Let’s start with the obvious, kinks and fetishes clearly overlap. A fetish is always a kink, but a kink is 

 are recognized as alternative sexual acts or interests outside of standard sexual practices, whereas a 

 is recognized as a specific object, body part, or behavior that is absolutely required for someone's sexual pleasure, arousal, or enjoyment. In the absence of said object(s) or behavior, the individual will find it difficult or even impossible to experience sexual enjoyment at all. Fetishes are generally forms of kinks. This also brings partialism into play. Partialism is the focus on one specific body part isolated from the rest (think foot fetish).

If you enjoy including impact play in the bedroom, that’s a kink. 

If you need to be bound and gagged to get off, that’s a fetish. 

If you love when your partner praises you throughout the day and in bed, that’s a kink.

If you can’t orgasm without being covered in urine, that’s a fetish.

Fetish: Bondage, which is a form of BDSM.

If you want to figure out if you have a kink or a fetish, answer the below questions:

Am I turned on by an object, a specific body part, or an action?

Can I enjoy solo pleasure without it being present?

“Okay, cool! I don’t have a kink or fetish, but my partner does and I don’t know how to get into it.”

Oftentimes we don't even recognize we have a kink or are into something alternative until someone introduces it or wants to try it with us for the first time. However, getting into a kink on your own accord is very different than trying to get into a kink for someone else. You don't necessarily have to be stoked about a partner's kink to enjoy the overall experience with them, not to mention, enjoy pleasuring or being pleasured by them as well. Generally, we are more turned on by our partner experiencing any type of pleasure than the actual act itself anyway. This is all to say that rather than trying to be exceptionally turned on by a kink or fetish that isn't just coming naturally, the willingness, effort, and excitement around any kink or fetish your partner has will 9/10 times be more than enough! 

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Most people tend to use these words interchangeably, and whether you have some or not, it’s worth knowing the differences (and similarities)!

Kink vs. Fetish?