Foot fetishism: get to know more about foot fetishes

What is podophilia?

Podophilia is a sexual preference belonging to the fetish group (preference, desire or an obsession with feet).

Whoever has this fetish is called a foot fetishist due to feeling intense pleasure in:

  • observing,
  • touching,
  • smelling,
  • licking,
  • kissing or,
  • massaging their partner’s feet.

According to some research carried out by the North American psychologist Justin Lehmiller from the Kinsey Institute, in 80% of the cases it is men who feel desire for their partners’ feet.    

This author published a book called “Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life and The Psychology of Human Sexuality”, which is a survey on people’s desires and fetishes. 

The foot fetish is listed among them and is actually one of the most common.

Whether you are a foot fetishist or not, I hope you will enjoy learning some curiosities and all the different ways to enjoy this foot fetish.

How to identify a foot fetishist

How to identify a foot fetishist

Observe some frequent signs that might show it:

  • When they meet someone, they are curious to know what their feet look like.
  • They notice the person’s shoes and give their opinion on what they wear.
  • They love watching women paint their toenails and give their opinion on the color.
  • They love foot ornaments, tattoos, anklets and toe rings.
  • Some don’t care if their partner’s feet are smelly (some even like it).
  • They always look for feet in a variety of ways in sex, including practicing oral sex on their partner’s toes and foot sole.
  • They never miss an opportunity to admire their partner’s feet during sex or even earlier, in foreplay.
  • They have images, photos, or objects (discreetly or not) displayed in their house, showing their taste for feet.

Foot fetishes are more common than you might think

Feet can be a symbol of pure eroticism and arouse a lot of desire.

Fans of feet understand this part of the body as a true source of pleasure.

The intense attraction for feet is very similar to the intense attraction for the butt or breasts.

“Seeing a woman with beautiful feet and high heels can be equivalent to seeing her in lingerie, a cleavage with plump breasts or tight clothing that makes her butt stand out, for example.”

For many, feet are an essential part of foreplay.

woman taking a sensual bath in bathtub

Want to know if you are a foot fetishist?

Notice how much you:

  • like,
  • enjoy and
  • become aroused by feet.

Observe if you frequently pay attention to the bare feet of people walking nearby or become fascinated by people with shoes. See if you always notice the feet of your colleagues.

Sometimes it may be unconscious to look at women’s feet when they take off or put on their shoes.

However, if you spend hours on Instagram profiles analyzing feet in photos and, in sex, you like to do positions where your partner’s feet are close to your face, or you even love to use them for masturbation, you are potentially a foot fetishist. 

But do not worry. Learn about your fetish and the best ways to have fun with it.

Where does this desire for feet come from?

Perhaps, the origin is in the history of clothes over the centuries.

If we think that old clothes covered everything, you can imagine the excitement in men when women started wearing clothes that showed their feet (it was like that for legs when they launched the miniskirt).

Feet became an erotic symbol.

However, podophilia is older and is also present in fairy tales.

In the story of Cinderella, the prince is enchanted by the stranger who danced with him all night and also falls in love when he sees such a delicate shoe left behind.

With the shoe in hand, he begins a search for his beloved, trying it on all maidens of the kingdom until he finds the woman with such delicate feet.

Scientifically speaking, there are other explanations. Freud would say that the desire for a specific part of the body can be replaced by the will of the whole body.

Types of foot fetishes

Some prefer the soles, others choose to look at toes and nails.

Bare feet are already enough to arouse the excitement of some fetishists. Still, other fetishists prefer:

  • footwear,
  • sandals,
  • high heels or
  • socks.

And well-kept feet are not the only ones preferred by foot fetishists. Did you know that some people prefer:

  • dirty feet,
  • rough feet,
  • callused, and even
  • smelly feet?

Yes, there is a taste for everything and everyone.

Types of foot practices

Foot fetishism can often be enjoyed in combination with other types of fetish.

Anyone who enjoys a little something more in sex may have fun with the practices presented below:

1) Foot jobs

Footjobs happen when a person is masturbated by someone who is using their feet. This can be during sex, foreplay or at other times.

Read also: The Complete Guide to Female and Male Masturbation

2) Under table foot jobs

Under Table Foot jobs

A classic practice where the feet are hidden under the table, and perfect for couples who are so horny that they can not wait any longer.

Here the stimulation with the feet takes place under the table, even if some people are nearby.

The table hides what is happening and this is very exciting for some.

3) Foot domination

It is a form of foot fetish practice that is more oriented toward S&M, in which the feet are an instrument of domination and the foot fetishist is in a position of submission (being walked upon, for example).  

4) Foot licking

Foot licking is another way of demonstrating one’s obsession with feet, in which the foot fetishist licks the partner’s feet completely.

5) Foot tickling

It means tickling one’s feet. A very unusual type of foot fetish.

The large amount of nerve endings in the foot makes it a place to explore and be excited about.

Stimulation for for foot fetishists

Many men are satisfied just by looking at a woman’s feet, whether she is wearing shoes or not; however, there are other ways to exploit this fetish.

The most important rule for any practice is: both partners must enjoy the moment.

Read also: Creative Sex Toy Tips

Some ways to encourage those who have this sexual desire:

  • Wear high heels. Choose heels that highlight your feet. Heels are usually a big turn on for foot fetishists and frequently also increase the woman’s libido (as long as the woman feels more powerful while wearing them); 
  • Stimulate the genitals with your feet, whether leading to orgasm or not. Achieving pleasurable levels of arousal can be a great choice.   
  • Decorate your feet with accessories (socks, jewelry, bows and ribbons). 
  • If your partner is a foot fetishist, do not miss the chance of putting your feet close to him, so he can feel pleasure in a way that suits you both. 

Women legs under table

How foot fetishes can damage your relationship

Foot fetishism is only healthy in relationships when the practice is consented.

When the worshipping of the feet is an erotic element of the relationship, being part of foreplay for example, it is considered a harmless fetish.

However, if the person can only get aroused by seeing or touching someone’s feet, they may have a sexual deviation.

Getting aroused in public at the sight of a stranger’s foot can also be a dangerous behavioral deviation.

In some cases, being limited to foot fetish practices, or having sex only if feet are used as stimulation, can impair sexual stimulation and satisfaction in other ways.

Other parts of the body can also be interesting and super arousing. 

In any of these cases, if you feel that your foot fetish is damaging your relationship, seek the guidance of a sex therapist.

How foot fetishes can benefit your relationship

In addition to the erotic factor, sensually exploring the feet can be a way of getting out of the same old routine, helping men to contain the anxiety of sex and also have a more exotic foreplay.

Using this fetish to spice up the relationship can be interesting even with do-in type massages (self-massage technique of Asian origin), since the feet are a part of the body with nerve endings that create a lot of pleasure.

This not only increases libido, but also creates greater intimacy for the couple.

Toes in the bathtub

I’m not a foot fetishist, but I like the idea. What should I do?

After learning about so many forms of foot fetishes, chances are you are thinking that you also like this idea of ​​foot fetishism.

The interesting thing is that feet can provide countless forms of pleasure for anyone.

For those who want to try this fetish, there are not many secrets, just start from the basics:

  • Talk to your partner about it. Everything that is talked about and agreed upon in advance in sex, tends to generate more security and pleasure for both. Ask whoever is with you if this foot concept is something she would like to take advantage of as well. 
  • Start with long massages on your partner’s feet, without haste, enjoying the touch and the feeling of having them in your hands. If you wish you can use aromatic oils, creams or gels that let everything slide better. 
  • When you notice that things are heating up, move on to the caressing phase, giving kisses, and stroking between the toes to increase the excitement.

These are three golden tips. If you want to try it, start with these three tips.

If you’ve followed the tips until here and have started feel an urge to get into this practice, use your feet and your imagination.

This is a good path to take when it comes to sex and foot fetishism. If you have any questions, we are here to help you.

Marcos Santos

Psychologist, Sex Therapist and Sexologist. Registered in Brazil’s Psychology Council under number 12/11425. Specialist in Human Sexuality from the University of Araraquara (Uniara). Post-graduate studies in Education Technologies and Distance Learning from the University Center of Maringá (Unicesumar). Training in Sexual Education at Leonardo da Vinci University Center (Uniasselvi). Columnist of the Portal “The Future of Sex”. Online Sex Counselor.


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