle money

Bandit my humble apologies , I did in fact read this when you posted it but was interrupted and failed to return post. I think what we are seeing ( and I agree with you ) is that the term 'submissive' carries such a broad spectrum of potential meanings. Overall I fail to see to much cohesion between the portrayal of submission in the program or by viewer comments that is overly conducive to any reality we might possibly recognise. Thank you for your trouble in providing the extra links it was very interesting

 

[Bandit58]

Bandit my humble apologies , I did in fact read this when you posted it but was interrupted and failed to return post. I think what we are seeing ( and I agree with you ) is that the term 'submissive' carries such a broad spectrum of potential meanings. Overall I fail to see to much cohesion between the portrayal of submission in the program or by viewer comments that is overly conducive to any reality we might possibly recognise. Thank you for your trouble in providing the extra links it was very interesting

*sigh* Trouble is so many of those meanings are negative ones. What about serving your Dominant partner with love, care and appreciation...and receiving those things in return?

A lot of the people who posted could not see the line between being submissive and being abused and controlled in a not so good way. Believe me I have lived that before and it is nothing like what my relationship is now with Master Gil.

I also posted a rant on the How To board in the Things Which Piss You Off thread:

Linky to post

bobsgirl's point about "submissive" being synonymous with "subservient" is a good one

 

[Netzach]

OK, but I think we're confusing a central issue.


Being submissive as a life option, as a part of your self-awareness, as an outcropping of personal identity which you've identified for yourself, and just...
being submissive because it's never occured to you to do anything else or because your culture automatically mandates that you be because you're a woman.

The latter is still not acceptable yes?

Books and media which mandate an automatic submissive and "traditional" response in male/female relationships are at an all-time high - I really hope that's not what our future holds. It's so much more exciting to think that women are in a position to make decisions based on their self-knowledge whether that means abdicating your power or taking someone else's.

There's a world of difference between "submissive" as a word in the context of BDSM / D/s and outside of that context. If you want to make it your personal crusade to make service and caretaking and obedience more valued social values more power to you - I think those things can be important and overlooked feminist values, actually.