Underwear fetishism: Difference between revisions

Underwear fetishism is a sexual fetishism relating to undergarments, and refers to the sexual excitement which some people experience from observing or handling certain types of underwear. Some people experience sexual excitement from wearing certain types of underwear. Some person experience sexual excitement when observing or handling certain types of underwear worn by another, or watching somebody putting underwear on or taking it off. Also, some person experience sexually excitement from printed or electronic material which includes underwear.

Underwear fetishism is not considered as paraphilia unless it causes distress or serious problems for the person or those associated with him or her.

Panties

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this section if you can. (September 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Panty fetishism is a paraphilia in which sufferers eroticize panties (or other female underwear).

Fetishistic behavior can involve sharing printed or electronic material depicting exposure of panties, usually of a softcore nature, or direct sight and physical contact with the panties.

Some individuals have a paraphilia for a specific type of panty. For example, a common subclass of panty fetishism are panties that show the exposed buttocks (i.e. thongs and g-strings). Further, some individuals have the opposite preference, and are attracted to panties that cover the buttocks.

Prevalence

To determine relative prevalences of different fetishes, Italian researchers obtained an international sample of 5,000 individuals from 381 fetish-themed discussion groups. The relative prevalences were estimated based on (a) the number of groups devoted to a particular fetish, (b) the number of individuals participating in the groups and (c) the number of messages exchanged. Within the sample population (a population of adults online involved in sexual discussion), 12 percent indicated a fetish related to an "object associated with the body + external event" .^[1][2] This includes, but is not limited to, objects such as underwear, socks, shoes, etc (see Table 1 in the .pdf of the first article cited).

Pantyhose

This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (September 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Pantyhose fetishism is a very common fetish involving women's pantyhose (known as “tights” in the UK). As with many other common fetishes it has been suggested that it first surfaces in early childhood and/or during adolescence.^[3]

Often a pantyhose fetishist may also engage in stocking fetishism, the unique silky sheer aspect and allure of both items being the common denominator. Many current day males' fetishistic preferences for pantyhose over stockings may be related to the fact that pantyhose are, unlike stockings, in virtual direct contact with female genitalia and/or perhaps even more important are the preferred hosiery for most women when skirts and dresses are worn.

In very basic simple terms pantyhose fetishism most commonly manifests itself in one or more of the following ways:

• Wearing of pantyhose by either or both partners during sexual activity.
• A male wearing pantyhose while alone and sexually aroused.
• Interacting with pantyhose in any other way or form during sexual activity.
• Simply observing/admiring and experiencing heightened arousal/interest of females who are wearing pantyhose.
• Viewing and collection of photography, video or pornography of both professional and amateur models wearing pantyhose.
• A man or woman in pantyhose encasement.

Specifically during the lone activity of a young fetishist in his early formative years it is sometimes preferable for the pair of pantyhose to have been seen to be worn by a specific 'role model', be it a family member such as their Mother, an aunt or Grandmother; or others such as a neighbor, family friend or teacher.

The sub-categories and degrees of pantyhose fetishism are too many to list and is in many cases combined with other fetishes or paraphilias of the fetishist (and often his partner too) so as to make an individual's preferences as with many other popular fetishes utterly unique.

A few typical examples of sub-categories perhaps would be:

• a focus on certain areas of the body while wearing pantyhose, e.g. feet a variation of the very common foot fetishism,
• wearing pantyhose with other specific garments, e.g. shoes, boots, or skirts, uniforms that usually include pantyhose (girl at work, secretary, flight stewardess, policewoman, Hooters waitress, girl next door etc.,)
• certain styles eg. sheer-to-waist, opaque, patterned or specific deniers; certain brands or shades,
• simply admiring women who wear pantyhose (a mild form of voyeurism),
• finding the wearing of them to be a primarily sensual comforting experience, rather than sexual.

The pantyhose covered foot can be extremely arousing to men who often find satisfaction in just looking at or more in that of rubbing, sucking/licking, and massage of the penis with the feet. Sniffing can sometimes be linked. Foot-jobs can be very intense and stimulating and covering a woman in pantyhose in semen is a common fantasy with some men. Pantyhose fetish can also be linked to that of the women dressing as the schoolgirl where stockings, knee high socks and pantyhose can be worn with a short skirt.

The act of purchasing pantyhose, especially when aided by a female assistant, can also generate a degree of arousal.

Female attractiveness

There are several reasons for women to wear pantyhose, each a possible reason for the allure of pantyhose fetishism:

• They remove the appearance of blemishes, making the legs “perfect”.
• The reflectiveness of the material, coupled with the way they appear less transparent at the edges, often gives legs more contrast and definition, as though lit by dramatic lighting. This accentuates the curves of the legs, making them less “flat”, and can also make legs appear slimmer (with dark pantyhose).
• They often have a silky texture which is pleasing to both the wearer and her partner.
• They enhance the pleasure (and anticipation) associated with the removal of a woman’s clothes. Not only serving as an additional item to be removed; they allow the exciting moment of exposure to be drawn out much longer than other clothing items, as the pantyhose are slowly pulled down the legs. In addition to this, they do not actually hide what they cover.
• The slipperiness and smoothness of sheer pantyhose and stockings also makes women's low cut court shoes slip off more easily. This vulnerability is often sexually attractive, and can often result in the women engaging in shoe dangling or shoe play which is also appealing to shoe and foot fetishists.

Men wearing pantyhose

Some males with a pantyhose fetish may wear them for some of the reasons mentioned above. Men who are discovered wearing women's pantyhose for fetishistic purposes may be labeled as transvestites by their partners, families, workmates and society.

A man who likes to wear pantyhose may be deeply anxious and worried about being associated with homosexuality or transvestism, and as such most will endeavour to keep the fetish totally private, commonly hiding it from their wives/partners (though some do have the ultimate trust and understanding of their partners) due to such enormous fears that are invariably completely out of context with such relatively mild desires.

The wearing of pantyhose by men can then become a strong, and much reinforced fetish aided and abated by this 'pressure' which can consume some as it serves to expand the already highly charged fetish in itself.

Typically, a man who shares his pantyhose fetish with his partner wants to believe that the fetish generates as much arousal for her as it does for him. He may like his partner to encourage him in his fetish to the extent of her buying him pantyhose to wear and encouraging him to wear them. Sexual activity with his partner will likely be heightened if both parties are wearing pantyhose. Any feeling that his fetish is amusing to his partner or that she is only grudgingly accepting of it is likely to cause the wearer to stop and return to wearing his pantyhose in private.

There is a small number of women, perhaps due to the nature of the garment whom will also find them stimulating.

Finally, it must be noted that for most men with a pantyhose fetish, the simple sensual feel of the material against their body is amply sufficient and they have no intention of wearing any other items of female attire and in this instance these men will take offense at being labeled as 'transvestite'. In recent years with the access to the internet an increasing amount of men have shared their fetish for pantyhose/tights with other male wearers, with online chat rooms and webcam to webcam masturbation in pantyhose/tights and real meets through the online chat rooms and crossdressing websites.

Stockings

Some people experience sexual excitement from the look or feel of women's stockings. The attraction may be to the look or feel of the material, such as sheer nylon or silk, to the use of a garter belt, or to the act of a person donning or removing stockings. The attraction of stockings may include the perception that stockings, and the associated use of garters, lace, high fashion, appliqué and the exposure of the thigh, are aesthetically pleasing or erotic.

Stocking fetishism may include additional feminine items which contribute to enhance the fantasy. Some men find it arousing to collect and wear stockings, panties and suspender belts. In some cases, this is done for the purpose of momentary sexual stimulation. Others may even choose to wear such a complete combination hidden under a pair of trousers or beneath a business suit on a regular daily basis.

A survey completed by over one thousand British males during July and August 1995, as well as some other authorities related to this matter, suggest quite a sizable percentage – perhaps 5 to 10% – of the adult male population in various western European developed countries have sampled the experience of wearing different lingerie items and combinations. These trials have ranged from a single garment to a complete intimate set, at least once in their lifetimes. And, the study concludes based upon an especially designed questionnaire, a significant majority of these lingerie users are heterosexual individuals who apparently lead normal lives and are very likely married, with children.^[4]

According to these findings, stocking fetishists highly favor the visual and tactile feedback provided by the smoothness, sheerness and resiliency, characteristic of nylon and nylon/spandex items, as compared to the roughness and lack of appeal typical of male underwear. The responses given by such males, who regularly wear lingerie and other assorted feminine items, usually refer to sensual, rather than sexual, stimulus, with an overall feeling of relaxation and well-being.

The increasing acceptance with which modern societies have viewed this particular subject since the middle of the 1950s decade enabled many men to indulge in this practice to such an extent that it has been branded as a 20th century social phenomenon.^{[citation needed]}

In contrast to conventional face-to-face purchasing, the growth of internet purchasing has enabled men to browse through many different assorted underwear offerings anonymously. Presently, many manufacturers and retailers specializing in lingerie and associated women’s apparel throughout the world cater to the need of an ever growing population of men who usually invest significant amounts of effort and expense in order to acquire whatever intimate garments may suit their particular needs.^{[citation needed]}

Such fetishists may also be divided into many sub-categories relative to their attraction to certain types of stockings.^[5] Some find fishnet stockings more arousing compared to other forms of stockings, for example. Other preferences include fully-fashioned (seamed) stockings, seamless stockings, designer stockings, luxury stockings, reinforced heel and toe stockings (RHT), stay-ups, etc.

Silk and satin

Some people experience sexual excitement from the look or feel of articles made of silk or satin fabric. Such interest is usually directed towards the person wearing silk or satin, but it can also be directed towards the garment itself, or to the feel of the garment when worn.

The attraction can be to the physical properties of the garment, such as softness, smoothness, drape and shine, and to its association with elegance, glamour, romance and opulence.

The principal materials which are considered erotic are charmeuse silk (silk woven so that it has a sheen) and satins (such as acetate satin and rayon satin), but other materials with similar properties, such as spandex and polyester are also admired.^[6][7]

See also

• Burusera
• Clothing fetish
• Cross-dressing

References

Sources

• Kunzle, David (2004). Fashion and Fetishism. Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-3808-0.