What is Fetishism?

A fetish is any object which has sexual connotations for you. It can be anything, actually. A fetish can either be an object, a certain type of fabric, a scent or a situation. To be somewhat more explicit. You can get turned on by, for example, either high heels, sexy lingerie, boots, leather, silk, a perfume or the sight of a sub kneeling in front of her Dom. Whatever it is that turns you on is called a fetish.

There's nothing wrong with having fetishes. The techniques of negotiation and communication can also come in handy in exploring your particular fetishes, whatever they are. Leather is one of the most basic and common fetishes in the erotic power exchange scene. Number two, without doubt, is high heels. Much of the appeal of leather and latex is in their tightness and their shininess. Clothes made out of them enhance your awareness of your sensual self and restraints made out of them can cling like a second skin.

The mind is the biggest erogenous zone and role playing and mock acting can be very hot. As for corsets and high heels, they are both restrictive garments that enhance the curves of the body, and that work really well as part of erotic power play. They are some of the classic fetish items. Super high heels can make it altogether impossible to walk, which can be very sexy. Corsets, properly applied, can dramatically change the shape of your body. Other fetishes? Formal clothes on men, cowboy gear, uniforms, nurses' outfits, harem girl attire... the list goes on and on.

Another fetish many people have is smooth skin, with no body hair. Shaven skin is silky soft, completely and utterly naked, and very vulnerable. Shaven legs, armpits, or genitals can feel very different indeed than hairy ones.

Within the erotic power exchange scene shaving the pubic area (as a sign of submission), is quite common and the shaving can be a nice daily ritual. A quite common fetish fantasy (hardly ever brought to live) is shaving the female head, which is considered either very erotic or - again - a very intense sign of submission.

Many women also enjoy dressing up as men. Or vice versa. Switching gender roles can open up a vast range of possibilities.

Based on materials from the POWERotics Foundation © 2000;