Kinning: a Way to Identify Your True Self

Art by Valerie Drew

When it comes to explaining my own identity to someone, it feels close to impossible when it’s something that feels like a big mix of conflicting characteristics. I’ve found it easier to just describe some of my most relatable characters to that person or just hand them my “kin” list and have that speak for itself.

What is “Kinning”?

According to Carole M. Cusack, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Sydney, kinning tends to date back to the late 1960s and 1970s where it stemmed from the umbrella term and subculture “Otherkin” which are individuals that believe they are not human or fully human but believe they are animals or mythical creatures on any or all levels except physical. This was influenced by the emergence of Elven communities and other-than-human groups.

This continued to grow with different media and shows Twilight, Teen Wolf and many more. There is a lot more to deep dive into the realm of kinning and its subcategories, but the definition and meaning can be subjective.

From what I’ve gathered and believed, “kinning” is relating to specific fictional characters in one way or another. It can be minor or major and is not limited to just one specific character in the show. For example, if you kin April Ludgate from Parks and Recreations, you can also kin Diane Nguyen from Bojack Horseman. Kinning a character can range from acting similarly to the character to relating heavily with a character. This can include the trauma and issues that a character has gone through.

Some use kinning as a coping mechanism while others simply kin characters for fun, either way, it’s not meant for any harm or to be taken to levels where others are being judged, bullied, or cause any conflict for the characters they kin. If a person were to kin a character that one found questionable, do not immediately assume they are wrong or a bad person. Kins can change over time just like one’s identity and it is completely normal and valid.

What Does It Have To Do With Identity?

Kinning and identity do have a lot to do with each other, as kinning is believing that the “kinnie”, the person who kins and relates to these characters, believes they identify as these characters overall.

Many kinnies act and connect to them to the degree that they believe they are or have very similar experiences to that character. It’s validating for one to see themselves in these characters and in a sense makes them feel like they are not alone in the world. They feel a connection to the characters and believe they go through the same hardships as they do.

A kinnie can relate more to these characters as the show progresses. As the show goes on, kinnies will find different traits and struggles that they may have not realized they had. An example would be a character needing to build stronger bonds with others. We see them struggle with their own emotions and learn how to empathize and eventually they find their own way of expression.

Kinning is something that I’ve personally found comfort in and have learned more about myself through it by relating to these characters. They’ve helped me throughout the quarantine and I know they’ve helped many others too.