Researching sexual difference: A survey of gay S/M in the UK

Abstract

This paper presents the preliminary results of an empirical survey conducted on gay S/M in the UK in 2004–2005. The survey is part of a broader study, which includes both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This paper presents selected survey findings, comparing them with those produced by earlier quantitative work on gay S/M conducted in the US and Europe since 1975 to discover if there have been any major changes in the demographic profiles of participants on the scene, their preferred activities and their attitudes to key aspects of S/M. Methodological issues relating to quantitative research in the area of sexualities and sexual identities are also discussed.