Bisexuality, pansexuality, queer identity, and kink identity is from a publishing company named Routledge. It is a multinational publisher which specializes in providing academic books, journals, and online resources (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, n.d.). This article talks about non-traditional relationships and sexuality that include kink/BDSM sexualities and how they have important intersections with more traditional sexualities like bisexuality (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). In other words, it’s main focus is to learn more on kink sexualities and their relation with queer identity, bisexuality, and pansexuality (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017).
Bisexuality, queer identity, and pansexuality are all sexual orientations that are characterized by which sex or gender a person is more attracted to (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). Bisexuality, in its simplest form, is based on the sexual behavior with or attraction to both male and females (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). Pansexuality is from a Latin root pan, meaning, “all,” which translates to someone being attracted to all genders and sexes (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). This doesn’t just include males or females, but can also include transgender, intersex, or non-binary gendered people (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). Queer identity involves individuals who identify as queer experience attraction to more than one gender or sex (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). The label queer, is intentionally individualistic and can have double meanings meaning its impossible to make real assumptions about queer individuals sexual behaviors or attractions (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017)
Contrary to the sexualities we have discussed, kink or BDSM sexualities don’t involve being attracted to other genders or sexes. They involve an erotic attitude towards activities that have intense sensations (pain), sensual experiences that increase arousal due to their connections to erotic targets (fetish), or power differences and expression of power/powerlessness (dominance) (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). In the United States and Canada, around 25%-60% of people have sexual fantasies that have elements of kink or BDSM (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). There is a stigma involving kink/BDSM sexuality that says these interests, fantasies, or behaviors come from resulting childhood abuse (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017).
Many believe that people use kink behaviors in order to explore aspects of their gender and sexual orientation (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). Kink/BDSM websites or different interest groups on social media will discover a variety of kinks, fetishes, and identities that show exploration of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). These can include cross-dressing as elements of role-play or fetish, feminization of men as aspects of a humiliation scene, cuckolding fantasies, pornography that fetishizes trans women, or butch/femme identities (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). With so many behaviors that can be classified under, “kink,” there are plentiful options for self-identity and object of sexual desire that give opportunities for exploring their sexual orientation and gender (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017).
People have used their kink behaviors as components in a, “healing journey,” (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). The use of role-play, intense sensation play, erotic fantasy talk, and intentional use of sexual or erotic experiences to achieve altered states of consciousness or in order to address past trauma or mental illness have been noted by the kink/BDSM community (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). Therapists working with kink-oriented clients have also noted this (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017). Clients have used kink behaviors to manage symptoms of bipolar disorder or autism spectrum disorder, to address impulses for non-suicidal self-injury, and to self-regulate depressive moods or to address past trauma such as child abuse (Hadcock & Sprott, 2017).
I believe now it is much easier to explore certain kinks with the help of the internet. With many groups to join or follow with the same types of kinks can make people feel safer about what they want.