It is only over the past five to ten years that the term ‘submissive relationship’ has entered into popular culture. The rise of kinks in the mainstream media and wildly successful books such as 50 Shades of Grey have put this type of relationship under the spotlight. Before that, you would have to be part of the BDSM (Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, and Sadomasochism) community to have an understanding of what is a submissive relationship.

The increased media attention on sex and greater awareness about kinks and an understanding of sexual practices, coupled with a focus on being sex-positive, has meant most people now have a greater grasp of the term and what it means.

Of course, not everyone is familiar with what a submissive relationship is and what it entails. This article is a little explainer about submissive relationships and everything you need to know about them. So read on and discover what a submissive relationship is.

What Does Submissive Mean?

Let’s start with the basics. The word submissive, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, states it means “allowing yourself to be controlled by other people or animals.” That is pretty self-explanatory, although I don’t think any animals will be controlling you in your dating life. Now, most people associate being submissive with sex. When you look at it in that light, people think being submissive means you like to be controlled in the bedroom and are happy to let your partner be the one making all the decisions. But there is a little more to it than that.

While sex is very much a part of a submissive relationship, it is not necessarily the main factor. It is more about the power dynamic between two people. Those who are submissive enjoy being at the mercy of someone else and being told what to do, while those who are dominant prefer to be the ones with all the power.