28 Sex Fetishes and Kinks
The term “ fetish ” may evoke images of black bodysuits and complicated sexu- al contraptions , but you may already be acting out some of the most common examples . ( Spanking , anyone ?) What defines a fetish isn ’ t what the activity or object of desire is so much as the role it plays in someone ’ s life . “ A fetish is typically referred to as behavior that someone cannot get sexually aroused with- out . Fetishes can also be a term people use to describe sexual arousal that is coupled with a typically non-sexual object ,” says sexologist and psychologist Denise Renye .
While people often use the terms “ fetish ” and “ kink ” interchangeably , a kink means an activity or behavior that someone enjoys that exists outside the “ norm ” of “ traditional ” sex , such as incorporating handcuffs or even balloons . Think of the differences this way : If someone ’ s kink is bondage , they probably get incredibly excited when they ’ re tied up . If someone has a bondage fetish , their entire sexuality may revolve around restraint . ( There ’ s also the category of turn-ons : things that simply arouse a person .)
When we think of kink , we often think of BDSM , which involves an erotic power exchange through dominance and submission . BDSM is kinky , but not all kinks fall under the BDSM umbrella . Renye adds that people often have more than one kink or one fetish , and there is often overlap : For instance , someone may engage in spanking as part of a role-playing scenario in which one partner is dressed up as a schoolgirl and the other like a professor . In such an instance , the scenario would involve role-play , impact play , and even age play .
Research suggests that perhaps half of us are interested in sexual activities outside the “ norm ,” so if you ’ re interested in trying any of the following , rest assured you ’ re not alone . And of course , with any type of sex , acting on fetishes or kinks should always involve enthusiastic consent from all parties and safer sex practices , such as the use of condoms , to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STIs . You never have to try anything that ’ s not attractive to you , but please refrain from kink shaming others . Remember , we ’ re trying to dismantle sexual shame .
Ready to dive in ? Here ’ s a list of some of the most common fetishes and what they entail .
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