Shibari and Identity

The building of an identity is one of the main concerns in today’s society. Most people believe that everyone has the right to develop their own personality the way they want. How does Shibari come into the picture? Well, there’s a stronger relationship between Shibari and identity than you think.

First of all, Shibari can be part of a tradition received from previous generations or an acquired taste. For example, in the case of a person with Japanese ancestors, Shibari might be more of a cultural signpost. Likewise, there are many sons of liberal parents from previous decades who have received kink as a cultural inheritance. On the other hand, many bondage practitioners come from backgrounds in which nobody considered such a practice. We can even find the case—and it’s not infrequent—of people coming from conservative backgrounds who have now become kinky.

Another important aspect for any bondage practitioner to consider is whether bondage is a kinky practice, or part of a kinky lifestyle. They might sound similar, but they are not the same. There are people who practice bondage or any other BDSM activity without actually being kinky. On the other hand, there are people who have embraced a kinky lifestyle that permeates every aspect of their existence. Think about it.

In the end, it all has to do with the never-ending debate between kink and mainstream. For people who consider themselves outsiders to traditional standards, Shibari—and any other BDSM practice—is an integral part of their identity. However, for those who adhere to the generally accepted lifestyles and ideas, Shibari is just something they do, in which case they embrace the specific practice, but not the whole kinky lifestyle.