Frotteurism and Gender

Frotteurism is a disorder characterized by fantasies, sexual behaviors, or urges involving rubbing or touching, especially the genitals, against the body or clothing of a nonconsenting person, usually in crowded public places. The term frotteurism is derived from the word frotteur, which comes from the French verb frotter, meaning “to rub.” Frotteurism is relevant to gender issues for various reasons, including the finding that most of the perpetrators are male and most of the victims are female. In this entry, the diagnosis, demographics, and prevalence of frotteurism are described, and legal and cultural issues related to this condition are identified. The entry concludes with a discussion of theories and treatments related to frotteurism.