Vers Bottom
Vers bottom usually refers to someone who prefers bottoming but is open to topping sometimes too. Many people who use the term choose it because they strongly prefer bottoming, but are open to being a Top with the right partner, or under specific circumstances. The term stands in contrast to Vers Top, which refers to someone who prefers to Top.
Vers bottom makes more sense when you understand the three key roles it stems from:
- Top: Usually refers to someone who prefers to take the action (or be the penetrating partner) in a scene.
- Bottom: Usually refers to someone who prefers to receive the action (or receive penetrative sex) in a scene.
- Versatile or "Vers": Usually refers to someone who is open to both roles.
The term vers bottom is used in online communities and online dating and hookup sites to help people connect with compatible sexual partners. It is most commonly used among gay and bisexual men, but may also be seen in trans and queer communities.
Origins of the Term
Vers bottom likely emerged in the 2020s, when it started to appear in Reddit threads, community forums, and on FetLife. The term reflects a broader shift away from more rigid roles, and an attempt to create language to better communicate identity and preferences.
The term versatile is believed to have emerged in gay communities as early as the late 1960s. It may have been shaped by the artist Tom of Finland, who portrayed many of his characters as versatile, and showed them actively engaging in both Top and bottom roles.
However, we can assume that the term "versatile" did not come into more common usage until at least the 1980s and '90s. This is when the terms Top and Bottom became more entrenched, possibly as a result of the AIDS crisis and concerns that bottoming carried a higher risk of transmission. These terms commonly appeared in gay personal ads, community publications, and social spaces, where they served as shorthand for insertive and receptive sexual preferences.
Vers Bottom Statistics
- A 2016 review of studies on sexual positioning among men who have sex with men found that bottoms made up the smallest percentage of the "big three" position identities (25.4%). Tops made up 33.2% and versatiles made up 37.3%.
- Researchers have found that sexual position identities often develop gradually over many years, suggesting that labels such as vers bottom may reflect evolving preferences rather than fixed categories.
Related Terms
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