Hidden pleasures: 7 rare fetishes you probably didn’t know about

Everyone approaches sex differently. We all have unique desires, kinks, and turn-offs that make the sexual journey a lot of fun. But while you’ve probably heard of or have experience with the common fetishes, there are probably quite a few that you aren’t too familiar with.

So this Fetish Day, we’re looking at a few of the less-common fetishes that people have that you may not know about.

• What is a fetish?
• Rare fetishes you probably haven’t heard about
• The takeaway

If you’re looking to learn about the desires and kinks that aren’t as well-known, you’ve come to the right place. But before we look at a few rare fetishes, we first have to talk about what a fetish is.

So, let’s dive in.

What is a fetish?

A fetish is basically a type of sexual desire one has. Fetishes are typically strong sexual fixations on a specific object, body part, scenario, or activity. Experts describe fetishes as a sexual desire for something that isn’t inherently sexual.

A common example of a fetish is a foot fetish, which is one of the most common fetishes in the world. People with a foot fetish have a strong sexual desire towards feet.

That said, fetishes can vary in intensity. Using the example above, some people have very strong sexual attraction to feet, to the point where they cannot get aroused without the sight of feet. However, there are also people with light fetishes that don’t have as strong an attachment to the body part or object.

Fetishes are complex and can manifest in various ways, ranging from harmless preferences to more intense and compulsive behaviours. That said, just because someone has a fetish doesn’t mean that they have some sort of sexual dysfunction. Many people participate in healthy and consensual sex acts that involve their fetishes.

So, if you have a sexual attraction or desire towards something that isn’t exactly sexual, you may have a fetish yourself. This isn’t a bad thing, as it allows you to explore sexual desire in a unique way.

We’ll talk more about exploring fetishes with your partner later, but for now, let’s take a look at some not-so-typical fetishes that exist around the world.

Rare fetishes you probably haven’t heard about

As mentioned earlier, the world of fetishes is wide, and people have various types of fetishes. Some are pretty common, such as feet, BDSM, piercings, tattoos, cuckold, voyeurism, and hair, but others aren’t as common. In this section, we’ll look at some of the different fetishes in the world that you may not have heard about.

Autozoophilia

Autozoophilia is a fetish wherein a person is aroused by the thought of them as an animal. This is a rare fetish that is somewhat related to the “furry” culture, where people dress themselves up as anthropomorphic animals. However, those with autozoophilia are aroused by the idea of them dressed as an animal during a sexual encounter.

Balloon fetishism

If you thought balloons were strictly for parties and fairs, you’re about to have your mind blown. As the name suggests, this fetish is associated with balloons. People with this fetish are attracted to different aspects of the balloon and typically use balloons as sex toys with their partner or alone. People can be attracted to the feel, smell, or even the sight of a balloon, which is why those with this fetish can practice it in different ways.

Infantilism

“Baby talk” is usually reserved for parents and adults teaching their children how to speak. Or, it’s typically used when trying to get a kid to understand you. However, some adults are turned on when hearing someone speak to them in “baby talk”. Some people get aroused when they speak to their sexual partners in this manner. This fetish is known as infantilism and is another one of the rare fetishes that exist.

Kleptolagnia

You may already be familiar with the “klepto” prefix, as kleptomania is a pretty well-known disorder. Kleptoplagnia, on the other hand, isn’t exactly a disorder, but it’s closely related to kleptomania. This fetish describes a person’s arousal when stealing things. This means they may get turned on by stealing things from their partners, stores, and similar places. That’s why people with this fetish risk getting arrested when trying to explore the fetish and why you may want to lock up your valuables if you’re with someone who has this fetish.

Agalmatophilia

Agalmatophilia is a fetish that some men have where they feel a strong attraction to inanimate objects, specifically sex dolls and statutes. While there are many people with sex dolls, those with agalmatophilia have a strong connection to these dolls that is different than when people use the dolls as sex toys.

Objectophilia

A person with objectophilia has a strong sexual attraction to objects. For example, a person may want to use their smartphones or tablets as a sex toy or do the same thing with similar objects that aren’t inherently sexual. There are people with attractions to things such as the Eiffel Tower, certain toys or trinkets at home, and other objects.

Object fetishism

This is another unique type of fetish wherein a person is sexually attracted to objects that their partner has been in contact with. An obvious manifestation of this is when people are sexually attracted to their partner’s underwear or garments. However, there are other types of fetishism where people are attracted to simple objects that their partner has touched, such as a glass, a bottle, or any object they may find.

The takeaway

If you have an unconventional kink, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. All this means is that you may have to explore sexual desire differently, which is possible if you communicate with your partner openly.

Communication is key in a healthy sexual relationship, so don’t hesitate to bring up your sexual feelings with your partner. However, this is also a two-way street, so it’s important to respect and validate your partner’s boundaries and feelings as well.