What's the Findom fetish all about? We explore the 'new kink on the block'
Financial Domination is a kink or fetish in which a 'submissive' consensually sends money or gifts to a 'dominant'.
'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me,' sings Rhinanna in her smash hit 'S & M' in which the songstress details her particular fetish of 'whips and chains'.
Most of us will be familiar with the more common fetishes like role play, foot worship and those that might fall under the BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, and sadism) banner.
But have you ever heard of Findom?
The term has over 735 millions views on TikTok, but what is it?
In essence, it involves a 'sub' (submissive), giving money and gifts to a 'dom' (dominant).
Dr Sharon Gordon is the owner of sensuality brand Lola Montez, she admits to being surprised by this 'new kink on the block'.
"I've been in this industry for over 22 years and I've heard about a lot of fetishes and a lot of kink...financial domination is definitely new to me."
Dr Sharon Gordon, Owner - Lola Montez
Gordon explains the difference between a fetish and a kink.
"A kink is something that arouses you sexually, for example big breasts would be a kink, because breasts are associated with sex."
Dr Sharon Gordon, Owner - Lola Montez
"A fetish is something that is completely disassociated with sex, but which you find incredibly arousing...high heels shoes or feet. Feet are not inertly sexual."
Dr Sharon Gordon, Owner - Lola Montez
So, what is findom or financial domination? Well, it's a fetish that falls under the BDSM umbrella says Gordon.
"BDSM is about a power exchange, it's all about power...and you'll normally find that the submissive is normally the dominant partner in the relationship, they're probably earning more money and have more friends."
Dr Sharon Gordon, Owner - Lola Montez
The thing that makes the financial domination so interesting, says Gordon, is that compared to most other dom-sub relationships, there is no sexual 'release' at the end.
It's all about making the 'sub' feel humiliated and worthless.
"The person who sends the money is called a Pig sub or a human ATM..."
Dr Sharon Gordon, Owner - Lola Montez
Although not strictly sexual, Gordon says the sub will get a rush of dopamine - the pleasure chemical our bodies produce - as a result of the exchange.
"The chemical they get from that extreme domination and humiliation is what becomes the addiction."
Dr Sharon Gordon, Owner - Lola Montez
In her research on the topic, Gordon says this type of fetish appears to play out exclusively online, meaning the subs and doms never meet in person.
She says she also found that the doms tend to be women.
"I couldn't find examples of a woman being controlled as a [financial] sub."
Dr Sharon Gordon, Owner - Lola Montez