I must do more research
Posted on 04/11/2005 4:33:53 AM PDT by pissant
Most people are baffled by fetishes. The idea of shoes, braids, rubber, or stumps becoming a sexual focus – that’s a hard idea to empathize with. Yet the Janus report documents Americans, at least, find S&M (sadomasochism) ‘kinkier’ than fetishes. Sixty per cent responded that S&M was ‘kinky’, whereas only 35 per cent found fetishes ‘kinky’. Twenty-two per cent percent of men and 18 percent of women were generally approving of fetishes, labeling fetishes ‘all right’ or ‘very normal’. Comparable figures on S&M were eight and five percent.
What is a fetish?
If you have a fetish, you obsessively fixate on an object or a body part. You need that object for sexual gratification. When you masturbate, you have to either fantasize about that object or have that object with you. If you have sex with a partner, you still need to fantasize about that object or have it present.
“If someone is attracted to blondes, that’s one thing, but if someone cannot be aroused unless they are with a blonde, that’s more fetishistic,” says Dr. Michael Seto, a Toronto-based psychologist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
The word fetish originally meant mojo or charm and it can still be used in that context. It comes from the 15th century Portuguese word ‘feitico’, which meant ‘false’ (i.e., non-Christian) power object or charm. As the Portuguese explored West Africa, they encountered native religions. If the West Africans believed in the powers of an amulet, the Portuguese called that amulet a fetish. However, the Christian rosaries and crosses used by the ethnocentric Portuguese were not considered fetishes.
What kinds of fetishes are there?
There are various kinds of fetishes, depending on the object being fetishized. Inanimate, or non-human, fetishes come in two types: media or form fetishes. In a media fetish, the material is what is fetishized. Media fetishes include rubber, leather, silk, and nylon. With a form fetish, it’s the shape of the object that matters. High-heels, boots, and gloves fall into this category. Hair, feet, legs, buttocks and breasts can also become fetishes, and since these objects are human, this category is called ‘animate’ fetishes.
However, almost anything can become fetishized. A brief perusal of a fetish “partners wanted” site turned up everything from the generic foot fetishists: “I'm 20 years old and I love to suck female toes. I would love if you send me an e-mail to talk about feet” to one with a ‘gas pedal fetish’: “I have a very serious gas pedal fetish. I like a girl who is willing to crank a car until the battery runs down!”
There are also different degrees of fetishism and there is such a thing as a ‘normal’ fetish. A mild preference, or even a strong preference for a certain type of object or partner falls into the normal range of human sexual behavior. However, if you are incapable of functioning sexually without the object then you fall into the abnormal side of the fetish continuum. When the object has become a substitute for a human sexual partner, you are definitely on the abnormal side.
The rule of thumb is if your fetish interferes with your relationship or your life, seek help.
What’s the most common fetish?
“Foot fetishes are definitely one of the more common ones,” says Seto. “I’d say it’s the most common person-related one. The most common object one is a toss-up between shoes and a material fetish for leather, PVC, or rubber.”
What is not considered a fetish?
Anal sex and vibrators are not considered fetishes. There is some debate over whether men who only date women with big breasts or long legs have a fetish. Technically, if such men are not capable of functioning sexually with small-breasted or short-legged women, it is a fetish. However, big breasts and long legs on women seem to be fetishized by society itself, so such fetishes stand a good chance of being considered ‘normal’.
Who becomes a fetishist?
Although female fetishists are not completely unheard of, the great majority of fetishists are men. While psychiatrists are not sure why this is, there are a few theories to explain the gender discrepancy.
One theory is called “Nature’s Design” and it posits that male sexuality evolved to be able to copulate at the drop of a hat – so as not to miss an opportunity. Men are able to get very turned on by even a tiny glimpse of flesh. Therefore men are more susceptible to getting aroused by parts or flashes, whereas women are more liable to be turned on if they have the entire setting: the man, dinner, music, etc.
“I don’t think anyone has a good answer for it, except that in general, there is more variation in male sexual behaviour than in female sexual behaviour,” says Seto. “For example, in terms of exhibitionism or voyeurism, I would suggest that there are way more men than women who engage in those types of activities.”
As for personality traits, it’s no surprise that research has shown fetishists to be isolated, and have poorly developed social and intimacy skills.
And no! Having an highly advanced appreciation for the female derriere does not qualify as such. So don't start!! ;o)
We had a call of a mugging that happened at the interstate just outside of the city I work in. A woman was pumping gas and a guy came up behind her, knocked her down and stole her shoes. I found the supect car coming into town and pulled it over. When we searched the car, the guy had 60 pair of womens shoes inside.
There's some sick mother F'ers out there. Is that scientific enough for you?
LOL! At least he didn't try to steal her bra!!
I must do more research
If Anna is your version of tennis, than yes, you qualify!
Okay...I'll TRY to behave!
:)
Therefore men are more susceptible to getting aroused by parts or flashes, whereas women are more liable to be turned on if they have the entire setting: the man, dinner, music, etc.
These guys are stating the obvious. Men have always been more sexually aroused by visual stimulus, and women by emotional stimulus.
(That's why guys like looking at naked women, but have to bring us candy, flowers, etc when they screw up)
LOL!
I can sense your torment trying to behave!!!
That is the winning photo in pissant's book!
"There is no fetish so bizarre or unusual that, if you created a website devoted to it and charged a fee for membership, you would have less than fifty subscribers by the end of the week."
The strangest one I've ever seen was apotemnophilia; sexual gratification through removal of a limb. There's only so many times you can get off on that one...
Yikes. Those folks need to be shot. For their own good, IMO.
A limb like this? :-) Removing brush can be gratifying, but certainly not sexually.
Here ya go little feller. From a website called Girls & Guns:
WOO HOO, another pissant thread!
Man, you need to develope a ping list. I want to be on it! I'll add to my monthly donation in your honor if you do.
From Merriam-Webster Online:
Main Entry: fe·tish
Function: noun
Etymology: French & Portuguese; French fétiche, from Portuguese feitiço, from feitiço artificial, false, from Latin facticius factitious
1 a : an object (as a small stone carving of an animal) believed to have magical power to protect or aid its owner; broadly : a material object regarded with superstitious or extravagant trust or reverence b : an object of irrational reverence or obsessive devotion : PREPOSSESSION c : an object or bodily part whose real or fantasied presence is psychologically necessary for sexual gratification and that is an object of fixation to the extent that it may interfere with complete sexual expression
2 : a rite or cult of fetish worshipers
3 : FIXATION
(Emphisis added)
Kissy, Bertha
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