BDSM is a sexual act where partners try to try to bring out their partner’s sexual expressions by bonding, torturing (in a way that meets the code of conducts, ex. RACK, SSC), humiliating, and being violent. In a BDSM, the roles between partners are unequal and it makes both of them important to perform the scene or the act.
The roles of BDSM are two types. They are called TOPS (DOMINANTS instead) and BOTTOMS (SUBMISSIVES). The one who is more active in the act of two are known as TOP and the one who receives the act is known as BOTTOMS. Those who alternate between roles are known as SWITCHES.
The TOPS or the DOMINANTS are the active partners in the scene. They generally play the role of giving pain to the BOTTOMS, torturing or degrading them. They create the sensory stimulation that the bottom receives. They are the controllers of the act
The BOTTOMS or the SUBMISSIVES are the inactive partners of the act. They receive the pain, humiliation and stimulations that the TOPS give them which are extremely delightful for them. The BOTTOMS help the TOPS to be turned on by their expressions.
SWITCHING is mainly the role swapping between the partners. The TOP becomes the BOTTOM, the BOTTOM becomes the top. Also there are some scenes that contains roles as the BOTTOMS or the SUBMISSIVES control the act in various manners.