Switch - meaning and definition
Alsoswitcheskink switch
Definition
Someone who enjoys both dominant and submissive roles, or both top and bottom roles, depending on partner, mood or situation.
At a glance
- A switch enjoys both dominant and submissive roles, or both top and bottom roles.
- Switches may change roles between scenes, between partners or within a scene.
- Some lean one way most of the time; others are evenly balanced.
- Switching is a recognised identity in its own right, not indecision.
- Limits are often negotiated separately for each role.
In detail
Switches may change roles between scenes, between partners or even within a single scene. Some lean one way most of the time; others are evenly balanced. Switching is a recognised identity in its own right, not indecision.
As with any role, switching works best when partners talk about which role applies when, and when limits for each role are negotiated separately, since what someone enjoys giving may differ from what they enjoy receiving.
In a sentence
- I'm a switch, so we talked through my limits for each role separately.
- She's mostly a switch who leans submissive, depending on who she's with.
Where the word comes from
From the everyday verb 'to switch', meaning to change from one thing to another; kink communities use it for someone who moves between roles.
Common questions
Is being a switch just being undecided?
No. Switching is a stable preference for enjoying more than one role, much like enjoying both leading and following in a dance. Many switches know exactly which role they want with which partner.