What does slavery mean?

What does slavery mean?

Jazlyn​(masochist female)​{Owned} • Apr 10, 2025

I've read what a lot of people have to say about the slave master relationship, and I've come to find out that what everyone thinks it is varies. Some think it's just about having a sex toy, others think it's not different from a dom and sub relationship, others think it's about chaining someone up and locking them in a cage like a pet, and others think it's about torture. I suppose every pair will be different, but down to the bone, what really is slavery?

Of course actually owning another human being is illegal because of human rights, so you can't literally own someone and do what you please with them. So that takes out the core meaning of actually owning a slave, and all you can really do is find someone who is willing to follow every word you say. In a way, I guess that makes it more special to have someone willing to give away freedom versus having a literal slave you are forcing to do things through violence and mistreatment.

This all feels very nuanced to me. Slavery in BDSM is essentially someone who is willing to give away their freedom, but at the same time is expressing their freedom in the act of choosing a master to serve—the freedom to have no freedom. As a slave, I still haven't figured out why I have given up my freedom and what it all really means. My master and I have a long journey ahead of us.

TopekaDom​(dom male)​{Chaos } • Apr 10, 2025

A Master(Mistress)/slave relationship is very Old School type of BDSM. Back in my day, it was top echelon of relationships. The slave was property to the M type and each side fully understood what it meant. A well educated M type knew what they wanted and how they had a responsibility to the slave. The slave, on the other hand, knew they were giving up almost total control of how their lives were led.

As you said, the laws of a given country forbade real ownership, but those involved in a given M/s knew this. In reality, a slave could legally leave at anytime. Were there problems with this? Yes, and there still are. However, in most cases it worked out very well.

M/s are typically much more formal, more structured and in some instances, more violent. Not everyone can do a M/s, nor should they. It takes a great deal of work and not everyone is up to that capability.

MasterDarcy​(dom male) • Apr 10, 2025

It's not a one size fits all definition.

It's important to preface this with noting that role of a slave (or any role) should be entirely consensual.

The slave role is a role that's enveloped in CNC. So, consent is a prerequisite. It's a non negotiable.

Everyone has their own unique interpretation of what constitutes "slavery."

It's improbable that you'll find find two identical interpretions.

You can say the same for any BDSMcentric dynamic and role and relationship. Everyone has their own unique perspective and their own personal interpretion on the building blocks and the DNA of specific roles and what makes a particular role what it is.

The word "slave" is more of a title than a literal definition.

My personal interpretation of a "slave" is a person who consents to having zero resistance. Zero input. Zero say. Zero voice.

They are consenting to obey with no degree of objection or resistance or compromise. They are consenting with no regard for themselves, their health, their wealth, their present, past ot future.

They're putting their entire live in the hands of their Dominant/Master/Mistress.

They're giving someone the autonomy to distinguish your life, but trusting that they never will.

Trust is amazing ingredient of all dynamics.

A Dom/slave dynamic is different from a Dom/submissive dynamic as a submissive should have a voice. They should have limits and rules and they should be able to negotiate and barter, etc.

In essence, the main difference between a submissive and a slave is that a submissive has a voice.

The slave doesn't.

People outside this lifestyle will immediately think that there's manipulation involved. That misogyny is in the mix.

It couldn't be farther from the truth. I've always said that women in BDSM (irrespective of their role) are feminists and they are choosing to be who they were always meant to be.

BDSM roles aren't a choice. The only "choice" in BDSM is to choose to either embrace who you are, or choose not to.

House Talion​(dom male) • Apr 11, 2025

A slave is property and treated as such by however their owner chooses. As property a slavebi not allowed to own anything, thus anything owned prior to being owned becomes owned by your owner. That includes funds, vehicles, homes, items, pets. Discretion based on your owner's idealistics, but some simply have their slave to continue looking over such things.
You do as you're told when you're told no questions asked unless specified by your owner. Most unowned and some owned slaves look for training by experienced Owners where as an experienced Owner would usually require their new property to undergo specific training regaurdless of past experience as well as a certain amount of time being served in order to earn their ownership and/or said time spent while owned to earn their collar which is proof of a kept slave which is kne that would not be traded or sold. Yes, such property has the option of being traded or sold as is the discretion of their owner.

That being said listen very carefully to the following statement. Until you have an owner, NO ONE has the authority to tell you what to do until you give them such permissions unless you're a 'Gorean' slave.

A Gorean slave always has the chance of being used in any way or claimed by a potential owner regaurdless of what you want cause you're less than meager belongings.

Heart of Persephone​(sub female)​{owned} • Aug 26, 2025

To me its the top level of submission. To give myself so completely and freely. That all decisions made are final by my Master, but makes them with not just his thoughts in mind. To bare myself, everything becomes theirs. Knowing that my Master owns my very being , he knows my every thought and fear, every part of me and will and would do everything to protect what he owns.

I follow his command without hesitation because I know he is not wanting us to fail, He knows my location and has me check in when i leave and when I get there. I have strengths and He knows this and gives me tasks in those areas, he does not want me to sit idle. He pushes me where I lack where my fears and weakness comes into play. Wants me to strive. And I want to do that for him, to be the greatest that I can be.

To offer myself whenever and however he wishes, to be the comfort and softness he needs and requires, to be the passion and force when he needs. I fight for him, I scream at anything that comes across our path.

I kneel before him and my heart soars when he pierces my soul by looking into my eyes.

That is where I want to be...

NarahPrimal​(sub female) • Aug 27, 2025

This is something I've had a lot of thought about lately and where it places myself in the lifestyle and left me with a lot of questions.
I have all the traits that a slave does but then does that make me a slave or does I simply make me a high protocol service sub..
Does having the hart of a slave automatically make you one..
That is the question I'm yet to find answers to .

pioneer man​(sub male) • Aug 27, 2025

For years, I have been a Femdom sub that is totally dedicated to my Dom. Many people get hung up on what different terms in BDSM mean.

The best thing I heard was from Board Certified Sexologist and Sex Coach Julie Satterlee: "Forget about all the terminology in BDSM, just pick your own dynamic and have fun with it. BDSM simply means - Cosenual Adult Play."

Kelpi • Aug 27, 2025

I once talked with a Dom and his slave. Let me first tell you about her. She was abused by her step father with the consent of her mother. She was 15 when she sent both to prison. 6 years of abuse took its toll and she shut down. 8 years later they met in RL. As he said it "I saw her and knew I found the one who would follow me even into hell". She said "I did not know who or what he was but he scared me and made mw want things I never felt before",

It took him months of just saying hello how is your day and things like that before she opened up enough to ask him why he was talking to her. He told her that he was going to win her heart and marry her. It was on the fifth date he told her he was a dom and all about the lifestyle. They told me it was a year after they started dating that he collard her as a sub. After they married she wanted to become his slave giving control of everything she did to him. i met him at work and her as we worked on his RV. 12 years of marriage and slavery and when they looked at each other the magic could be felt. Yes there was more than just love it was a rare kind of magic.

I last saw them in 2010. 20 years 4 kids and many grandkids she still called him master. Everyone knew their story and the few who got offended or told them it was wrong where sent packing. If it is right then it will be but you can not force it or pretend to want it. Most importantly it is from your heart and soul that you need it.

FutLug​(dom male) • Oct 28, 2025

@Jazlyn @Heart of Persephone @NarahPrimal
Women only – no Dom, no pics, no play.
You just wrote truth:

“freedom to have no freedom”
“owns my very being”
“heart of a slave… or high protocol sub?”

Now the diary question.
What’s the ONE TPE moment you’d only write at 3 a.m., after the collar clicks shut?
The exact silence. The feeling when “no” becomes impossible. The word you’d never say aloud.
No filters. No audience.
I’ll read it like the last page of your uncensored soul.
Drop it here.

Anna Lynn​(sub female) • Oct 28, 2025

Slavery within BDSM means different things to different people, as you can see in the responses to this thread. I’m not here to criticize any previous comments; I can only share what slavery means to *me*.

I am naturally wired to be a slave. I have a slave heart. However, that doesn’t mean that slavery within BDSM is an exclusive club reserved for a select few—in my humble opinion, submissives and slaves are different roles, but both hold equal value. Not everyone is meant to be a submissive, just as not everyone is meant to be a slave, and that’s perfectly okay.

For me, slavery comes from my heart. I love completely and without reserve. It is how I operate in romantic relationships, regardless of whether they are vanilla or kinky. I give my whole heart to my Master. Furthermore, I need to relinquish control, obey, and live within his limits. I also have a strong need for service, whether that be sexual or domestic. I feel most at peace within myself when I am owned. I am in love with High protocol.

I am owned property, to be used as he sees fit—when, where, and how he chooses, within the agreed-upon dynamic. I am an extension of his will, and over time, I do not know where he ends and I begin. (Currently, I am not owned.) Consensual non-consent and internal enslavement are key components of my relationships.

Where I differ from others is my belief that a slave should have a voice and possessions.

*In my opinion*, a Master cannot hope to understand what his slave is thinking at all times if she has no voice. Building a deep, intimate connection between Master and slave is crucial for the strength of the relationship. Furthermore, having no voice is dangerous and can lead to abuse.

Regarding possessions, it is customary among some Masters that slaves own nothing. I choose not to follow this custom because I give my all—everything I am—to my Master. Being a slave is not easy; in fact, I find that I have to make more decisions, not fewer. It requires mental stamina daily, regardless of how I feel. It is not always fun and games. There is real struggle involved.

Therefore, to be left with nothing feels like a slap in the face. Relationships can break apart, and everyone needs to be able to survive in this world.

Lastly, I am always responsible for my own actions, health and well-being which is why it is so very important for me to choose wisely.


As always YMMV