While most of these terms are foreign language derivations of their main activity (frotteurism comes from French and means "to rub oneself"), there are two sexual preferences that bear the names of historical figures: sadism and masochism. The BDSM fan community will probably be nodding their heads in agreement here. Yes, we know them both, they're on our bookshelves!

However, while the Marquis de Sade (1740-1814) had already died by the time his name was used for sadism in the emerging field of sexology, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895) was still alive and kicking. And he did not at all like being used as the eponym for a sexual perversion. But all resistance was in vain. His novel Venus in Furs described the love game of a masochist simply too well: to be chased or tied up, to be punished, humiliated and inflicted pain by a woman, to behave as a slave, to enter into a contract.

Becoming famous also has its disadvantages

While today we have a name for everything, concepts and categorizations of human sexuality did not exist during de Sade's lifetime. Masoch, on the other hand, experienced first-hand how his name was used in this context. This was probably due to his success as an author, which made his works quite famous.

The Austrian psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing was the first to collect all sexual deviations and so-called perversions in the form of case histories, which he published in 1886 in his work Psychopathia sexualis. It should not be forgotten, however, that at that time everything that went beyond sexual intercourse was described as perverse! And so we also find cunnilingus, fellatio and psycholagnia, which stands for sexual arousal through daydreams and fantasies. As you can see, a lot has changed in the perception of deviant behavior since then!

Von Krafft-Ebing could think of nothing better for the desire for submission than to use Masoch's name and create masochism from it. Even against the will of the author, who wanted to be perceived as a serious writer. Unfortunately, however, he had written a work that dealt extensively with this very lust.

Love me, beat me, torture me

Venus in Fur was published in 1870 and is still an erotic classic today. Many of the old works have retained their fascination.

• Who hasn't heard of Casanova's memoirs?
• Or de Sade's masterpiece Justine?
• The life of Josephine Mutzenbacher from the late 19th century still has its fans today.

We know these books mainly from films and plays. Venus in Fur, a classic of erotic literature, has also been adapted several times as a stage play and film. Roman Polanski has just made a brilliant movie of the same name based on this novel.

The plot in brief: a man adores a woman, wants to marry her and commit himself to her forever. However, she proposes to enter into a contract for a year. He is to be her slave. He is only too happy to agree. That reminds you of something? Yes, exactly, Shades of Grey celebrated similar success with its reversed roles as Masoch did with his novel. What he lacks, however, are the precise descriptions of the sexual acts. This probably has to do with the fact that Masoch adhered to the censorship and tolerance in force at the time: Diffuse sexuality was tolerated, but less so organic and psychological details.

While books like Shades of Grey land on bestseller lists today and are even read in public for all to see, Venus in Fur was a scandal despite all its pornographic restraint. And although there are no sex scenes in the conventional sense, this novel was still banned in Germany in 1958 and was not actually re-released until 2001! Because what becomes clear in the relationship between the protagonists is the power and fascination that erotic submission can exert on people. In Germany, which was very prudish at the time, this was really not something that the newly minted German citizens wanted to be subjected to. After all, they were supposed to be working, not having fun!

SM becomes BDSM

An interesting idea if Krafft-Ebing had considered the first part of his surname, Sacher, as the basis for his sexual perversion. Sacherism instead of masochism. But I suspect that the Sacher cake already existed back then. And the Austrians would certainly not have allowed their own national treasure to be denigrated under any circumstances. The psychiatrist would probably have bitten his teeth out. But perhaps sadism and Sacherism would have been too similar. Sadosacherism? Could that have been taken seriously?

Be that as it may, in professional circles and among lovers today we have long been talking about BDSM, in which a further distinction is made between Bondage & Discipline, Dominance & Submission and Sadism & Masochism. But today we also deal in great detail with these sexual practices that have now become almost socially acceptable. And isn't there really a little sadomasochist in all of us?

Anja Drews - qualified sex educator for ORION