Kink (sexuality)

In human sexuality, kinkiness is the use of sexual practices, concepts or fantasies that are not conventional. The term derives from the idea of a “bend” (cf. a “kink”) in one’s sexual behaviour, to contrast such behaviour with “straight” or “vanilla” sexual mores and proclivities. It is thus a colloquial term for non-normative sexual behaviour. The term “kink” has been claimed by some who practice sexual fetishism as a term or synonym for their practices, indicating a range of sexual and sexualistic practices from playful to sexual objectification and certain paraphilias. In the 21st century the term “kink”, along with expressions like BDSM, leather and fetish, has become more commonly used than the term paraphilia. Some universities also feature student organizations focused on kinks, within the context of wider LGBTQ concerns.

Kink sexual practices go beyond what are considered conventional sexual practices as a means of heightening the intimacy between sexual partners. Some draw a distinction between kink and fetishism, defining the former as enhancing partner intimacy, and the latter as replacing it. Because of its relation to conformist sexual boundaries, which themselves vary by time and place, the definition of what is and is not a kink varies widely as well.

Prevalence

In a study published in 2016, 1040 persons “corresponding to the norm for the province of Quebec” were interviewed; nearly half of this sample reported an interest “in at least one paraphilic category”, and approximately one-third had “had experience with such a practice at least once.”

Cause

Speculation on the cause of kinks has implicated biological, psychological and social origins. It is sometimes assumed that kinks (particularly masochism) are the result of trauma or childhood abuse, however research has shown that kink participants have slightly lower rates of childhood abuse and trauma than the general population.

See also

Alt porn

Dominance and submission

Exhibitionism

Glossary of BDSM

Group sex

Kink.com

Master/slave (BDSM)

Kink Aware Professionals (KAP)

Risk-aware consensual kink (RACK)

Safe, sane and consensual (SSC)

Sexual roleplay

Sex shop

References

Further reading

Sensual, Erotic, and Sexual Behaviors of Women from the “Kink” Community Sensual, Erotic, and Sexual Behaviors of Women from the “Kink” Community, Articles of Sexual Behavior, International Academy of Sex Research

Kinky – The Sensual Consciousness, The Sultry Revolution of the Senses, Chic Today Magazine

Dossie Easton, Catherine A. Liszt, When Someone You Love Is Kinky, Greenery Press, 2000. ISBN 1-890159-23-9.

Jensen, Nate (2009). Japanese-English Guide to Sex, Kink and Naughtiness. (First edition, version 3). CreateSpace. ISBN 978-1-4421-0876-9.

Shahbaz, Caroline; Chirinos, Peter (2016). Becoming a Kink Aware Therapist. Routledge. ISBN 9781315295312.

Goerlich, Stefani (2022). Kink-Affirming Practice: Culturally Competent Therapy from the Leather Chair. Routledge. ISBN 9781000620498.

International Association of Rubberists Archived 2006-07-02 at the Wayback Machine

Jay Wiseman, SM 101: A Realistic Introduction, Greenery Press, 2000, ISBN 0-9639763-8-9.

Stephanie Clifford-Smith, Kink: A Straight Girl’s Investigation, Allen and Unwin, 2010, ISBN 978-1-74175-912-9