It’s an umbrella term to refer to all those activities/plays where the Top exercises clear control over the bottom’s actions and body. For an activity to be considered power exchange [PE], there must be a clear power imbalance. Bondage, Pet Play, Primal Play, S/m, Discipline are all forms of PE. When in main PE Dynamics the term Top it’s dropped and replaced by Dominant [Dom = male / Domme = female]; while the term bottom it’s replaced by submissive.

Given PE's -but still misinform- popularity it is important to clarify some things that are often -mis- believed about PE:

× No, PE DOES NOT necessarily involve sexual activities [please forget about your 50 shades of gray’s fantasies!]

× No, PE DOES NOT need to be 24/7 to be “real” PE.

× No, a submissive DOES NOT need to relinquish all their rights to be a “good submissive”.

× No, a Dominant DOES NOT have the right to do whatever they feel like, whenever they want to their sub.

 

PE are CONSENSUAL dynamics, previously negotiated and where most scenes have been planned. Can sex be integrated into PE? Abso-fucking-lutely yes. Is it required? Abso-fucking-lutely NOT!. Can two consenting adults who know each other very well agree to have a 24/7 dynamic? Sure. That means the sub will be on their knees and hands all those 24/7? FUCK NO!. Does accepting to be submissive within an [erotic] dynamic mean that the right to self-determination is lost? HELL, NO!. Does the fact of being called Dominant gives the right to ignore limits, put integrity at risk and do whatever? You can bet your ass it doesn’t!. PE has been used by many to carry out their predatory activities on unexpected newbies.

 

PE and other play’s types are everywhere but the most representatives are mainly 3 and each exists on a spectrum.

1) Bondage and Discipline: exchange of control
2) Dominance and submission: exchange of authority‍
3) Sadism & masochism: exchange of sensation

 

According to "Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns", a very popular source of kink knowledge, PE “stages” are:

Conditional Compliance
Restricted ongoing acquiescence
Provisional submission
Covenant of Dominant and submission
Absolute Ownership [a form of edge play]

 

Some kink folks find “offensive” when it's said that Role Play it's also a form of PE, its player’s are considered not true Dominants or submissives. The same happens with Discipline. At the end people can call themselves whatever they want: Sir, Ma’am, Lady, Headmistress, Duke, Duchess, Daddy, Mommy, Papi, Lord, King, Queen, babygirl, pet, kitten, pup . . . WHATEVER!. The labels are player’s tools to use in their relationships. Regardless of the specific power exchange dynamic people can always choose.