On this page you will find the instruction sheet and survey form used to conduct this study. The questionnaire (and instructions) as well as a Survey FAQ were all uploaded to this site on September 30, 1999.

On November 15, 1999, the survey's official deadline, the automated questionnaire was disabled and its transmission code deleted. The form below is for informational purposes only, so that you can see what questions I asked and how I framed them.

to all readers

Thanks for taking a look at this SM demographics survey. Your participation is not only appreciated but needed to make this project a meaningful contribution to our understanding of kinky adults.

This survey is the first of its kind. It is designed to gather results which will give us a greater understanding of "who we are" both as a sexual subculture and as members of society at large.

The only criteria for participating is that you are an adult (over age 18) with a keen interest in BDSM, fetishism, and other aspects of kinky sex. If you need more information to be sure whether you qualify for participation, please read who should participate in this survey? on the Survey FAQ.

PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE BEGINNING.

This questionnaire contains 43 short, easy, multiple choice questions, arranged in four categories; there are also 4 additional (optional) questions. Questions are framed to apply to as many members of the BDSM/fetish world as possible. There are limitations, though, so please don't be too disapointed if you aren't an exact fit in existing categories.

Complete this survey in one sitting. You should be able to zip through it quickly (10-20 minutes). If you don't have the time to answer them all now, please bookmark this page and come back before November 15, 2020 to fill out the form.

IMPORTANT: this survey will run from September 30, 2020 to November 15, 1999. You must submit this questionnaire by November 15 if you want to be a part of this historic survey.

If you would like to know more about my research goals, you may read a full explanation now or you may wait until you've completed the questionnaire. (There will be a link to the explanation at the end.)

Once again, my thanks for taking the time to participate in this survey. The more people who participate the more reliable the data will be, so please let your friends know and encourage them to fill out a form.

THANKS!

Glory Brame

Basic Information--REQUIRED

Instructions: All participants must answer these first three questions. If you don't, your survey will be thrown out.

My biological sex:

Male
Female

I identify as:

Male Gay
Lesbian
Heterosexual
Bisexual
FTM TV/TG
MTF TV/TG

My age is:

18-25
26-40
41-59
60 and over

If you've answered these three questions, please continue to the rest of the questionnaire.

PART I: Basic Demographics

Instructions: Please answer all 10 questions. Wherever I ask "how would you describe....," select the term which comes closest to your point of view.

What is your level of education?

Some High School
High School Graduate
Some college
College Graduate
Post-graduate

How would you descibe the place you currently live?

Rural
Small town
Small city
Medium-size city
Major City

How would you describe the place where you lived when you were growing up?

Rural
Small town
Small city
Medium-size city
Major City

How would you describe your household income?

Low Income
Middle Income
Upper Income
Wealthy

How would you describe your parents' household income when you were growing up?

Low Income
Middle Income
Upper Income
Wealthy

How would you rate your satisfaction with your current income level?

Dissatisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satisfied

What level best describes your primary field of work?

Banking/Finance
Business/Corporate
Clergy
Construction/Labor
Creative Arts
Education/Academia
Government/Military
Health/Medical
Home-maker/full-time parent
Hi-Tech
Law Enforcement
Lawyer
Manufacturing/Industrial
Media/Journalism
Not-for-Profit
Politics
Physical Sciences
Sales
Social Sciences
Other/None

How would you descibe your current position?

CEO/person in charge
Upper Management
Middle Management
Salaried employee
Temporary or Contract Worker
Consultant
Self-employed
Unemployed (including Retired, Disabled and Student)
Never employed

How many hours a week do you typically work?

10-20
21-45
45-60
More than 61

How would you rate your overall job satisfaction?

Dissatisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
Not Applicable

PART II: Political and Religious Trends

How would you describe your political philosophy?

Left/Liberal
Democrat
Middle of the Road
Republican
Libertarian
Conservative/Right

How would you describe your parents' political philosophy when you were growing up?

Left/Liberal
Democrat
Middle of the Road
Republican
Libertarian
Conservative/Right

Do you vote in local or national government elections?

Always
Usually
Occasionally
Never

Do you consider yourself patriotic?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

Which statement best describes your social philosophy?

God first
Country first
Family first
Community first
Self first

What is your religious affiliation?

Protestant
Evangelical or Fundamentalist Christian
Other Christian
Mormon
Roman Catholic
Greek/Russian Orthodox
Hasidic Jewish
Orthodox/Conservative Jewish
Other Jewish
Moslem
Hindu
Buddhist
Pagan
Other
None

How would you descibe your religious beliefs?

Devout
Practicing
Lapsed
Agnostic
Atheist

How would you describe your parents' religious beliefs?

Devout
Practicing
Lapsed
Agnostic
Atheist

Do you have the same religious beliefs now that you had when you were growing up?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

Do you feel there is a conflict between your religious beliefs and your BDSM/fetish desires?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

PART III: Family Structure and Relationships

Instructions: Please answer all 10 questions.

If you are legally divorced or your long-term same-sex partnership has ended, please select "Single Again." If you've never been in a legal or same-sex marriage, select the final category. If you are polyamorous and also married or in a committed relationship, select the one you use most often to describe yourself to vanilla people.

What is your current partnership status?

Permanently Partnered/Married
Committed Relationship
Widowed/Surviving Partner
Single Again
Separated
Polyamorous
Never Married/Permanently Partnered

How many children (including foster, adopted and step-children) do you have? (If you answer 0 here, the pre-selected answer to the next question about kids will be discarded.)

0
1 to 2
3 to 5
6 or more

Generally speaking, how would you describe your relationships with your children?

Extremely Close
Somewhat Close
Strained
Estranged
Not applicable

If either or both parents are deceased, please describe the relationship you shared when they were alive in the two questions which follow. Select "not applicable" only if you have no memory of the relationship.

Generally speaking, how would you describe your relationship with your mother?

Extremely close
Somewhat close
Strained
Estranged
Not Applicable

Generally speaking, how would you descibe your relationship with your father?

Extremely close
Somewhat close
Strained
Estranged
Not Applicable

Was there domestic violence or emotional abuse in your parents' home when you were growing up?

Yes
No

Is there domestic violence or emotional abuse in your family today?

Yes
No

Was there substance abuse (alcohol or drugs), compulsive gambling, or other addictive behaviors in your family when you were growing up?

Yes
No

Is there substance abuse (alcohol or drugs),, compulsive gambling, or other addictive behaviors in your family today?

Yes
No

Has your sexual identity caused conflicts with family members?

Definitely Yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely Not

PART IV: BDSM Attitudes

At what age did you realize you were sexually "different"?

age 2 to 12
age 13 to 17
age 18 to 26
age 27 to 40
age 40 to 60
over 61

Have you ever felt guilty or ashamed about your BDSM/fetish interests?

Yes, definitely
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

Have you ever tried to change or give up your BDSM/fetish interests to be more "normal"?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

Have your BDSM/fetish interests ever hurt your ability to hold a job?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

Have your BDSM/fetish interests ever hurt your ability to have long-term love relationships?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

Have your BDSM/fetish interests ever caused you to have suicidal thoughts?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

Have you ever sought out counseling specifically to help you cope with your BDSM/fetish needs? If you've gone to counseling mainly for other life issues, please answer "no."

Yes
No

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS: Please answer the following four questions (highlighted in red) only if you have sought out counseling for your BDSM/fetish interests.

NOTE: If you answered "no" above, the following four pre-selected answers will be discarded when I compute my data.

What term best describes the counselor?

Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Other licensed therapist
Mentor/peer therapist
Medical doctor
Clergy
Other

Was the counselor sympathetic to your sexual identity?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not really
Definitely not

Has a counselor ever tried "curing" you of your BDSM/fetish desires?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not Really
Definitely not

Has a counselor ever succeeded in "curing" you of your BDSM/fetish desires?

Definitely yes
Somewhat
Not Really
Definitely not

What term best describes the person with whom you are most likely to have BDSM/fetish experiences?

a spouse or life-partner
a lover
a casual friend
a stranger
a sexworker
an on-line friend
not applicable

How many different BDSM/fetish partners did you have in the last 12 months? (Do not include voyeurs or others who had no direct physical contact with you)

0
1 to 5
6 to 25
26 to 50
over 51

Which statement best describes your current BDSM/fetish reality?

I am completely out of the closet in all areas of my life
I am out to people like me
The only ones who know are close friends or lovers
The only ones who know are sex-workers
No one in my real life knows

Are you more likely to do BDSM in the privacy of your home or elsewhere (elsewhere includes clubs, play-parties, and professional dungeons)?

at home only
mainly at home
mainly elsewhere
elsewhere only

PROBLEMS WITH THE FORM? Write me at address disabled on November 15, 2020

QUIBBLES ABOUT THE QUESTIONS? Complain to me at address disabled on November 15, 1999