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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