London Contacts Issue 67 | Page 5

Foot Fetishism An article about the fetish scene Foot fetishism or podophilia is a pronounced sexual interest in human feet. The foot fetish is one of the most common fetishes in males. Foot fetishists are interested in and aroused by the shape and size of the foot and toes, the texture of the skin, cleanliness (or lack thereof), state of dress (such as barefoot or wearing socks or nylon stockings) and odour. Foot lovers may enjoy sniffing, tickling, kissing, licking, and lovemaking with the objects of their affections. Toe sucking is also a variant of the foot fetish. Of course, the sexual arousal is mainly for the benefit of the male, who may be brought to orgasm by contact between the female’s feet and his own genitals, or he may simply enjoy masturbating while sucking her feet. Like other fetishes, foot fetishism encompasses a wide range of predilections; one foot fetishist may be aroused by scenarios that another fetishist finds unerotic or even repulsive. Of course, shoe fetishes are also related to the foot fetish, as shoes (particularly high heels) are generally regarded as enhancing the appearance of the feet in a sexual context. Aretifism, a sexual attraction to people who are without footwear, is another variation on this theme, although it is slightly different in that it is the attraction to the unclad foot versus attraction to the foot itself. 3