role reversal
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Role Reversal describes situations where two or more characters of a pre-established setting displaying behaviour or other traits opposite their normally established, or expected characterization.
Examples
In most cases, this implies a normally submissive, or normally dominant character (in a broad sense, not necessarily sexually dominant or submissive), behaving dominant or submissive respectively. Below are some examples of role reversal that are not necessarily sexual or along dominant/submissive lines:
- predator/prey: A character of a prey species behaving in a dominant manner, while the character of a predator species is submissive.
- A prey species hunting or eating a predatory species.
- hierarchy play: A character in a position of authority being put in the role of, or treated or acting subserviently to their "lesser", someone who would typically be under their authority.
- teacher and student: A teacher being subservient or submissive to their student.
- boss and employee: A character in a managerial role or high ranking business position being treated as a servant by a "lower" office worker.
- gender play: A male character acting as the bride, and a female character acting as the groom at a wedding - wearing opposite outfits and performing the typically opposite gendered role.
- size swap: A typically small character and typically large character have their physical size swapped and their roles are therefore reversed.
- power play: A physically weaker character dominating a stronger one.
- trainer role reversal: A Pokemon catching or training a human character.
- A young character acting mature towards an immature adult, and/or acting as caretaker for a dependent adult.
- A slave enslaving or otherwise controlling their master, or a master willingly serving their slave.
- Humans as pets and domesticated animals as their owners.
