Confusions in the Story of O.

The original impetus for the set of rules and guidelines that became Code d' Odalisque came from women who were looking for a submissive style of play without sado-masochistic themes. This is still the defining characteristic of Code d' Ode - it still caters for such women. There are many women who enjoy being used sexually and who find sexual submission fulfilling. But very often they find that others assume this means they like being treated as a piece of trash. They enjoy being commanded for sexual service but find that would-be Masters want to whip, beat or torture them as well. There is a common assumption that submissive women enjoy degradation and pain. Indeed, sado-masochistic submission is the standard in BDSM sub-culture, built upon the ubiquitous influence of the Marquis de Sade.

This is what we find in the famous book 'Story of O', for example. O. is not only used for sex. She is also subjected to various forms of SM play and cruelty. She is made to perform demeaning chores like a domestic servant and she has various forms of pain inflicted upon her for erotic purposes.

The novel is interesting because it confuses two different styles of erotic slave play. The main character is called O. because she is supposed to be an odalisque. She is modelled on the female sexual slaves of the orient known (in French) as "odalisques". But the style of play described in the novel is not oriental. The novel does not describe odalisque slavery. Instead, this O. is subjected to sado-masochistic fantasies that are typical of Marquis de Sade and belong to the eroticism of the French Revolution. The 'Story of O.' that is, is a cross-cultural work. It presents a European/French version of an oriental institution. Or, we might say, the main character is mis-named, because she is not treated like an odalisque at all. It is a European (French Revolution) fantasy that submissive females want (or need) to be pain slaves.

In Code d' Odalisque there are careful distinctions. An odalisque is a female pleasure slave. She is protected from abuse and violence. She is treated like a treasured harem slave. But the sado-masochistic themes of Marquis de Sade (historically located in the French Revolution) are not a normal part of play. Code d' Odalisque offers odalisque slavery without adaptations to French Revolution tastes, submission without sado-masochism. An odalisque under Code d' Ode, therefore, is not like O. in 'Story of O.' Instead, she is more like a true odalisque, preserved from mistreatment, used for sex and pleasure.

Question: Is there any role for male slaves in Code d' Odalisque?

Answer: Yes, but a male slave can only ever be a "memlook" or low slave in Code d' Odalisque, and cannot be an odalisque. An odalisque, by definition, is a special female slave. An odalisque is higher than a memlook. An odalisque has a special role as a slave and has special rights and privileges. A memlook is a common slave and is not protected or guided by the rules of Code d' Odalisque. So a memlook can be used as a work slave. An odalisque, on the other hand, is by definition a sexual slave. Her duties are erotic. She is preserved from common toil and kept as a luxury slave for sexual services.

A memlook can be male or female. But some female slaves are elevated to the status of odalisque. She is then given special treatment and kept for special purposes.

Memlooks can be used for sex too, or they can be used as work slaves. They might also be beaten, whipped, disciplined, tortured - there are no limits to what a Keeper may do to a memlook, while the Code sets strict limits on how an odalisque can be treated. She is protected by the provisions of the Code.

Memlooks are regarded with some disdain by odalisques. In Code play male slaves are only ever memlooks, common slaves - they never rise to the higher status of odalisque. A memlook looks up to an odalisque and may be ordered to serve her. A Slavekeeper may keep both memlooks and odalisques but should be careful to treat them differently. An odalisque should not be treated as a memlook and memlooks should be treated as the common low slaves they are.

Short answer - male slaves can be memlooks but not odalisques.

Free copy of Code d' Odalisque (5th edition)

A free copy of the fifth edition of Code d' Odalisque in PDF format is available upon request by writing to: bedroomslaves@yahoo.com

Website Update

Dear Coders,

Over the last six months various Code d' Odalisque websites have been taken down or closed by the service providers. We have not been able to restore them at this stage. In any case, the lead group of active Slavekeepers and their associates have been busy drafting and debating a new, revised edition of the Code, along with future action plans. Our yahoo groups are still active and so is this blog. Full moderation will return to the groups soon and we intend to expand the blog.

Despite on-line opposition and other set backs we still believe that Code d' Odalisque offers a valuable alternative to contemporary consenting adults and has a very bright future. We have been working on growing vital local scenes. We thank you for your support.

The revised edition of Code d' Odalisque will soon be ready for the printers and available shortly after that.

Charles Molyneux