Kittie Klaw at The Ministry of Burlesque, London’s leading school and social networking portal for aspiring burlesque artists, gives her unique insight into the world of fetish
To ‘fetishise’ is to attribute special power to an object of personal fixation, for the goal of achieving a desired mental, emotional or spiritual state of being.
Unsurprisingly, the original meaning of fetish belongs in the lexicon of the church and is usually ascribed to the potency of religious icons believed to deliver healing and atonement. But, when people talk about ‘fetish’ today, they are often referring to lifestyle choices beyond faith where personal habits are often born out of secular concerns such fashion and experimental (and often whacky) sex. Here, objects of fixation often hold personal meaning and sexual importance – be it a high heeled shoe, a whip or even another person enacting a specific role.
But sexual fetish is taboo. It has a naughty appeal, a kinky-fun image for many but it also conjures up sinister pleasures for some and is victim to biased perceptions. Many women will proudly confess to having a ‘fetish for shoes’ for which they can’t stop shopping but when a man confesses to having a shoe fetish, it is regarded in a rather different light altogether. This is the taboo of sexual fetishism – where sexual arousal and gratification take the place of an act of faith.
Link
[via Violet Blue]