How to Dominate in the Bedroom, According to a Professional Dominatrix

Publish date: 2024-07-03

Deciding to be dominant in the bedroom often means subverting traditional gender roles.
Professional dominatrixes see that all sorts of people want to be dominated.
You don't need to invest in handcuffs, whips, or ropes to get started. All you need are your words, according to Mistress Ava Zhang, a New York City-based professional dominatrix.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app

Not all of us have leadership roles at work, but at some point, we've given an order.

We've told someone where to sit, where to hang their coat, to stop talking and listen. We've asked people to bring napkins to our parties, to pick up groceries on the way home, to turn down the thermostat.

You may not consider yourself a sexually dominant person, but you've probably made things happen by asking for what you want. Have you ever texted someone "come over tonight ;)" and had them show up at your door ten minutes later? Said "kiss me" and then found yourself kissed?

Yet the idea of being dominant in the bedroom, especially for women, can still seem strange since it goes against everything we're taught. We must be fair, things must be equal, we must take care of the other person, we must make sure everyone else's needs are met before ours.

Being dominant in bed doesn't just mean being on top. It means knowing why you're there and being bold about pursuing your pleasure.

Professional dominatrixes are the first to scoff at the idea that all men enjoy being dominant in bed and all women enjoy being submissive. They see firsthand that all sorts of people long to be taken out of the driver's seat.

Here's how to reexamine the idea of taking control in bedroom, putting the power dynamic in your favor.

Dominating isn't the same as being cruel or mean

"One of the most common misconceptions surrounding a woman taking a dominant role is the assumption that she needs to be a display cruel behavior towards others, for the sake of her own gain or pleasure, and without consideration for their safety or well-being," said Mistress Ava Zhang, a New York City-based professional dominatrix. "That is not dominance but rather narcissism bordering on sociopathy."

Taking the lead in bed doesn't mean being a sadist or demeaning your partner. It doesn't mean you have to change who you are. You're simply connecting with a powerful side of yourself that was always there, and sharing it with a person who wants to make you happy. It's about closeness and connection, not cruelty.

"The culture of BDSM is heavily rooted in ethics, empathy, and consent," said Zhang. "The one who assumes the dominant role need not force others to submit, but inspires them to do so by first and foremost displaying compassion and understanding as befitting a moral person."

Crystal Cox/Business Insider

You need to understand yourself before you can take on a dominant role

The first step to taking on a more dominant role is to figure out what turns you on. This is easier said than done. We may be ashamed of our desires, we may worry that our partner will laugh or be disgusted by them.

But there's a reason why the Fifty Shades of Grey books and films were so successful. People were able to point to something on a page and say, "That's hot." And then show it to their partner.

Think about scenes in movies and books that have turned you on, and ask yourself why. It may make you feel weird at first, but it's normal to ask yourself if your desires are normal. It's up to you to accept them as part of who you are and make the next move.

trumzz/ iStock

Great sex starts with communication

Taking cues from mainstream media can also have a downside. Great sex in the movies is often led by the man, or else it's a magically equal exchange where all the parties seem to intuitively know what the other wants.

Now that's fantasy.

The reality is that great sex is born of great communication, but it can be hard to wants to talk about what you want. Someone has to take the lead. It should be you.

Taking the dominant position with a partner requires the ability to articulate what you want, explain what pleases you, and why.

"Two of the most important lessons I have learned in my time as a professional dominatrix is to know myself, and to communicate what I want to others. Taking a more dominant role means first having a command and understanding of oneself," said Zhang.

You don't need to invest in handcuffs, whips, or ropes

Yes, the things we see on television and the movies can inspire our sexiest thoughts, but they can also be intimidating and stop you from giving things a try.

Being dominant in the bedroom doesn't mean you have to invest in kinky gear, like handcuffs, whips, and rope. They're symbolic props.

For example, you can use your words to tell your partner not to move. Handcuffs may just provide an extra layer to the experience.

"Begin with some universal concepts by asking your partner if she or he is enticed by the following: being teased, delayed gratification, the freedom from not having to decide/think, or simply just giving you pleasure," said Zhang. These ideas can inspire any number of playful activities."

Victor Moussa/Shutterstock

It's normal to struggle with outdated attitudes about sexual roles

We're all prisoners of our upbringings. We have ideas of what people are supposed to do in bed. Even if we think of ourselves as progressive, we may still be dogged by out-of-date attitudes about sexual roles.

It's up to you to examine why you believe that sex has to be a certain way. If it makes you feel good, great. But if you're unsatisfied and afraid that your fantasies disrupt your ideas about gender roles in bed, you need to stop and think.

"The mind is the sex organ and all it really takes to be dominant is assuming the right attitude," said Zhang. "And remember, a willing and open-minded partner will want to please you."

Lindsay Goldwert is a journalist and host of the "Spent" podcast. She is the author of Bow Down: Lessons from Dominatrixes on How to Get Everything You Want (Simon & Schuster).

My antidepressants make it difficult to orgasm. How do I tell my partner and make sex fun again?

What Netflix's 'Marriage Story' gets right and wrong about divorce, according to a couples therapist

'The L Word' just showed a lesbian 'throuple' on TV in one of the first same-sex polyamorous storylines