Expert: christina Cicchelli - 10/10/2009

Question
This is a two-part question, the first question is if having a fetish for leather or rubber, for example, is a form of material fetishism? The second question is whether or not if sexual fetishes are formed as a result of early life experiences in childhood because of some kind of stimuli? An example of this is me because I found out at a very early age that I was sexually attracted to a particular toy I had as a child and still have today and it is one of those vintage fisher price little people houses that's made of plastic and wood, and I always had a thing for the plastic roof of that toy house because I would always literally make love to the plastic roof while masturbating and thinking of other guys. I have other examples of materials that I'm attracted to such as books with shiny hard covers and I also like rubber to, but I didn't develop a rubber fetish until my late teens and early 20s. I'm wondering what your thoughts about all this are? Thanks

Answer
Hello David.

Happy Columbus Day! I would agree that both leather and rubber can be considered a form of material fetishism. The appeal to materials like latex, fur, or PVC can include its smell, texture, or appearance. Many fetishists enjoy seeing their lover wrapped in their favorite fabric and enjoy wearing it as well. Materials can also make an appearance through objects, furniture, and decoration. There are fetishists who like certain materials, but not others. For example, one who is aroused by leather may not like latex, or vice versa.

For many of us, our first encounter with our fetish starts during childhood. And, doesn't it seem to happen by chance? You have the initial contact and it does something to you that you can never forget. And you can't help but place yourself in an environment where you're even closer to your fetish-object. As children, we're exposed to many new places and objects. We attach ourselves to this new, wonderful, stimuli and we feel compelled to touch and rub against it. Even as we grow into our pubescence, we will constantly interact in new experiences. Some will have this incredible effect on us, and others won't. When you ask most fetishists why they still practice their particular fetish, they may describe to you the appealing parts of a fetish-object - the thick soft surface of rubber or the stretchy smoothness of latex - but to describe how these feelings occur and to describe their impact, well, it's more than what words can capture.

So, to answer your questions, the origins of a fetish can start during childhood. But, as we mentioned, that encounter can happen during our teens and any time throughout life. Suddenly, out-of-the-blue, we may come into contact with a familiar object that now has a deeper meaning. Or it could be an unspoken or even unnoticed relationship we've had since we were children.

Let me know if this helps!

Christina