Subculture of Youth: Sadomasochism and Gender Roles

As world openness expands and science and technology advance unprecedentedly, Chinese people's perception of sexual behavior has shifted towards a more open and inclusive manner. No longer limited to the reproductive function, their perception highlights the pursuit of harmony and pleasure in the connection between love and sexual behavior. In the current social and cultural environment, sadomasochism (SM) with unconventional sexual practices is gradually being recognized by the younger generation today. In this study, the attitudes and perceptions of today's youth on SM are discussed, and the role and impacts of gender roles on SM behavior are analyzed. Based on traditional recognition of gender roles in social structure as well as sexual attitudes in Confucianism, this paper explores how these traditional perceptions shape young people's perceptions and behaviors toward SM. Online interviews were conducted via SM platforms, together with offline interviews, to collect the views of youth around the age of 20. It is found that young people's perceptions and preference for SM behavior are mainly attributed to the novel, unique, and thrilling experiences that it offers. Delving deeper, it is found that although SM behavior subverts traditional sexual norms to a certain extent, gender roles remain prevalent with men more likely to assume dominant roles and women favoring submissive roles.