I heard excellent piece on spanking on Radio 4's 'Broadcasting House' and sent following email:

Enjoyed the programme as usual. I did wonder what direction you'd go with the spanking item and was rather impressed! I am amused by idea of aerobics class, but would agree with the figure. Submission and spanking stuff tends to be in top five of most female fantasy lists.

As a spankee I agree that it can do wonders for one's sexlife, but this is by no means unanimous among spankos - whether spanking is actually sexual is hotly debated among practitioners.

And those for whom it is sexual but get spanking outside their central relationship, there is often a decision to separate so there is a strict 'no sex' rule. Spanking Daddy made a point of emphasising the sexuality of spanking but I suspect most of his ladies may be 'spanking only'

I have been watching the signs and predicting the mainstreaming of spanking and BDSM for several years now. think it will be a while before it is seen as simply an aspect of our sexuality or sensuality and not a sign of mental weakness or something to be cured, however. That said, it is definitely becoming more mainstream and more discussed, but it does need to be mainstreamed by those that actually do it, which is why it was good to hear from SD!

I recently attended sexuality awareness training and while there was the expected focus of straight/gay from trainers, I brought up issue of understanding and accepting fetish behaviour and orientation. Although some people were amused and/or intrigued (and I didn't actually 'come out'!)no-one was horrified or fell off their chairs and the idea that we may work with people who may be fetishists as well be straight, gay or somewhere on the continuum was taken on board.

Personally I tried to 'cure' myself, but now accept I have what I consider to be dual sexuality. I can get my sexual buzz from good sex or from spanking! I consider that a bonus. My friends 'in the know' are amused and entertained, but other than having new source of gossip and jokes, it hasn't altered the friendships.