The Victorian Origins of Modern BDSM

People have always flirted with the ‘darker’ aspects of desire, those ‘kinky’ interests that include sadomasochism, bondage, discipline, and other fetishes, however it was not until the 19th century that these desires became codified. What was unique about Victorian society that caused BDSM to become defined? How did the socioeconomic realities of the industrial revolution impact how such ‘kinky’ desires were felt, and how did it change how they were expressed? This MRP aims to explore the multitude of factors which may have affected the formation and development of BDSM subcultures and practices throughout Victorian England. By doing so help explore aspects of sexuality that have often been overlooked by mainstream research.