Is it a Problem That Men’s Feet Turn Me On?

Reader’s Question

I consider myself a straight-acting and closeted gay man.

I have a fascination with the bare feet of handsome men. Looking at their feet gets me sexually aroused. I live in a large city, and some days on the bus I will look around to see which men look handsome and then try to see if they are wearing sandals. Guys in flip flops and sandals turn me on and when I’m outside, I’m always looking to see guys who might be walking around barefoot or wearing sandals. There is only one person who knows of my compulsion to look at men’s feet. I have touched and stroked some men’s feet, and I have enjoyed the touching on these occasions.

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

Sexual arousal in response to an inanimate object is termed a “fetish,” whereas sexual arousal to or intense fondness for a particular body part is termed “partialism.” Such an interest need not be a problem unless it becomes an addictive or compulsive-like behavior, consuming much time and energy or interfering with other necessary life pursuits, or impinging on the rights or welfare of others. If such behavior becomes a compulsory aspect of intimate relationships and interferes with other forms of intimate expression, it can also be a problem. Otherwise, simply having a fondness for certain body features and experiencing sexual arousal in response to a feature you find attractive is no problem at all.

As mentioned before, if your interest takes on a compulsive quality and begins to impair your social and occupational functioning, you should seek help from a counselor or therapist with training in the area of sexual compulsions.