Safewords are a regular mention in conversations about the world of BDSM.

"A non-negotiable must have."
"As vital as air and water."
"Paramount to the safety of the submissive."

There are many very strongheld opinions on the matter, regularly centred around the safety and wellbeing of the submissive exclusively, while simply being regarded as a responsibility of the Dominant.

But what safety does a Safeword actually provide a submissive that a simple word such as “Stop!” does not?  Does a Safeword truly hold such little purpose to the Dominant personally, beyond a responsibility to keep their submissive safe?

In a world which has made great progress in respecting others and oneself in the bedroom, where "No" is "No". "Stop" is "Stop", what purpose does a codeword for "Stop" serve that the word "Stop" itself does not? You shouldn't need a codeword to tell somebody who respects and cares about you to stop, to make you, as the submissive feel safe that they will listen to you when it becomes too much ect.

Maybe Safewords are potentially misunderstood, in their true purpose and value to the Dominant//Submissive dynamic…

Safe, sane and consent.  The core theme continues. 

Is it the submissive who needs safety, or are they in need of a platform, a tool that will empower them to challenge themselves?  To push themselves without concern that both their physical and/or emotional reactions could inadvertently end the session before they want it to?

Is the Dominant, as facilitator, free of risk?  Risk of emotional harm during the session, especially when the aim is to challenge the submissive, physically and/or emotionally, to enable the submissive to experience a journey of overcoming fear, vulnerability and more.  What may that journey require of the Dom themselves in order to facilitate it?  The potential for self-doubt?  Of guilt?  Fear pushed to far, fear harmed the submissive, physically, emotionally… the potential rabbit-hole runs deep.

Is a Safeword about having a codeword to say "Stop" for the safety of the submissive or is it perhaps a means to protect the Dominant themselves, so that they feel safe enough to ONLY stop when said Safeword is said, such that the Safeword provides the submissive as platform to truly challenge themselves?

Perhaps having a Safeword instead serves as proof of agreement, that a prior discussion has been made? A discussion to confirm that the submissive is safe, is sane and has given consent before play even begins. A mutual agreement that the ONLY word the Dominant will respond to is the Safeword. That the Dominant can rest assured, that they themselves will be safe during the experience and have themselves given consent, aware of what is expected and that their own sense of sane, emotional wellbeing has been taken into consideration and is protected as best the people involved can.

The Dom afterall, is human and surely its important their humanity is safeguarded in play. One should really be asking questions if/when an individual is not only able to, but singularly focused on the arousal/excitement of inflicting impact on another without second thought, concern or need of debrief afterwards for their own emotional care and well-being.

The focus point of a safeword speaks volumes of the mindset of the dom, as well as the sub, revealing much more about eachother and the true dynamic than at first glance, when one truly thinks about it.

So, I pose the question.  Who and how, do the 'safewords' actually serve to protect and who does it actually empower?

Is there risk of danger through potential weaponisation of 'safewords' to mislead submissives, a tool for sociapaths/psychopaths to hide behind thanks to niavity/ignorance created due to how we see things portrayed in mainstream erotica etc, blind belief of safety, without critical thought and reflection of all the details present to each unique situation, relationship.

Is the safety provided by 'safewords' about simply saying 'stop' or have we missed the true measure of safety it provides, both in protecting the humanity, emotion of the Dom as well as providing a clear way for a sub to truly see the mindset and character of the Dom, protecting the sub from potentially dangerous people not through its use by the sub, but by how it used by the Dom, giving the sub insight into the Dom's humanity, or lack of there of.