Ageplay

Characteristics and variations

Ageplay is a form of roleplay between one or more consenting adults. Within dominant/submissive relationships, ageplay can enhance power dynamics, and allow a partner to feel more comfortable with their dominance or submission.

A common myth is that caregiver dynamics (caregiver/little, daddy/little, mommy/little) all involve ageplay. However, these dynamics are more about caring for one another than re-enacting an incest fantasy. Research shows that there is an interest in this kind of "intergenerational play" that is distinct from incest—or kinship—play.

According to forensic psychologist Anil Aggrawal, ageplay is not related to pedophilia or any form of sex abuse. Individuals who engage in ageplay are consenting adults who enjoy imagining or portraying themselves as children, or merely enjoy childlike elements typical of children present in adults.

Paraphilic infantilism

Main article: Paraphilic infantilism

Paraphilic infantilism, colloquially known as "adult baby" play, is a specific form of ageplay which involves one or more consenting adults role-playing an age regression to an infant-like state. "Adult baby" play can be an expression of a fetish (or, more accurately, paraphilia) or simply as a non-sexual form of recreational adult role-play.

Behaviors may include things such as wearing childish clothes, wearing or using diapers, cuddling with stuffed animals, drinking from a bottle or sucking on a pacifier, and (when done with others) engaging in gentle and nurturing experiences, baby talk, or BDSM power dynamics involving masochism, coercion, punishment or humiliation. People who participate in paraphilic infantilism are often referred to as "adult babies" or "ABs".

Though distinct, within the kink community paraphilic infantilism is often associated with diaper fetishism under the umbrella term, "adult baby/diaper lover" or "AB/DL".

Some research has aimed to separate ageplay from the pathologized framing of paraphilic infantilism, noting in part that paraphilic infantilism is not listed within the DSM-V. This research also discourages thinking of ageplay in terms of discrete pathologized identity categories, but rather as a spectrum of intersecting identities, behaviors, and/or power dynamics.

Ageplay events

Specific conventions and major events have formed that specifically cater to ageplayers including:

• CAPCon (2010–present) a hotel-based convention that occurs annually; originating and formerly taking place in the Chicagoland area, and now in Minneapolis, MN.
• Camp Abdulia (2012–2018) a gathering that occurred sporadically throughout various cities and states in the United States
• TOMKAT (2013–present) a gathering that occurs bi-annually at a private wilderness camp in Ontario, Canada
• TeddyCon (2014–2019) a convention that occurred annually at a hotel near Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States
• West Coast Jungle Gym (2019–2021) a convention that occurred annually at a hotel in San Diego, California, area of the United States

References

References

1. (1996). "Consensual Sadomasochism: How to Talk About It and How to Do It Safely". Daedalus Publishing Company.
2. Bauer, Robin. (2021). "Queering consent: Negotiating critical consent in les-bi-trans-queer BDSM contexts". Sexualities.
3. "Caregiving Dynamics and DDlg/CGl".
4. Bauer, Robin. (2018). "Bois and grrrls meet their daddies and mommies on gender playgrounds: Gendered age play in the les-bi-trans-queer BDSM communities". Sexualities.
5. {{Harvp. Aggrawal. 2009
6. (2019-06-01). "Littles: Affects and Aesthetics in Sexual Age-Play". Sexuality & Culture.
7. "CAPCon".
8. "Home".
9. "TeddyCon - Home".
10. Gym, The West Coast Jungle. "HOME".