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Shoe fetishism is the attribution of attractive sexual qualities to shoes or other footwear as a matter of sexual preference, or an alternative or complement to a relationship with a partner. It has also been known as retifism, after the French novelist Nicolas-Edme Rétif (October 23, 1734–February 2, 1806), also known as Rétif de la Bretonne. Individuals with shoe fetishism can be erotically interested in women's shoes. 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. Another fetishism, which sometimes is seen as related to shoe fetishism, is boot fetishism.

Prevalence

In order to determine the relative prevalences of different types of fetishes, scientists obtained a sample of at least 5000 individuals worldwide from 381 Internet discussion groups. The relative prevalences were estimated based on (a) the number of groups devoted to a particular fetish, (b) the number of individuals participating in the groups and (c) the number of messages exchanged. 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 USA that were accidentally released during the AOL search data scandal. Sixty-four (64) percent of the sampled population that had a preference for an object associated with the body had a preference for shoes, boots, and other footwear.

Popular culture

In the 19th century, Central European students drank wine or Champagne from their lady's shoe or bootlet as a sign of devotion. The custom is noted in the 1882 opera, 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.

The Sex and the City episode, "La Douleur Exquise!", featured a shoe salesman with a shoe and foot fetish, who allowed Charlotte 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 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 obviously climaxing while assisting her with the sixth pair of the day.

The movie There's Something About Mary featured a former boyfriend of Mary, Dom "Woogie" Wooganowski, played by Chris Elliott, with a shoe fetish. He tried to steal her shoes.

In the animated comedy show Family Guy the character Glenn Quagmire has a foot and shoe fetish, among other fetishes.

In the 1993 Spanish movie, The Bilingual Lover written and directed by Vicente Aranda and adapted from a novel by Juan Marsé, shoe fetishism pervades the whole story.

In the 1995 movie, While You Were Sleeping starring Sandra Bullock, the main character's landlord played by Michael Rispoli has a shoe fetish.

In the 2000 Japanese television series, 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.

Blur guitarist Graham Coxon owns hundreds of pairs of shoes, many of them quite expensive; He has said that his love of footwear dates back to his childhood.

See also

• Boot fetishism
• Clothing fetish
• Foot fetishism
• Footjob
• Sexual fetishism

References

1. World Health Organization, International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, (2007), Chapter V, F65.0 Disorders of sexual preference.
2. Peter Jerome Fagan. Contributor Paul R McHugh. Sexual Disorders: Perspectives on Diagnosis and Treatment. JHU Press. 2003. ISBN 0-8018-7527-7. p.78
3. Weinberg, M. S.; Williams, C. J.; Calhan, C. (1994). "Homosexual foot fetishism". Archives of sexual behavior. 23 (6): 611–626. doi:10.1007/bf01541815. PMID 7872858.
4. Weinberg, M. S., Williams, C. J., & Calhan, C. (1995). "If the shoe fits…": Exploring male homosexual foot fetishism. The Journal of Sex Research, 32, 17–27.
5. Pietz, William (1987) ‘The Problem of the Fetish II: The Origin of the Fetish’ , RES: Journal of Anthropology and Aesthetics 13.
6. AOL search data (archived link, April 4, 2009)
7. Laura Tedesco (29 May 2014). "We give you permission to play with her feet—without feeling like a freakrs".
8. Elizabeth Graham (10 May 2014). "Foot Fetishism: A Personal Story by Elizabeth Graham".
9. Scorolli, C.; Ghirlanda, S.; Enquist, M.; Zattoni, S.; Jannini, E. A. (2007). "Relative prevalence of different fetishes". International Journal of Impotence Research. 19 (4): 432–437. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901547. PMID 17304204.
10. Dobson, Roger (2007). Heels are the world's No 1 fetish. The Independent Online Edition, http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2303022.ece, accessed February 2007.
11. "Champagner aus einen Schuh trinken". Champagnerwelt.com. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
12. "Kolumne: Inga Griese : Champagner nach Art des Schuh-Fetisch - Nachrichten Debatte - Kolumnen - Inga Griese - DIE WELT". Welt.de. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
13. "Graham Coxon's life in footwear and fashion - Telegraph". Fashion.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
14. Jon Wilde (2009-05-02). "'Every time I came back from a tour, I'd have to kill off my girlfriend's suitors,' says Blur's Graham Coxon | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-15.

• Fashion-related fetishism
• Paraphilias
• Uses of shoes