Male Submissive Representation
Unlike most adult publications, Taboo didn't shy away from showing submissive men. Male bondage, humiliation, and foot worship scenes were a recurring but respectful feature in this groundbreaking magazine that ran from 1986 to 2004. Although female dominance is more common in pornography today, male submissiveness was an important part of erotic fiction before it became mainstream. However, it wasn't until the mid-1970s when the BDSM scene exploded that male submission started being portrayed realistically in print media. In the early days of erotica, men were often depicted as aggressors who took pleasure in dominating women physically and sexually. This changed when writers like John Preston began writing about dominant women and submissive men. His best-known novel "Golden Boy" features a young man who falls under the spell of his boss's wife.
This trend continued into the '80s with works like "Babylon Babies," which featured a submissive man named Jesse. In these stories, the characters are usually well-educated professionals who enjoy being taken care of by their partners. They find fulfillment in serving them and submitting to their whims. But there's also something deeper going on here. These men aren't just looking for a thrill or a way to spice up their relationships; they seek emotional intimacy through submission. For example, in "Hard Candy," the protagonist is a successful lawyer who likes being tied up and humiliated by his lover. He enjoys giving her all his money and power while she takes control over him.
As BDSM grew in popularity, so did its representation in literature and film. Taboo Magazine helped pave the way for this new wave by showing readers what male submission looked like without judging it. The magazine wasn't afraid to show explicit scenes of bondage, humiliation, and foot worship but never used them gratuitously. Instead, they presented them as natural expressions of sexuality that could be enjoyed by both genders. Today, we see more male submission in mainstream media than ever before, from TV shows like "50 Shades of Grey" to movies like "Lust, Caution." And while some people still view it negatively, many others see it as an empowering form of self-expression.