By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. Famous foot fetishists people with podophilia -- not pedophilia include Elvis Presley, Andy Warhol, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and megastar burlesque vedette Dita Von Teese. Feet are second behind sex organs as the most commonly eroticized body parts, and there may be a scientific reason why.
Feet and genitals occupy adjacent areas of the brain's somatosensory cortex. In other words, areas of the brain that control genital pleasure and foot pleasure are neighbors. Neurologist Vilayanaur Ramachandran thinks the popularity of podophilia is due to "neural crosstalk" between the two.
There are sub-groups of this fetish. Some foot lovers are specifically turned on by certain footwear or toenail polish, others see foot worship as a power exchange in BDSM. Like all sex practices, foot fetishism draws inspiration from global culture. The industry of women's high-heeled shoes exists to make feet and legs appear "sexier," often at the expense of comfort. Giving attention to feet has been seen as an act of worship since ancient times. In the Gospels, Lazarus's sister Mary anointed Christ's feet with oil and washed them with her hair -- an act considered by Christians to be the greatest form of reverence.
Reverence is the stuff of fetish play. In this slideshow, I'll run through different ways to explore your foot fetish, with insights from various kinksters all names have been changed. My name is Alexander Cheves, and I am known by friends in the kink and leather community as Beastly. I am a sex-positive writer and blogger. The views in this slideshow do not reflect those of The Advocate and are based solely off of my own experiences.
Like everything I write, the intent of this piece is to break down the stigmas surrounding the sex lives of gay men. Those who are sensitive to frank discussions about sex are invited to click elsewhere, but consider this: If you are outraged by content that address sex openly and honestly, I invite you to examine this outrage and ask yourself whether it should instead be directed at those who oppress us by policing our sexuality.
