sentences:  The participants may be of any gender or sexual orientation.The relationship uses the term "slave" because of the association of the term with ownership rights of a master to their slave's body, as property or chattel.While male "masters" will usually be referred to as "Master", whether or not female Masters are referred to as "Master" or "Mistress" may depend upon whether they identify as following the leather subculture or BDSM path, or simply preference.