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Sexual fetishism

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Sexual fetishism is a form of paraphilia where the object of affection is a specific inanimate object or part of a person's body. It was first described in these terms by Alfred Binet in his Le fétichisme dans l’amour, though the concept and certainly the activity is quite ancient. The term arose from "fetish", a term used in anthropology for an object believed to have supernatural powers.

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Freud's early theories

As Sigmund Freud described it, sexual fetishes in men are the result of childhood trauma regarding castration anxiety. According to this theory, a boy curious to see his mother's penis averts his eyes in horror when he discovers his mother has no penis. The inanimate object on which the boy focuses when he averts his eyes becomes the fetishized object. Later in life, the fetishized object must be present in order for the man to complete orgasm. Within this framework, men are capable of having sexual fetishes, while women are incapable—something which makes this a falsifiable theory. This is a point of contention for feminists analyzing Freud's work, who point out that observed fetishistic behavior in many women falsifies Freud's theory. Despite such flaws, the theory was taken seriously when conceived.

Modern theories of fetishism

Although Freud's theory on fetishes may seem peculiar and was based on anecdotal rather than empirical evidence, he had discovered a critical aspect of human sexuality: the relationship between human orgasms and conditioning. Ongoing studies make this relationship more clear. For example, in a study published by Dr. Lique M. Coolen on April 14, 2003 at an Experimental Biology conference in San Diego, California, male rats accustomed to having sex in a particular cage will have elevations of "pleasure-inducing chemicals in the brain" simply from being in the particular cage, even if a female or a female scent are not present. Sexual conditioning occurred. It has been hypothesized that human sexuality may similarly be tied to conditioning, and this may explain the phenomenon of sexual fetishism.

This is consistent with the theory that fetishism derives from behavioural imprinting in early childhood, a phenomenon which is not only supported by anecdotal evidence in humans, but can be demonstrated experimentally in other animal species. Another theory is also based on the principles of behavioural imprinting which states that young males masturbate frequently and as one develops a frequent pattern, the objects that are frequently nearby at the time of masturbation become likely objects of arousal in the future. The individual is thus associating the object(s) with sexual orgasm. It is theorized that because the brain is recording all sensory input during masturbation and orgasm including vison, smell, hearing and even taste, this simultaneous information can become neuronally linked with the pleasure of the activity. If nearly identical conditions are experienced during repeated masturbation sessions, the brain may learn to strongly associate any object(s), clothing or even the surrounding environment with impending pleasure and eventual orgasm.

It is also hypothesized that the modern world provides many opportunities for superstimulus based on objects that both mimic and exaggerate natural stimuli.

Heels, boots, legs, stockings, transvestic...
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Heels, boots, legs, stockings, transvestic...

Types of Fetishes

Commonly fetishized items are shoes, lingerie, and specific materials such as satin, leather or fur. Although these forms of fetishism are the most common, fetishism, like other forms of human sexuality, can be extremely varied and can encompass almost any aspect of human behavior.

A number of sub-genres of pornography exist to serve fetishistic interests, with corresponding erotica in the form of fetish art.

Shoes

Women's shoes are a commonly fetishized item. Some prefer pumps while others prefer high-heeled boots. Often unusually high heels are preferred. Sometimes there is a preference for "dangerous-looking" shoes where there is some overlap with sadomasocistic desires.

Hosiery and Bodywear

Women's hosiery is another commonly fetishized item. Some prefer stockings while others prefer tights. Fetishists often have favorite colors or deniers, or specific features such as seams or reinforced heels.

Spandex leggings and leotards are similarly fetishized, as are tight, shiny garments made of leather, rubber, or PVC. Sometimes tight jeans are the object of interest.

One basis of this fetish is that the material forms a "second skin" that acts as a fetishistic surrogate for the wearer's own skin. Another basis is that the woman wearing them receives autoerotic pleasure from the tightness or silkiness. Other fetishists associate the tightness with corsetry or bondage.

Lingerie and Evening Wear

Satin and lace items such as slips, nightdresses, and undergarments are often fetishized, as well as other silk items such as evening gowns, skirts, and scarves. Sometimes, as with hosiery fetishism, there is a transvestic component.

In other cases, "hard" materials such as leather or latex are fetishized.

Partialism

Other fetishistic attachments can be to specific parts of the body, such as head or body hair, legs, feet or breasts, or specific shapes of the body, rather than to the person as an individual. This might explain foot binding in China in pre-modern times, extensive corset use in the West in the 19th century, and breast implants in the contemporary United States and elsewhere (e.g., Brazil).

Cultural Factors

Sometimes, whole cultures can develop the fetish to such an extent that it is no longer perceived as a fetish, but merely as a normal sexual desire; for example late-Victorian England's ankle fetish [[Citing sources citation needed]], or the modern commonplace fetish for lingerie and women lacking body hair.

In this regard, there can be said to be a degree of fetishistic arousal in the average person who responds to particular bodily features as sign of attractiveness. However, fetishistic arousal is generally considered to be a problem only when it interferes with normal sexual or social functioning. Sometimes the term "fetishism" is used only for those cases where non-fetishist sexual arousal is impossible.

Popular use

In popular culture, the term 'fetish' has gained a broader meaning, and can cover any sexuality which is perceived as unusual. For example a man who has a strong preference for overweight women, or women of a particular race, may be popularly described as having a fetish, even though he is not aroused by an inanimate object or specific body part. One site states that "plenty of white guys want Asian girls. When this happens, they usually call it a fetish" [link].

Similarly, 'fetish' is often used as a synonym for BDSM, whether or not it involves a fetish in the technical sense.

A parodic example of this tendency is the article in The Onion, which explored a man's 'naked-lady fetish' [link].

Other varieties of fetishism

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References and further reading

  • Valerie Steele, Fetish: Fashion, Sex, and Power, Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN 0195090446
  • Larry Utley, Autumn Carey-Adamme, Fetish Fashion: Undressing the Corset, Green Candy Press, 2002. ISBN 1931160066
  • Katharine Gates, Deviant Desires: Incredibly Strange Sex, published by Juno Books ISBN 1-890451-03-7
  • Brenda Love, The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices, published by Barricade Books, 1994, ISBN 1569800111

External links

 

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