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Can a Person Have a Fetish for a Body Part?
(05/28/2008) by Gloria G. Brame
Fetishism is one of the most complex topics in sexuality because it is often used broadly to describe a fantastically diverse range of human sexual behaviors. Literally any object or body part can excite a fetishistic interest, resulting in so many different types of fetishes that no one has ever yet catalogued them all. "Foot Fetishism" is perhaps the best known and most common fetishes. Yet, foot fetishism itself expresses itself in a wild whirl of diversity. The term "foot fetishist" applies to anyone who is aroused by either a body part or something you’d wear on a body part below the genitals and buttocks. This means an erotic fascination with anything and everything from toe to thigh, including all styles of footwear, socks and hosiery. A person who gets turned on by giving his or her lover a light sexy foot rub might be considered a foot fetishist; but so too is the person who get aroused while wearing spike-heeled sandals; and so is the person who longs to lick and suck on a pair of dirty boots; and so is the person who wants to rub their genitals on their partner’s calves. Adding further confusion to the picture, "fetish" is now occasionally used to refer to erotic acts. People may say they have a "spanking fetish" or a fetish for bondage. Clinically those are not fetishes but in practical life, the terms help to explain how passionately people feel about their sexual fantasies. Another confusion comes from the fact that fetishes change with fashion history. Zipper fetishes began in the 20th century, right around the time that the fetish for ladies’ shoe buttons vanished. Why? Because formation of a fetish requires that you be exposed to the fetish object, usually at some point in early life. As button-shoes went out of fashion, and zippers came into use, new generations of fetishists were exposed to different stimuli.
Ironically, a "fetish" for a body part is clinically known as partialism. If academics ruled the world, there would likely be no such thing as a foot fetish, just foot partialism. Technically, a fetish is an inanimate object, not a living thing nor a part of a living thing. Shoes, hats, gloves, scarves, boots, sweaters, raincoats. rubberwear, vinyl or plastic garments, uniforms, panties, hosiery and other types of clothing and footwear may all be fetish objects. Partialists get turned on by a specific body part, whether it is feet, calves or thighs; or more exotic attractions, such as tattoos, scars, or hair.
That said, being overwhelmingly attracted to a body part such as breasts, behinds, or genitals, does not make a person a fetishist. It makes you normal, in the sense that you share your culture’s sexual values. It’s best to think of fetishism as a profound sexual attraction to something that is a little offbeat, something one wouldn’t ordinarily consider sexual. Obviously, that would exclude sex organs, backsides, nipples and breasts because our culture accepts and promotes those parts of the body as sexual. Again, this is a sexological perspective. When I hear that someone has a fetish for breasts, I take it to mean that he or she is passionate about breasts. It’s only when I hear that someone has a fetish for wearing a bunny suit with high heels that the notebook comes out.
Source:
www.loveandhealth.info
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