Flogging
What is Flogging?
Flogging is whipping or striking a submissive’s body repeatedly and methodically in the same place with a specific instrument, like a rod, whip, or a flogger. A flogger is a whip made of long, flat tails, typically made of mostly leather or similar materials. There is only one purpose for a flogger, and that is to strike human flesh. The main idea is to whip a submissive’s skin in the same place repeatedly (approximately a half a dozen times) with the intention to build momentum for the purpose of erotic pain. Flogging is one of the most common BDSM activities.
Keep in mind, there is a wrong way, and a right to flog someone. When it is done right, it can be very pleasurable. Just like any activity in a dominant/submissive relationship, the details and expectations of a scene, and the use of a flogger need to be discussed beforehand and agreed to by all members involved. For example, the use of a safe word, the intensity of the flogging, as well as the specific body parts to be flogged must be discussed. Not to mention, the experience with flogging by both the dominant and submissive should be discussed in advance, in order to get a sense of one’s threshold of pain.
Who invented flogging? It is not clear who invented flogging, as it has been used as a form of punishment for centuries. Flogging, also known as whipping or caning, is a punishment in which a person is struck with a whip or rod as a form of punishment. The use of flogging as a form of punishment can be found in various cultures and societies throughout history.
The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used flogging as a punishment for both slaves and free individuals. The Roman Republic and Empire used flogging as a punishment for both military and civilian offenses.
In the Middle Ages, flogging was commonly used as a punishment in the military and in monasteries. It was also used as a form of punishment in the British colonies, including the American colonies, and later in the United States.
Flogging as a punishment is still used in some countries today, although it has been abolished or restricted in many jurisdictions.
It’s important to note that flogging is a form of corporal punishment, it may cause physical and psychological harm, and it’s considered as a form of torture.
The BDSM subculture began to emerge in the 1950s and 1960s, with the publication of novels such as The Story of O and the creation of underground BDSM communities. It wasn’t until the 1970s, with the publication of the book “The Erotic Mind” by Jack McGeorge and the creation of the Society of Janus in San Francisco, which is considered as one of the first BDSM groups in the United States, that BDSM began to be widely discussed and understood as a distinct subculture.
It is also important to note that BDSM activities should be consensual and safe, it should be practiced with informed consent, communication, and negotiation with a partner. It’s important to be aware of any physical and emotional limits, and to have a safe word or signal in case one partner wants to stop the activity.