Are foot fetishes common? What causes people to fantasize about feet? Here, all your questions, answered.
Some people are grossed out by feet while others don’t mind the look of well manicured toes. Then there are those people that take their love of feet to a whole new level, so much so that it gives them sexual pleasure. Of course, this level of fondness is known as a foot fetish — and it’s more common than you think. Studies show that feet and foot accessories, think shoes, toe rings, and even dirty socks, are the most fetishized of all non-genital body parts and objects.
What’s more, it’s estimated that one in seven people fantasize about feet. One survey took it a step further, breaking foot fetishes down by sexual orientation and found that 5 percent of heterosexual women, 18 percent of heterosexual men, 11 percent of lesbian and bisexual women, and 21 percent of gay and bisexual men had foot fetishes. As you can see from this survey, though not completely unusual for women, foot fetishes are most common in men.
So, what is it about feet that get people so turned on? The look, the feel…the smell? Could it be a form of submission? There has actually been plenty of research done on foot fetishes to offer us some answers. Most foot fetishes are developed after a sexual experience during which a partner used their feet to arouse the other, causing an intense orgasm. This creates positive reinforcement in the brain that will make a person want to experience this level of pleasure again in the future, setting the stage for a foot fetish.
Long before this research, it was found that the genitalia is adjacent to the feet in the area of the brain where touch sensation is first processed; this means that foot fetishes could be a result of cross wiring in the brain between the foot and the genital area. Another reason some people like feet is for the simple reason that your feet are covered in hundreds of nerve endings, which equal greater and stronger sensations when tickled, massaged or sucked.
Foot fetishes also play a role in many BDSM scenarios, during which a person likes to feel lower than their partner by acting as foot rest or kneeling at their feet as a power play. There are many reasons people are attracted to feet, and there many misconceptions in regard to foot fetishes as well. When it comes to specific turn-ons during sex, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having fetishes or fantasies so long as they do not harm other people.
If you or your partner have a foot fetish, try to ease into foot play slowly. Start with massages and feel the other person out before moving onto other things, like the licking or smelling. Showing adoration for your partner, no matter the body part, will go well when doing it in a way that is respectable of the other persons feelings. If done right the other person will feel honored and attractive and will likely participate greatly in the fetish of your desire. Either way, remember that you are not odd for having such a fetish.
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