'Kink' is a word with many definitions. Here are a few according to Dictionary.com:

1. a twist or curl, as in a thread, rope, wire, or hair, caused by its doubling or bending upon itself:
   -The kink in the hose was restricting the water flow.
2. a muscular stiffness or soreness, as in the neck or back:
   -The kink in my neck was making it difficult to turn my head at all.
3. a flaw or imperfection likely to hinder the successful operation of something, such as a machine or plan:
   -There are still a few kinks to be worked out of the design before we start production.
4. Slang.
   1. unconventional sexual preferences or behavior collectively.
   2. a particular sexual preference or behavior that is unconventional.
   3. a person characterized by such preferences or behavior; kinkster.
5. a mental twist; notion; whim.

Kink as we are referring to it is only defined here as a sexual behavior. It's important to recognize that for many people, kink is a sexual activity, but for many others, it's not sexual at all.

We at Consent Academy lean towards the last definition of kink as a mental twist, notion or whim. Kink is about creativity, so ultimately, it can be whatever you consensually negotiate it to be.

The video below provides a taste of the many different activities that fall under the umbrella of kink. Please note that we do not endorse the simplistic understanding of consent displayed in the video - we'll get to a more nuanced conversation around written consent in the Agreements and Boundary-setting module.

That video introduced a lot of terminology, and we will provide more definitions as we go along. For now, here are a few terms you should remember:

BDSM – Acronym for Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission, Sadism, and Masochism. (here is a great introductory resource for learning more about each of those terms: What is BDSM? Your Queer Guide to Kink, Domination, Bondage, and More by Evelyn Bauer)

Scene – A specific kink or BDSM activity (or series of activities) engaged in by two or more people, with a clear beginning and end, ideally negotiated beforehand.

Top – The person acting in a scene.

Bottom – The person being acted upon in a scene.

Aftercare – Support provided to either, both, or all participants once a scene ends. This can be physical (cuddling, hydration, blankets), emotional (comforting words, reassurance), mental (processing the experience), or a mix. Aftercare should be negotiated before play.

What does kink mean to you? If you're new to kink, what excites you about exploring kink? What concerns do you have? Let us know in the comments!