A Concise Overview of Kinkronyms
So many acronyms!
When considering the topic of consent, there is, as in any healthy relationship, a lot of discourse. Especially if you approach the Kink or B.D.S.M. world.
Maybe we should start there?
B.D.S.M. is a multi-acronymic term standing for:
- B/D – Bondage and Discipline
- D/S – Dominance and Submission
- S/M – Sadism and Masochism or Sadomasochism in conjunction
Not every person into B.D.S.M. will partake in every aspect of the acronym. For example, some only play in Bondage and Submission while omitting Discipline, Dominance, and Sadism or Masochism or Sadomasochism. The submission is experienced as an internal and inherent aspect of the Bondage without the need for a partner who is playing the role of a Dominant.
In the world of Kink, safety is always being discussed. The discourse ranges from the general considerations of how-to do healthy kink, to the very specific negotiations of partners planning a “Scene” where they play out a specifically prediscussed fantasy within the boundaries and rules of prior negotiation. Those negotiations are often approached with the acronym soup, which we’re trying to spell out for you here. Ready? Here we go…
The Acronyms of Safe Play
- SSC – Safe, Sane, Consensual
- RACK – Risk-Aware Consensual Kink
- PRICK – Personal Responsibility, Informed, Consensual Kink
- CCCC – Caring, Communication, Consent, Caution
The Acronyms of Consent
- FRIES – Freely given, Revocable (or Reversible), Informed, Enthusiastic, Specific
- CRISP – Considered, Revocable (or Reversible), Informed, Specific, Participatory
Each of these is used by an individual to represent and determine which pattern of behavior or consideration process is brought to a Negotiation, and thus, to a Scene.
The Pomegranate Institute has, perhaps, the best blog post on The Acronyms of Safe Play in the post The ABCs of BDSM Safety: Understanding Key Acronyms for Safe Practices, which I always sent people to before writing this post; however, I’ll give summary to Sarah Chotkowski’s post here if you don’t want to leave the site. I do highly recommend you check it out, though! I have recommended it to people for years. It is an amazing resource!
S.S.C. – Safe, Sane, Consensual
Cited as being created by David Stein in 1983 as part of a committee of the GMSMA (Gay Male S/M Activists), asked to draft a statement for the group to differentiate themselves from harmful, abusive relationships. This phrase became culturally canonized as a colloquialism for healthy S.M. in the kink community. This term, while still recognized and practiced, is done so less and less frequently as social awareness has grown and evolved. S.S.C. was left behind because it was seen as too vague and open to interpretation.
R.A.C.K. – Risk-Aware Consensual Kink
Proposed in 1999 by Gary Switch, who was a contributing editor for Prometheus Magazine, published by The Eulenspiegel Society – the first B.D.S.M. organization founded in the United States. His evolution in terminology was, in part, a way to remove ambiguity from the term “sane.” He also wanted an acronym that was “snappy.” R.A.C.K., like S.S.C., has fallen out of fashion as the language and consideration of what is deemed healthy has evolved and been specified.
P.R.I.C.K. – Personal Responsibility, Informed, Consensual Kink
This came about as yet another culturally desired reclassification of terms and values after R.A.C.K.. Its origins have been lost, and it, like the others, has been partly left behind. People argue that the language of “personal responsibility” might be weaponized to promote victim blaming.
C.C.C.C. – Caring, Communication, Consent, Caution
Created by Williams, Thomas, Prior, and Christensen a 2014 article in the Journal of Human Sexuality titled “From “SSC” and “RACK” to the “4Cs”: Introducing a new Framework for Negotiating BDSM Participation” – C.C.C.C., or, The 4C’s, is the currently smiled upon model of healthy kink navigation. I am certain discourse and popular opinion will evolve the language eventually; however, for now, this is the gold standard of healthy sexuality in Kink, and perhaps out of Kink spaces as well. Especially when it is paired with defining consent.
F.R.I.E.S. – Freely given, Revocable (or Reversible), Informed, Enthusiastic, Specific
In 2016, Planned Parenthood created this as a model of defining the elements of consent; however, since then, people have moved on to our next acronym for its inclusivity
C.R.I.S.P. – Considered, Revocable (or Reversible), Informed, Specific, Participatory
In 2022, I.D.C. Professionals (Intimacy Directors and Coordinators) got together and published the C.R.I.S.P. defining model of consent. This evolution came about to include those who work in the entertainment industry and performing arts, and who may do things that they are consenting to only because of “the inherent power dynamics within hierarchical capitalistic organizations.” It also addresses the word enthusiastic for the same reason. This brings consent from the bedroom into every aspect of human interaction. We negotiate consent throughout our daily lives, and this language for defining consent can help everyone to more fully understand how to navigate healthy interactions with others.
Many of these were ways to define how to move through Kink Scene play spaces, but the thought processes and considerations can apply to every interaction a person has if they want a defining path to nurturing healthy relationships, boundaries, and rules.
The human interaction evolution is happening now. It is ongoing and ever-present in society. We are seeing the changes to the language even in the last three years when C.R.I.S.P. came about. There is always room for growth and ways to make both individual relationships and the community as a whole healthier. Kink might be looked at as those who lead the cutting edge of healthy relationship navigation, since they are a microcosmic pressure-cooker of relationship navigation.
Well, there you have it! Concise. The people and articles cited throughout this post are excellent places to start your own journey on a deeper dive into the history of and further readings on the topics of Kink and Consent. I hope you find the rabbit hole as delightful and inspiring as I have.
Would you like us to discuss navigating experience ownership and partner performance? When what we experience and what is happening are incongruous between the various participants? In other words: “I felt” compared to “you did.” Let us know if you’d like us to elaborate! Or if you have another idea of something you’d like to read about here!
Hazel – Erotique get’er’done girl
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