Fur and Leather Fetishism

by Mistress Michelle Peters

Some early sexual researchers such as Krafft-­Ebing often equated bestiality with fur and leather fetishism, labeling the phenomenon zooplilia erotica. While there may be some loose connections between these two sexual deviations, it is clear today that fur and leather fetishism is more of a fabric attachment, than one to the animals from whose hides the materials came. In be sure, there are evidences of some fur and animal-hide fetishists who admit to experiencing strange attractions to animals as children. but seldom if ever did they have sexual relations with the animals, as the true animal sodomist would. And there are cases of' adults who have fur and leather fetishes, who occasionally include a pet such as a dog, in their lovemaking, but such cases are rare. A person with any other deviation may be likely to cross over into bestiality in rare cases. So while there are some similarities in the development of some fur and leather fetishists with those who practice bestiality. I am not convinced that the similarities are so strong as some of the earlier sexual researchers may have believed. To be sure, to don the hide of an animal is a psychological way of proving one's superiority over it. especially in a person with a weak ego. But to many fur fetishists. the feel of the texture is as important in the realization of the fetish as the psychological reasons.

Fur and leather fetishism has long been closely related to some facets of sadomasochism. Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch (whose name was the origin of masochism) paid tribute to his mistress with a whip in Venus In Furs. The English artist. Aubrey Beardsley was a noted masochist, whose drawings often included a dominating woman in furs. In Venus In Furs we can see the development of one particular form of' fur fetishism, although it can take on many other facets as in any form of fetishism. Although presented in the form of a novel, the work is highly autobiographical, telling of a young landowner named Severin, who allows his mistress to bind him up and flog him, while she wears furs. While the story is filled with sadomasochism, the fetishism is also quite evident. In fact, some forms of sadomasochism are quite often tied in with fetishism. In the book. Severin admits that the furs excite him as much as the flogging, going so far as to sign a document that allows her full power over him so long as she wears furs to enslave him.

To be sure, some leather and fur fetishists may be latent in their feelings for animals. Many horsewomen are fond of leather, and are often able to achieve an orgasm while riding their mounts. But their fixations with leather usually take on a more elicit tone in adulthood, their feelings of dominance over the animals being more psychological than physical. Often the attraction to leather and fur is more visual than tactile, especially in cases where sadomasochism or other ritualized forms of sex are carried out. However, in most cases the sense of touch plays the dominant role in arousing the fetishist sexually. Unlike most fetishes, the fur fetish seems to be as popular, or possibly even more popular among women than it is with men. Many women, as an example. admit to having a distinctly sensual, and sometimes erotic. sensation when putting on a mink coal. This is especially acute when the woman is nude. or when she is fondling it in preparation for erotic acts—either masturbatory: or if she is using it prior to engaging in sexual inter­ course. Sometimes, the feel of silk overlaps into the fur fetishist's sexual stimulation as many fur coats are lined on the inside with silk. Some female fur fetishists keep a coat or stole ." handy in their closets just for such sexual occasions. Many times, this will not be an expensive item, perhaps one so old that she may have discarded it , had it not been for her fetishist attachment to it. When utilized in a sexual encounter with her husband, then, she will not be too concerned if it becomes stained with semen. As a matter of fact, some women prize these stains, treasuring them as if they were some form of testimony to her prowess as a lover.

The female fur fetishist, like many other clothing and fabric fetishists, will either wear the item herself, or have her lover wear it. The latter is probably the more common situation. Many men do not become turned-on to fur until later in life. Usually this is when they do so out of love for their mate who happens to have a fur fetish. While he may not have developed this longing in childhood, like most fetishes, he may become so devoted to fur that he becomes practically fetishistic about it himself, either psychologically, or from a tactile point of view.

Fetishes, especially those that have been long repressed. have a way of changing the overall psychosexual attitude of the fetishist, once that person has found another person with whom he can experiment. For-instance, there are many women who have been suffering from sexual anesthesia, more commonly called `frigidity.' although the studies of people like Masters and Johnson have proved this term to be a misnomer. These women may have practiced sex only in the conventional man-on-top position with little success for her. However, if she has been repressing a fur fetish and decides to let it out sharing her secrets with her mate, she may suddenly become a very ardent lover. Once they have reached an understanding with their mate. then. their inhibitions are turned loose and they are able to enjoy sex to its maximum.

Most male fur fetishists like to see the object of their desire on their mates, although some prefer to wear it themselves. Unlike many fetishes, this does not usually present a problem. and many women readily agree to go along with it. Like the woman fetishist of this nature, the male often finds himself responding in a more profound way once he has shared his partialism with his mate.

The ideal situation for the fur or leather fetishist is of course to find a mate who shares his particular fetish. As long as the person is not too shy in admitting his preferences. this is not so big a problem as it might seem. Like others who suffer from the more common fetishes— shoes, rubber. etc. —this is not too difficult to accomplish, as many underground papers and periodicals carry ads of this nature for those who are unable to make such contacts on their own. Very often, the fur fetishist may overlap in his preferences for similar materials such as leather or silk. Krafft-Ebing also points out that people with preferences for furs and leathers are quite common among those who are masochistically inclined — particularly men. The fetishist of this nature may want his partner to treat him in a cold manner during sexual encounters.

The abuse may he mental or physical. Contrary to popular belief, such fetishists are not usually homosexuals, although to be sure there are homosexuals with fetishes of this nature. However, It is important to remember that the fetish is the important sexual key to these individuals. Those who turn to homosexuality may have done so mainly due to the fact that they were unable to find heterosexual partners with whom to share their fetish.

The strongest correlation between another deviation and fetishism is often cited as being that of masochism and the leather fetishist. To the individual involved in sadomasochism, leather represents a garment of strength and virility. The texture also arouses his tactile sense—it is smooth, but at the same time tough and durable. He may want to be dominated by what it represents, even if he wants in no way to be punished in a physical manner.

In this way, the masochistic nature of the leather fetishist differs from the popular concept of the true masochist. The leather fetishist is sexually satisfied with abuse and humiliation from the person who wears the leather, but his peculiarity usually stops short of receiving actual pain. He may allow the leather wearer to subject him to more than verbal abuse on some occasions, going so far as allowing the person to force him to perform an oral act. or even have the person urinate upon him, but he generally avoids the use of whips. In some instances the dominant member will wield a leather whip, such as a riding crop. but this only appeals to his leather worship and acts as a threat.

It must be noted here that not all uses of leather are by true fetishists. Recently, leather clothing has become in vogue throughout this country, but this by no means implicates all those who go along with the fashion of the day are fetishists. Presently leather items of all sorts—boots, vests, skirts. etc are very fashionable among many people who are not sexually addicted to leather. To be sure, there are those who are able to mask their fetishistic attraction for leather in the current vogue, but they are in a minority. Some psychologists have seen this as a more far-reaching phenomenon, citing that the popularity of leather seems to have come from the so-called hippie culture, a group that many re­ searchers feel are attempting on a collective basis to become martyrs to many causes. This theory may have some merits in a sociological aspect. but in so far as actual sexual fetishism is concerned it is ridiculous to implicate all those who may choose to wear leather clothing in public.

There are those who get more actively involved in the leather fetish than merely worshipping it. Generally, these people are masochistically inclined. Often, these individuals wish to he bound up with leather thongs, dressed in special leather outfits (which are available through a number of specialty houses), and beaten by their sexual partner. Sometimes the whippings are administered with heavy leather lashes such as bullwhips, whips that could do severe damage if the fetishist were not protected by his leather garments.

But among most leather fetishists, whose desires nave not graduated to a decided need for physical punishment, the appearance of leather on either themselves or their partners is generally sufficient to produce an erotic response. Utilizing the various leather items that are in great abundance today, not only through specialty shops, but also openly for sale in many department stores due to the current trend, the fetishist can engage in regular intercourse, fellatio or cunnilingus while wearing these pieces of clothing.

The leather fetishist whose masochistic drive requires the use of a whip is less sexually adequate. He needs pain applied to him, or a semblance thereof, to achieve orgasm. This type of person offers little or no sexual gratification in return, and he must often seek out paid professionals to service his needs. There are many professionals around the country who specialize in this type of activity. The leather fetishist of this extreme nature may also seek out homosexual contacts to gratify his needs.

There is yet another type of leather fetishist, the devout collector. His object of desire is leather, but it is generally of a very exclusive nature. He may be looking for a particular style of' leather skirt, of a particular color and texture. More radically. he may he looking for a leather bra of a certain size. Many of these collectors are bondage enthusiasts and are able to obtain their bizarre objects through houses that specialize in various leather items. Some of these specialty houses manufacture equipment made especially for the leather collector—hoods. masks, corsets, panties. restraint clothing, and so on, all constructed of Leather.

These types of fetishists are often masturbators who are unable to find partners with whom to share their fetishes. Sometimes, in extreme cases, they are of an almost asexual nature, preferring neither sex, precluding other humans in favor of his sexual love object. His sex life may be completely onanistic, the fetishist masturbating as he strokes his objects of worship.