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Shoe fetishism is the attribution of attractive sexual qualities toshoes or otherfootwear as a matter of sexual preference, or an alternative or complement to a relationship with a partner.[1][2] It has also been known asretifism, after the French novelistNicolas-Edme Rétif (1734–1806), also known asRétif de la Bretonne, who wrote a novel about it (presumably based on his own penchants) calledFanchette's Foot, which preference or penchant seems to have been if not "all the rage" at the time at least known to have been practiced or suffered by more than handsful of somewhat important individuals of that period (pre-Revolutionary France).
Individuals with shoe fetishism can be erotically interested in women's and/or men's shoes.[3][4]
Almost any type of shoe can be fetishized, depending on the sexual connotation associated with the wearer, for example an entire area ofgay subculture is devoted towards the fetishization ofsneakers and other forms of athletic footwear.
Another fetishism, which sometimes is seen as related to shoe fetishism, isboot fetishism.
Although shoes may appear to carry sexual connotations in mainstream culture (for example, women's shoes are commonly sold as being "sexy"), this opinion refers to an ethnographic or cultural context, and is likely not intended to be taken literally.[5]
In order to determine the relative prevalences of different types of fetishes, scientists obtained a sample of at least 5,000 individuals worldwide from 381 discussion groups on the internet. The relative prevalences were estimated based on the number of groups devoted to a particular fetish, the number of individuals participating in the groups and the number of messages exchanged.[citation needed]
Using these measures, feet and shoes were found to be the most common target of preferences. This is consistent with an analysis of millions of search queries by users from the United States that were accidentally released during theAOL search data scandal.[6][unreliable source?] 64% of the sampled population that had a preference for an object associated with the body had a preference for shoes, boots, and other footwear.[7][8]
In the 19th century,Central European students drank wine orChampagne from their lady's shoe or bootlet as a sign of devotion. The custom is noted in the opera of 1882,Der Bettelstudent, where Symon drinks Champagne from Laura's shoe at their wedding. In commemoration of this romantic tradition, the French shoe manufacturer Louboutin issued in 2009, a glass shaped like a woman's shoe, which was reviewed critically by the German daily,Die Welt.[9][10]
TheSex and the City episode, "La Douleur Exquise!", featured a shoe salesman with a shoe and foot fetish, who allowedCharlotte York to have expensive shoes for free simply for allowing him to assist her in trying on various pairs of open shoes whilst he openly complimented her on the state of her feet and offered herfoot reflexology. The relationship came to an end when Charlotte figured out she had been getting discounts because she was letting him hold her feet and was further discomforted by the salesman obviouslyclimaxing while assisting her with the sixth pair of the day.
The movieThere's Something About Mary featured a former boyfriend of Mary, Dom "Woogie" Wooganowski, played byChris Elliott, with a shoe fetish. He tried to steal her shoes.
In the animated comedy showFamily Guy, the characterGlenn Quagmire has a foot and shoe fetish, among other fetishes.
In the movie from 1993 in Spanish,The Bilingual Lover, written and directed byVicente Aranda from an adaptation from a novel byJuan Marsé, shoe fetishism pervades the whole story.
In the movie from 1995,While You Were Sleeping, starringSandra Bullock, the main character's landlord, played byMichael Rispoli, has a shoe fetish.
In the television series from 2000 in Japanese,Bus Stop, the main character, Musashi, has a strong interest in high heels, and at one point repairs a broken high heel for the woman he is pursuing.
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