An overview of key terms used in exhibit as well as the political positioning of Samois, based on published sources.

Defining Terms: Samois in their own words

From the beginning, Samois positioned themselves as “feminist lesbians who share a positive interest in sadomasochism.” The first major publication included not only their definitions of those words but also how they understood them together as part of their specific political project.

The following are excerpted from “A Lesbian Glossary of S/M Terminology” in Samois’ first publication What Color is Your Handkerchief. Lesbian: A woman whose primary emotional and erotic interest is focused on other women. Feminism: A diverse political movement aimed at ending the oppression of women. S/M: …an eroticized exchange of power negotiated between two or more sexual partners

Based on these definitions, the group declared: “We believe that S/M can and should be consistent with the principles of feminism. As feminists, we oppose all forms of social hierarchy based on gender. As radical perverts, we oppose all social hierarchies based on sexual preference.”

Keywords: Samois, lesbian, feminism, lesbian-feminism, SM, sado-masochism, BDSM, kink, pervert, hierarchies