Kinks & Fetishes You Didn't Know Existed And A Few You Did
Mainstream sexuality is embracing kinks and fetishes. Kink has become a trending topic thanks to shows and movies like Sex/Life, Pose, Bonding, and Fifty Shades of Grey. I'm sure you've heard of at least one kink or perhaps explored a few of your own. Since fetishes and kinks aren't going away, we might as well learn whatever we can about them.
Kinks aren’t your average run-of-the-mill sexual interaction, they involve sexual interests or fantasies that are outside of the norm of conventional sex. This could mean anything from bondage to flogging or anything in between. A fetish on the other hand, although similar to a kink, refers to a specific object, body part, or behavior that must be present in order to achieve sexual arousal. Although kinks and fetishes overlap, the main way to distinguish between the two is to understand that kinks are something someone likes to do whereas fetishes are something someone has to do.
When exploring kinks or fetishes the possibilities are endless, especially since sexual interest varies from person to person. However, because there are so many kinks and fetishes to choose from it can become overwhelming knowing where to start in your exploration journey. So for your pleasure, here’s a list of the most common and some unusual kinks and fetishes to know about.
1. Foot Fetish
One of the most common fetishes is called foot fetishism, also known as podophilia. Feet are a popular fetish because they are sensitive to touch and contain thousands of nerve endings. They are also close to the genitals in your brain and are linked to them, allowing for cross-wiring of these sensations into physical arousal. There are many different types of foot fetishes, from licking and sniffing to massaging and trampling. Some people even like to use their feet as a form of power play, such as submission and domination.
2. Mirror Fetish
In porn, you'll often see people having sex in front of mirrors. Guess what? This is a fetish that you probably didn't know existed. Mirror sex, or katoptronophilia, is an intense sexual satisfaction that's often achieved by stripping, masturbating, or having sex in front of a mirror. It's a kink that can be a very enjoyable experience for many people and there are even motels and hotels that have mirrors above their beds to accommodate this particular fetish.
3. Bondage
Bondage is a form of sex play that involves consensually tying up or restraining your partner for sex. It falls under the BDSM umbrella, which encompasses bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism. Often, bondage is used to enhance sex or as a standalone activity. It can also be used to explore sexual fantasy or the concept of sex roles.
4. Erotic Humiliation
One of the lesser-known kinks and fetishes is erotic humiliation. This is a sexual activity that involves inflicting pain or humiliation on another person to achieve sexual gratification. It can be verbal, physical, or both. It is a very nuanced form of sexual arousal and it can be carried out in public or private - the main goal is to embarrass, humiliate and degrade the subject.
5. Spectrophilia
Spectrophilia, a kink and a fetish that you probably didn't know existed, refers to the attraction or arousal that people have towards ghosts and spirits. Some people claim they have had sex with ghosts, but it's difficult to prove that these encounters are real. But there are plenty of historical folkloric tales about spirits having sex with humans, which is proof that this has been a popular interest for a long time. That doesn't mean that actual sex with ghosts is impossible, though!
6. Vacuum Bed Play
Vacuum bed play is exactly what it sounds like—it is a device using a latex envelope (the vacuum 'bed'), a person gets inside, and then a pump is used to remove most of the air inside. This creates a vacuum seal around your body, which can create a range of sensations from a gentle hug to intense pressure. It’s important to practice caution when engaging in this activity as it can cause physical harm if done incorrectly.
7. Age Play
Ageplay, or age play, is an umbrella term for kink relationships that involves roleplaying in which an individual acts or treats another as if they were a different age. Ageplay usually involves portraying any age from babies to the elderly. Ageplay can be sexual or non-sexual. Within dominant/submissive relationships, ageplay can enhance power dynamics, and allow a partner to feel more comfortable with their dominance or submission. In ageplay, all actions and dynamics take place between legal and consenting adults.
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."