Fetishes

A fetish has typically been defined as the worship of, or unnatural attraction to, some object, in most cases an inanimate object. The notion of a fetish has become more widely used in both nonsexual and sexual discourse. The word has been used synonymously with obsession (e.g., those who purchase shoes regularly may exclaim that they have a “shoe fetish”). Fetishes represent a compelling part of human sexuality, and despite much study, there still seems to be disagreement on the etiology and development of fetishes. Like many other sexual constructs, the fetish has typically been viewed as pathological, although the changing social climate has allowed for a reexamination of “normal” sexuality. Some fetishes have received more acceptance than others by the general population, and it is likely that this will continue to change over time.

The term fetish has been attributed to Alfred Binet, the psychologist most noted for his work on intelligence testing. The debate over whether fetishes are abnormal and what constitutes a “normal” fetish is still contested, especially because fetishism is considered to be a sexual disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. To constitute a sexual disorder, a fetish must involve recurrent and intense fantasies that occur for at least 6 months. These fantasies must cause distress to the individual and have a negative effect on his or her social or emotional functioning; however, many people do not experience distress from their fetishes and enjoy indulging in these fantasies.

Fetishes range the gamut of the human imagination—from the body and attributes of the body (body parts, feet, body shape, hair color, skin color, pregnant women) to clothing (shoes, vinyl, leather, stockings, lingerie, cross-dressing), to acts done to the body (shaving, bondage, piercings, restraints, bruises, cutting, branding, tattoos, burning, scarring, shocking, urinating/defecating on), to specific situations (abduction, slavery, rape, interrogation, torture). Fetishes can also involve activities such as voyeurism (viewing others) and exhibitionism (displaying oneself to others or masturbating in front of others). Some individuals enjoy role-playing (infant play, age play, medical play, and diaper play). Fetishes may involve objects such as rubber, feathers, latex, knives, and sometimes live objects such as animals or insects. This list is by no means exhaustive and represents only some of the more common fetishes.

Fetishes can be simply a “kink” that individuals enjoy to use as a sexual aid when the mood suits them. They can simply be one part of a varied sexual appetite. Alternatively, they can be a needed object or activity for an individual to engage in any gratifying sexual activity. In extreme cases, individuals may become so fixated on a certain object that they are [Page 278]unable to perform or achieve orgasm without the presence of the desired object or activity.