Age Play
Ageplay or age play is a form of roleplaying in which an individual acts or treats another as if they are a different age. Ageplay is roleplaying between adults, and involves consent from all parties. Ageplay is not always sexual. Portraying any age can be the goal of ageplay, from babies to a child to the elderly. Usually this involves someone pretending to be younger than they actually are, but more rarely can involve assuming an older role.
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 Annil 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, 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, orBDSM 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.
For original source and citations click here.
Ageplay Pride Flag
Otherwise known as the Littles and Baby Pride Flag/Symbol, this image was created in the early 90s by a member of the ageplay community known as Mako Allen. It was originally created as a round symbol but was then altered to be presentable as both a flag and the initial circle design. In the words of Mako “It’s a way to say unapologetically that you love who you are.” This is the symbol you will see most commonly on ageplay sites.
“The Littles and Baby Pride Symbol is available to all regressive age players to show pride in themselves and others. It has been given to the public domain, so anyone can use it…The blue and pink areas represent the boys and girls that engage in age play. It’s set in a circle to symbolize our common bond. The heart in the middle represents the love and passion we bring to age play. It also recalls the heart from the leather pride flag. The white strip in the heart represents the innocence and purity of age play.”
There is also a another flag more specifically for those who engage in ABDL related activity, that was created in 2005 by someone named David. This flag shares common elements with it’s predecessor, and has a very similar meaning. It was intended “to display pride over and sympathy with the ABDL community.”…”It is designed to somewhat resemble of the common symbol of the ABDL community – diapers – in a tasteful and not too obvious way. It mostly consist of white and light colors, an obvious choice since those are the most associated with diapers.”
Although these symbols are less common than those of some other fetish communities, ageplayers of all types can find these symbols to be a source of pride in who they are.
For original source and citations click here.
ABDL Pride Flag
The purpose of the flag is to display pride over and sympathy with the ABDL community. It can be used as an ordinary flag, being sewn onto clothes, made in pin-form to be worn at the coat collar or just decorate the living room wall.
It is designed to somewhat resemble of the common symbol of the ABDL community - diapers - in a tasteful and not too obvious way. It mostly consists of white and light colors, an obvious choice since those are the most associated with diapers.
For original source and citations click here.