First described by Sigmund Freud in 1887, sexual fetishism is a form of paraphilia in which the object of affection is a specific inanimate object.

A fetish is an object, not a body part. According to psychology or psychiatric terminology there is no such thing as a foot fetish. A foot is part of a human body (that is, of course, unless is detached from a human, but lets not go there for the scope of this article). Technically, a foot fetish is not a fetish at all but rather something called a partialism. This is when a part of the body is an extremely important part to achieve sexual arousal.

However, if you extend your sexual affection beyond your bodythat is, from a foot out to a shoethen partialism actually can become a sexual fetish. A fetish is when a person is sexually aroused by a specific object or objects and is generally unable to achieve sexual satisfaction without that object being present.

Meanwhile, a sexual fetish becomes "fetishism," by definition, when it interferes with your life. That is, the fetish is not just something you like to do, or you want to do, but something you have to do. Its as if there is a compulsion. In other words, there is no other way to have an orgasm except with a shoe, bra or panties present, or whatever that person is into.

Fetishism is considered a male disorder. Why? Nobody really knows the answer to that, but most of the time it is, there might be some genetic differences, since men and women are different genetically and so are our brains. In general, psychiatrists and psychologists dont agree on what causes a fetish.

Fetishist arousal is generally considered to be a problem when it interferes with normal sexual or social functioning. There are fetishes that are more common than others, but like any aspects of human sexuality it can encompass a wide range.

Common fetishes include those focused on footwear, underwear, body piercing, wigs, leather, stockings, pantyhose, bras, shoes, panties, spandex, tickling and I'm sure the list goes on and on.

If you are with someone who has a fetish that is interfering with your relationship, then it's probably time to either talk to that person about it or leave if it is bothering you. If a fetish is interfering with your life, there are treatment options for you. For more on this topic do a search google.

Treatment: See a qualified, licensed psychologist, or psychiatrist. Apparently, anyone can take the title of sex therapist. Try to get referred by your own physician or health care provider.

Of course loving shoes is nearly womans wont. Shoes can be fun and kicky; wear responsibly.

Amy Otis

The founder & President of Cool Nurse, is a registered nurse, a writer and an educator. She has devoted her life as an RN to the welfare of teenagers. Her roles as an RN have included working with teenagers in women's health clinics since she was a college student herself in Boston in the late 1970s.

She has taught AIDS patients how to live with HIV without transmitting their disease. Amy's work with adolescents in a psychiatric-drug rehabilitation facility as a Nurse Manager gave her an even better understanding of the adolescent mind and its potential. She taught CPR and First Aid for the American Red Cross prior to becoming ill with a chronic illness in 1995.

She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. The ?Cool Nurse? concept came to her and some friends when they saw a way to help her educate today's teenagers via the Internet due to her physical limitations.