What Is Foot Fetish? A Beginner’s Guide To Foot Worship

Feet on the beach

I never thought feet could be erotized until I met someone with a foot fetish who explained why women’s feet are sexy AF.

He described how women’s long arches are so elegant, and each toe is so small and delicious as a little sexy nub, creating an elegant work of art. Furthermore, he thinks of feet as a continuation of women’s beautiful legs, except the feet connect us to the earth in a way that makes them almost spiritual. The foot fetishist also pointed out how women often “do their feet up” by painting their nails, wearing toe rings and high heels.

For him, when women walk around with their sexy feet out in the summer, it feels synonymous with women walking around with their breasts out, and he explained it takes a lot of self-control not to stare too closely.


What Is A Foot Fetish?

A foot fetish, scientifically known as podophilia, is when someone is sexually aroused by feet [1]. This desire looks different for each individual, but you can typically group them into these areas [2]:

  • For some folks, the visual aspect of feet arouses them.
  • Others may be more turned on by dirty feet, foot odor, taste, or feel of feet, like wrinkled soles.
  • Some are turned on by sweaty, stinky feet, while others receive sexual satisfaction from clean and dry feet.
  • Some receive sexual pleasure from foot penetration, while a footjob (genital stimulation from feet) arouses others.
  • Others simply enjoy licking a toe or admiring the shape of a partner’s feet during intercourse.

 


How Common Are Foot Fetishes?

Justin Lehmiller engaged in the largest study of fetishes ever completed, and he found that 14% of participants reported ever having sexual fantasies about feet. However, having at least one fantasy about feet is not the same as having a fetish. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has played around with several different potentially sexy concepts to learn more about my desires. That’s different from having sexual arousal linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, as in fetishism.

Although the exact number of folks who have a foot fetish remains unknown, an older study by The International Journal of Impotence Research found a foot fetish was the most common fetish related to human body parts or features. Furthermore, it was more common than experiencing a fetish towards hands, hair, and even breasts.

Feet on the bed

Lehmiller’s study also found an interesting breakdown of those who had ever engaged in a foot fetish regarding gender and sexual orientation. He found that 21% of gay and bisexual men, 18% of heterosexual men, 11% of lesbian and bisexual women, and 5% of heterosexual women had experienced a foot fantasy.

The results show that men are more likely than women to have had a foot fantasy. And queer folk is more likely than straight folks to experience this fantasy. There’s no concrete explanation as to why this may be the case. However, it’s in line with research showing men are more likely to have fetishes than women.

 


What Causes A Foot Fetish?

There are several reasons why people have a foot fetish. And here are the most commonly known ones [3]:

  • For some, foot fetishes originate during childhood when children experience feet that become associated with something sexual. It could be as simple as having a foot tickle fight with someone during a pivotal time in sexual development. Or having your first erotic experience with an older lady who touches you with the heels of her shoes. Some research shows some folks are biologically predisposed to grow a fetish compared to others, so these pivotal moments in early childhood can have different effects depending on your biological makeup.
  • Another explanation for foot fetishes is neurological. The brain has a sensory map showing each body part that experiences sensations, and the feet and genitals are beside each other. As a result, it makes sense that there may be relatively frequent associations between the two areas, perhaps due to slight neural misfirings.
  • The bare feet also have many sensory receptors and nerve endings [4], making them more likely to become an erogenous zone. These receptors can make the area more likely to become eroticized by some folks.
  • For some foot fetishists, the sexual desire for feet may be more about power play. Feet are at the bottom of a person’s body, making some think of them as a fun area for submissive folks to worship. As a result, enjoying footplay can be part of consensual humiliation within a dominant and submissive dynamic. From my experience, there does appear to be an association between folks who are submissive and folks who enjoy incorporating feet into sexy times, so there’s something to this theory.
  • Another theory about the origins of a foot fetish and several other fetishes may come down to disgust. As you become aroused, you are less bothered about things you otherwise would have found gross. For example, picking up a stranger’s underwear sounds gross, but once you’re aroused, you’re less bothered by it [5]. Some have asserted this altered state may help folks who typically may have found feet repulsive to shift it into an arousing experience. There can be something sexy about engaging in dirty, disgusting sex, and for some, this can at least partially explain their foot fetishism.

 


When Is It A Problem?

For the most part, having a fetish makes your sex lives more exciting and can make sexual encounters more fun. However, on occasion, folks cannot control their desires. And this is when fetish play can become a problem.

I remember reading about “The Toe Suck Fairy,” who approached women in shoe stores, checked their feet, and asked if he could suck their toes. He was also arrested for pretending to be a foot doctor to touch and lick women’s feet.

If you feel your desire is out of control and are worried you will engage in behavior that’s not consensual, I would highly recommend finding a sex-positive therapist specializing in paraphilic disorders.

There are very effective therapies to help you get your desires under control. You just need to find somebody who does not shame you for your desires and helps you take the steps necessary to get your sex life under control.

 


How To Explore Your Foot Fetish?

Talking to your partner about a particular fetish is not easy, and you can click here for some tips about bringing it up. In addition, there are some specific ways to play around with a foot fetish specifically.

If your partner is open to it, you can begin engaging with everyday foot-related activities, such as giving your partner a foot massage. If this goes well, you can gradually begin to include foot worship in sexual interactions.

For example, you can start by kissing your partner’s feet, sucking feet, or sucking toes during sex. After this, you can check in with your sexual partner about how they feel before moving on to touching or penetrating genitals with your feet.

When you are talking to a partner about your sexual foot fetish, it’s helpful to explain what about feet turns you on. For example:

  • Are you more of a dry, clean foot person?
  • Or are you about the stinky, sweaty feet?
  • Are you more visually aroused by feet, in which case you can play around with sending feet pics or foot jewelry, perhaps?
  • Or is it more about touch for you? Then maybe a foot job or foot rub is right for you.

A couple having a discussion.

These foot fetish ideas help partners better understand what exploration would look like for you. It can also help them decide if it’s something they are interested in experimenting with you.

One of the beautiful parts of having a fetish is that people can step away from our very penetration-focused world and have new, exciting experiences. For example, I’ve heard of foot lovers who can experience intense orgasms from having a partner put their toes in their face.

If your partner is interested in exploring a foot kink with you, it should not be one-sided. Please discuss how you can create a magical experience for them. It can be the first step away from penetrative-focused sex towards a more explorative, communicative sexual exploration.

If your partner is not interested, you can explore it using pornography or a foot masturbator.

 


Foot Fetish Infographic

We have summarized our foot fetish article in this handy infographic. Please share!

Foot Fetish Infographic

 


Wrapping Up

When you have a desire that’s not yet fully normalized, it’s common for non-educated folks not to react as we want them to.

Remember, it’s society’s fault for not yet being sex-positive. And it says absolutely nothing about you and your desire.

I know it’s hard, but please remember foot fetishes, a toe fetish, and a shoe fetish are common sexual interests. And if you are only engaging with folks who consent, your desire is entirely normal.

Niki

Niki Davis-Fainbloom
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