In many ways, BDSM subverts gender norms; there's no need for strict gender divisions in kinky play. Many people enjoy playing with power dynamics regardless of their biological sex, and some find great joy in switching between dominant and submissive roles. For some who are transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or questioning their gender identity, BDSM offers an especially liberating way to explore their body and sexuality without being confined to rigid gender roles.
People can have any role they like when it comes to bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, masochism, sadism, or any combination thereof. There's no one right way to do it—and that includes ignoring binary gender roles entirely. You don't have to be male to top, female to bottom, cisgendered to switch roles, or heterosexual to engage in BDSM at all.
If you want to try out BDSM but feel constrained by your own gender identity, know that it doesn't have to fit into a neat box. It may take time and experimentation to figure out which types of domination and submission work best for you, but ultimately the choice is yours alone. In fact, queer communities often find the freedom of BDSM particularly liberating because it allows them to explore roles outside traditional gender expectations.
The idea that men are always Doms and women always subs is rooted in outdated notions about masculinity and femininity. But even if those stereotypes were true (which they aren't), they would still be wrong—because you should never generalize based on what genitals someone has. Gender-fluid people might enjoy both dominant and submissive roles equally, depending on their mood, partner, setting, and more. The same goes for anyone who isn't interested in conforming to strict binaries of power dynamics between men and women.
BDSM provides an opportunity to test boundaries and defy social norms. Explore your sexuality with confidence and creativity, without worrying about fitting into arbitrary categories. Whether you're playing as a man, woman, trans person, nonbinary person, intersex person, or something else entirely, there are endless possibilities when it comes to kinky play and self-expression.