ISU professor offers points for preferred pronouns, includes video on BDSM – including ‘age play’ – for students to watch

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An Iowa State professor called Kelly Reddy-Best offers a course called Dress, Appearance, and Diversity in U.S. Society under the Apparel, Merchandising and Design major. The course has raised the ire of some.

Initially, students were offered five points for listing their preferred pronouns:

The online textbook used for the course has a section called Culture. Within it, students are taught about principles of cultural perspectives. One of those perspectives is ethnocentrism — which is defined as the judgment of people of other cultures by one’s own cultural standards and beliefs. While ethnocentricity is “hard to avoid,” the practices may have deep meanings and roots in religious values or beauty standards previously considered good or healthy, the assignment states.

On a lengthy list of examples people may or may not view as harmful, practicing bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, adochism and masochism (BDSM) or kink such as wearing dog collars, chastity belts or other restrictive garments is listed.

Included in the text/assignment are the following pictures…

Students are then instructed to watch this video of a research presentation called “Paddles, Strap-Ons, Latex, and Leather: Negotiations of BDSM Women’s Dress, Embodiment, and Bodies in Motion through Spatial-Temporal Dynamics.”

Reddy-Best is a co-author of the research presented in the video.

BDSM is labeled as a “subcultural group where individuals participate in consensual sexual practices and behaviors.” The relationships sometimes center around “spirituality, therapy, healing needs and a desire for a community connection.

BDSM was characterized as a disorder until 2013, the video states. But the lifestyle continues to be “stigmatized, marginalized and largely misunderstood.”

However, the researchers are quick to point out 36 percent of the US participates in some form of BDSM. It’s a “phenomenon” in need of scholarly research.

Participants in their research indicated they wore certain colors to indicate if they desire anal sex, top or bottom preferences during intercourse, peeing on each other, fisting, etc.

Storylines utilize different clothing. One highlighted by the presenters depicts “age play,” which is a person pretending she is a 5-year-old girl.

“Another participant explained they felt positively when wearing a strap-on and liked it when the strap-on matched her darker skin tone,” Reddy-Best said.

Reddy-Best describes all the positives provided by paddling as well.

The implications of this research are supposed to be used to assist in understanding a “community of women who are seeking sexual liberation.” They’re hopeful it reduces the stigma around BDSM and those who participate. They’re hopeful the work informs women who are interested in participating in the BDSM community as well.

Nearly two years ago The Iowa Standard reported about a “Trans YouTubers and DIY Undergarments” display at Iowa State.

The Iowa Standard reached out to Iowa State on Tuesday afternoon inquiring about the practice of awarding students points for providing their preferred pronouns. We’ll update the story or publish an update when we receive a response.

Author: The Iowa Standard