Although Karl Marx died long ago, his works are much alive today and in fact constitutes the main body of conceptual and theoretical work within conflict perspective. His thought has had immense influence in shaping practical policies. Marxism is still a practical body of thought and doctrine. A substantial part of his body of thought provides sociologists with a systematic and rigorous way of analyzing society and forms the core of the conflict perspective.

In treating alienation Marx’s key concept is fetishism. By fetishism he suggests that men somehow come to dissociate themselves from their own products whether these are material things or ideas. Somehow these man-made things and ideas obtain a life of their own become more important than their inventor man and end up dominating him.

Such objects are thus set apart from man, they are alien to him and come to dominate him. Examples of such objects in the realm of ideas are the laws of supply and demand which impersonally determine what should be produced, how many should be employed etc.Such laws are not seen to be the products of man’s own thinking but are regarded as the truth which is out there, permanent and inviolable.

In short Marx argues that men are alienated from one another; they are alienated from their products, material and ideal.They are also alienated from their society. Though for Marx, alienation exists in all societies which have private property of the means of production, he argued that only in capitalist society had it reached its fullest, most  crippling development

Used as fetish objects can be divided into two categories.On one side are those inspired by the form (shoes with high heels) and the other side are those who inspire the matter of which are designed (for example, silk, leather).Fetishist often collects objects that are obsessed and does not make stop at nothing to get. 

In some cases drawings or photographs of the object can lead to sexual satisfaction, but more often fetishist prefer things that have been worn.That does not mean that desire is born as fetishistic thinking about which person belonged to, because the object is one that arises desire, and not the person. 

Fetishism is characterized by depersonification. Even if another person is involved in sex it does not matter.In general men tend to be very much attracted to a particular part of the body such as legs, but that does not turn into fetishistic until it becomes the only driver of sexual satisfaction.It may be that fetishist achieve sexual satisfaction without their favorite subject, but it has a much reduced level.Most often, when their favorite subject is not present, they increase their wishes thinking about it. 

In some situations object fetishism must be worn by a partner in a certain way in order to take effect.For example, the partner should wear garter and high heels. 

In most cases the person suffering from fetishism represents no danger to others, obtaining sexual satisfaction in solitude through masturbation.Usually these people are retired, with a reduced capacity to have close contact with other people. 

The line between fetishism and sexual preferences can not be drawn with a lot of clarity.There are many people who use objects to enhance sexual desire or which are particularly attracted to certain body parts.And there is nothing abnormal in that if these techniques are not only instruments of sexual satisfaction. 

The causes of such abnormal behavior are not well known.Some researchers believe that such behavior is developed from experiences in early years, when an object is associated with a special force to meet.Other researchers believe that such behavior occurs in adolescence is associated with masturbation.Psychoanalytic theories focus on worship and fear of castration penis. 

Image via Wikipedia

What are FETISHES?  Fetishes are fantasies that people have, and sometimes practice, to keep things interesting in the bedroom.  They can go from extra playmates, to kinds of torture, and still end in seduction.  But are they harmful?

The truth is, they can be.  Forceful fetishes can go horribly wrong if taken to far, which they can be even if by accident.  Don’t get me wrong, I like imagination and playful romance.  But when is it going too far.  A playful hair tug can turn into dangerous rape.  A playful torturing can lead to murder.  An extra playmate could lead to infidelity, or worse.  So, when do we know where fantasy ends and reality begins?  I’m just letting a friendly warning out for those of us that love to spice up our love lives.  Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

Image via Wikipedia

The cause of this disorder is psychological or mental problems, such as bad experiences as a child, the social environment and genetic factors.

What which included deviant sexual behavior? Here it is:

1. Homosexual

Homosexuality is a sexual disorder in the form of disorientation their sexual partners. Called the “gay” if the patient men and “lesbians” to women patients.

Disturbingly is a close connection between homosexuality with increased risk of AIDS.

This statement is confirmed in American Medical Journals (2000), homosexuals are “looking for” her partner through the Internet, exposed to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (including AIDS) are higher than those which do not.

2. Sadomasochism

Sadism sexual, including sexual disorders. In this case the sexual satisfaction obtained when they have sex with prior to hurt or punish a partner.

While masochism sexual is the opposite of sadism sexual. Somebody deliberately let himself be hurt or tortured to obtain sexual gratification.

3. Exhibitionism

Exhibitionism’s patient will obtain sexual gratification by exposing their genitals to others in accordance with their will.

When the victim was shocked, disgusted and frightened scream, he will be more stimulated. This condition often suffered by men, by showing his genitals and then continued to masturbate until ejaculation.

4. Voyeurism

The term voyeurism (also called scopophilia) comes from the French (voyeur) meaning peek.

Patients with this disorder will obtain sexual gratification with a peek or to see other people who are naked, bathing or even sexual intercourse.

After do peeked activities, patient no further action against victims. He’s just a peek, or see, nothing more.

Ejaculation is done by masturbation after or during peek or look at the victim. In other words, activities of peek or see, is a sexual stimulation for patients to obtain sexual gratification.

5. Fetishism

Fetishes means something that is revered. So in patients with fetishism, sexual activity be channeled through masturbating with bra, underwear, socks or other object that can increase sexual desire.

So that, patient has ejaculate and get satisfaction. However, there are also patient who ask their partners to wear his favorite objects, then the actual sexual intercourse with these partners.

The people with deviant sexual behavior often requires assistance or psychological counseling, in addition support of the closest people to help cope with their situation.

     The Sexual Revolution of the 1960’s may have served to make sex a more acceptable topic for discussion, but it did not do very much to resolve the stifling culture pressures surrounding it. The role of social pressure and the influence it has upon American sexuality and its expression, however is not the focus of this article. It is enough to say that many of the more conservative attitudes still govern how sex and sexuality is viewed by society here in the United States. As a result of this, there are many people who feel that they are some how flawed or unacceptable because they do not meet the stereotypes or find that their interests are a match with the conservative perspective that is seemingly the norm(1).

An Unhealthy Stereotype

     Let us briefly explore what the stereotypes are within the society of the United States with respect to sex and sexuality. Since the Sexual Revolution, some points have gained full acceptance while others have had a tepid tolerance at best. The sexuality of women, in general, has become as accepted in the mainstream of society as the sexuality of men. Heterosexuality is still viewed as the norm for sexual orientation with the social pressures still focused upon monogamous relationships.

     Serial monogamy is tolerated, if not increasingly encouraged, among women and men. Polyamorous heterosexual relationships are encouraged amongst men, but the stereotype requires that the women involved be under the impression that their relationship with the man in question is monogamous. Also, society has come to accept the concept of women and men who are not married living together and engaged in an active sexual relationship.

     Relationship issues and their implications for sexual expression also dominates homosexual stereotypes within mainstream society. Homosexual men and women are both viewed as either strictly monogamous or libertines. The stereotype surrounding the monogamous homosexual person is that they fit well into the gender roles of society for their given gender and their sexuality is kept quiet. The prevailing attitude within the United States regarding this stereotype is that it is the stereotype of the ’safe’ homosexual person(2).

     The homosexual libertine, however, fails to fit any prescribed gender role for their gender, unless it is their current whim. They are viewed as potential sexual predators and social deviants whom are lying in wait to spread corruption and social decay about them(3). Depending upon one’s location within the United States, the one will find one stereotype more prevalent then the other.  It is important to note that these are quite general, even as far as stereotypes are concerned, and that there are many places within the United States that are quite tolerant of homosexuality and various other forms of sexuality and sexual expression.

     These stereotypes can serve a useful purpose for beginning to comprehend the wide range of sexualities and publicly expressed elements of one’s sexual appetites. All too often, however, the stereotypes are left as the accepted norm. This proves stifling and, ultimately, a denial of one’s validity when addressing the matter of their sexuality. Even today, there is an unspoken ‘rule’ that women are not supposed to enjoy oral sex, men are supposed to be dominant in the bedroom, and that really great sex is something that is secretly shameful.

     It is this last element of the unspoken ‘rule’ that appears to have proven most damaging in the research that I have done over the years. The Puritanical attitude that sex is solely for procreation and is something to be suffered, rather then enjoyed and experienced for it’s own sake, still lingers in this attitude. It manifests in the idea that the sexual position that is ‘normal’ is the missionary position and that the only form of sexual intercourse that is ‘real’ sex is vaginal intercourse.

     When one becomes aware that their sexual tastes and interests fall outside of this narrow scope, it can prove a distressing and troubling thing. It can inspire fear that one is some how flawed or undesirable. In extreme cases, this can prove so terribly distressing that it can lead to deep depression. This pain and distress is all because one finds their sense of self invalidated in their society. Part of the objective of this article is to relieve some of the pain and distress that comes from this invalidation. If you happen to find that some part of this article speaks strongly to your own situation or you find yourself curious about it, be accepting and gentle with yourself. There is no shame in self-knowledge, only empowerment.

What is Sexual Fetishism?

     Sexual fetishism is the subject of debate within the psychological community. Given social changes and new perspectives upon the matter, it is undecided if it is a disorder or not. Sexual fetishism is considered to be a form of paraphilia. Paraphilia is defined by The Free Dictionary.com as:

Any of a group of psychosexual disorders characterized by sexual fantasies, feelings, or activities involving a nonhuman object, a nonconsenting partner such as a child, or pain or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner.

     In the past, sexual fetishism was viewed as an affliction, as one can see in the above definition, and carried the additional stigma of psychological illness. Unfortunately, this social stigma remains for many of the less mainstream fetishes, such as masochisim. Wikipedia summarizes the modern approach to sexual fetishism in the following way:

Most of the sexual orientations popularly called fetishism are regarded as normal variations of human sexuality by psychologists and medical doctors. Even those orientations that are potential forms of fetishism are usually considered unobjectionable as long as all involved persons feel comfortable. Only if the diagnostic criteria presented in detail below are met is the medical diagnosis of fetishism justified. The leading thought is that a fetishist is ill only if he or she suffers from the addiction, not simply because of the addiction itself.

     It is important to note the final sentence of the above paragraph especially. If the fetish is such that it interferes with your health, livelihood, or causes harm, it is wise to obtain assistance in managing it’s effects upon your life. If the fetish is not having adverse effects or causing harm, it is reasonable to believe that judicious and responsible enjoyment can be very fulfilling.

How common is Sexual Fetishism?

     The research to determine how common sexual fetishism is has been hampered by the fact that this is not a subject that is generally considered comfortable or appropriate for public discussion. What studies that have been done, indicate that men more likely to have a sexual fetish then women and that among the most popular fetishes are those regarding feet (called partialism) and shoes. Sometimes society will encourage a fetish until it becomes an accepted part of ‘normal’ sexuality, such as the Victorian attraction with bared ankles or the seemingly obsessive interest with women’s breasts within the United States today.

     Given the incredibly wide range of sexual fetishes, it is possible that all people have a mild sexual fetish, though not in the clinical sense. The socially encouraged fascination and association with lingere and sexual excitement is clearly an example of a fetish that has gone mainstream. It is also an incredibly common fetish between men and women, when viewing the most popular reasons stated for why women purchase and wear lingerie(4).

     The first answer to the question as to why a woman is buying or going to wear lingerie is because it looks or makes her feel sexy. After this, one finds the answers begin to address things such as how their partner feels about it and woman’s preferences about the clothing, such as the fabric’s texture. This booming industry is all focused upon catering to a specific fetish that is accepted by society as normal and countless amounts of subsidiary things focus upon this fetish (be it marketing campaigns for products entirely unrelated or pornography). So, don’t feel bad if you have a sexual fetish of some sort, because just about everybody does!

What kind of Sexual Fetishes are there?

     Given the incredible range of fetishes, the list presented below is partial.

• Agalmatophilia: This is more commonly known as a ‘Doll Fetish’, where a person is sexually attracted to and excited by a statue, doll, or other similar object. Think of the myth of Pigmalion.
• Age Play: This is age based role-play, not to be confused with pedophilia. Generally, this is regressive age based role-play and the most frequently seen form is with one portraying a small child.
• Sitophila: This is a form of food play, where the act of eating food off of another person’s body is the fetish.
• Stehenolagnia: Sexual arousal in response to demonstrations of physical strength.
• Partialism: This is the fetishism of a specific body part (with the foot being the most popular) rather then the whole body.
• Sadomasochism: This is the sexual use of pain for arousal. The individual who inflicts pain is a Sadist and the one who is the recipient is a Masochist. Sadomasochism does have non-sexual implications as well.

     Many, many more fetishes exist. Some are quite mundane while others are exotic. In working with your sexual fetishes, it is best to remember a few basic rules for your exploration. These are:

1. Is everyone involved of legal age of consent and agreeing to this?
2. Are appropriate safety measures in place?
3. Are preparations made to address potential emergency concerns? (IE: if you’re exploring bondage, is it in a safe fashion that allows for you to leave the area if there is a fire?)
4. Has a Safe Word or similar signal been devised incase anyone involved is no longer willing to participate or feels unable to participate?
5. Respect everyone involved, no matter what the role is. If the Safe Word has been invoked, all play and exploration stops.

     If you keep those five things in mind and don’t take actions that break the law in your area; your exploration of your fetishes and sexual interests should be an exciting and fulfilling experience.

___________

(1) A more complete discussion of the social pressures present in the United States and the role of the Sexual Revolution in how sex and sexuality are viewed is currently in the research stages at this time. This discussion will also include a more complete description of the social stereotypes surrounding the sexuality of men and women. 1/7/09

(2) The division of ’safe’ and ’scary’ homosexuals is a fairly common one to see in the attitudes casually expressed in American society. Usually, the ’safe’ homosexuals are functionally non-entities because there is little if any public expression of their sexuality. The only difference between the ’safe’ homosexuals and those who remain ‘closeted’ are that the ’safe’ ones have publically voiced what their sexuality is, from what I have seen in the attitudes and stereotypes presented.

(3) In with the concept of the ’scary’ homosexual, for some reason, is jumbled up the matter of transgendered and bisexual people. It opens up a rather large, complex, and difficult series of social questions to address matters such as gender identification and sexual orientation. As a result, the entire matter is dodged by being put under the heading of ’scary homosexual stuff’ by society at large. Sometimes, the people who are viewed as ’scary homosexuals’ are not and this can be psychologically hurtful for them. It is not because of the social stigma attached to homosexuality (generally) but rather the implication that who these people are is simply unacceptable at a base level.

(4) I specifically mention women here because this is the target buyer of these products. I’m sure there are men who will purchase and wear lingerie for similar reasons.

Othello and Desdemona

Fetishism

Loving v. Virginia

If you are a man in an interracial relationship, there will inevitable be accusations of fetishism. But obviously, the only way a person of one race could become involved with a person of another, is through some kind of carnal lust. For reasons unknown to me, people don’t consider love as a driving force. Most people seem to only think in terms of domination or submission. But we all know that love doesn’t (and can’t) work that way.

Honestly, I can at least give some credit to people who attempt to pretend they don’t notice. But being treated as an oddity simply cannot be quelled by people pretending we don’t exist. I’d probably prefer that people got up the guts to simply ask me a question than to simply ignore our existence as a couple all together.

It’s always encouraging to see another interracial couple walking around, minding their own business, because you know other people are experiencing the same struggle.

Stereotypes

Of course, when someone does decide to ask you a question, it may not be in the most polite way possible. Mostly, because people simply don’t know how to be polite about anything dealing with race–there’s simply no way to go about it. I can sympathize with this, but there are some line that just shouldn’t be crossed no matter what type of relationship you’re in. For example, one guy found it appropriate to ask a white man with a black girlfriend, “Is it true black girls do it better?”

C’mon. Let’s not be immature here. Would it be appropriate to ask any other person in a relationship that kind of question? A little critical thinking should help you out with that one…

Cultural Differences

There are going to be struggles. There are going to be misunderstandings. Anyone in any kind of relationship knows that basic fact. Unfortunately, however, ethnic/racial differences can make misunderstandings paramount. For those in an interracial relationship, it’s best to be honest about any cultural predilections that may interfere. This includes the possibility of introducing one’s significant other to one’s family, one’s friends (if the groups of friends is already familiar with one another, then you lucked out), and being proud of your love and the one you love!