If you had to name an erogenous zone goldmine, “feet” might not top your list. And yet…that’s exactly what they are.
If you’re a bona fide foot fetishist, then chances are – you already know this. Foot fetishism is one of the most common types of sexual fetishes, particularly for non-genital body parts. If you’re already doing foot play, you know how erotic and sensitive feet can be…but for the rest of us, incorporating feet in sex can feel unfamiliar or even intimidating.
You’re not alone! Foot play can be very hot, but only once you understand why it’s sexy (and something you could or even should try.) So let’s:
- Demystify the sex appeal of feet
- Explain why feet and orgasm are connected
- Give you 5 ideas to work foot play in your foreplay
These boots are made for walking bb: right to the bedroom.
Why are people turned on by feet?
While turn ons, kinks and fetishes are personal, there are several documented reasons people report being aroused by feet. These include:
Intimacy + taboo
Unless you’re barefoot running (please avoid glass), feet are usually covered in public. And what else do we consistently cover in public? Intimate areas, like breasts and genitals.
For some, the rarity of seeing bare feet imbues this body part with intimacy (“only certain people get to see their feet”) and taboo (“these are usually kept covered”).
Power dynamics
Washing feet, worshiping the ground you walk on, laying at their feet…there are a lot of cultural connotations surrounding feet, with a clear, visual representation of dominance and submission. For those with a submissive streak, being up close to someone’s feet can feel suggestive, like you’re “below” them.
Adjacent brain regions
This is fascinating: the areas of the brain that process sensory information from the feet and genitals are right next to each other! So there may be some neural crosstalk chatter between feet sensation and genital sensation.
Just how common is it that people get turned on by feet? In a 2020 survey of 4,000+ Americans, 14% reported having had a sexual fantasy involving feet or toes. And among the different groups surveyed, these reported having a foot fetish:
- 5% of heterosexual women
- 18% of heterosexual men
- 11% of lesbian and bisexual women
- 21% of gay and bisexual men
As with everything in sex, turn ons are a spectrum with some people being slightly aroused by feet, and some having a vivid foot fetish. If you fall somewhere on that spectrum: you are normal!
Not only that, there are physiological reasons people associate feet with sex. For example:
Some people get tingles in their feet before orgasm. Why?
Check this out: the nerves that serve the genitals and feet enter the spinal cord at relatively close levels. In the build-up to orgasm, tingling in the feet can signal stimulation in the genitals, because there’s a cross-wiring effect happening in the brain!
If you’re someone who tingles in their feet before orgasm, don’t worry – nothing’s wrong. (In fact, it’s pretty great.) Just another reason the feet are a legit erogenous zone that all of us can take advantage of.
5 Ideas for Foot Play
For toe-curling pleasure, here are 5 easy ways to try foot play:
1. Erotic foot massage
Find a comfortable position to rub your partner’s feet, and consider a warming oil to get things going. According to reflexology, there are 3 key spots on the feet that lead to sexual arousal. (And hey, while studies on the efficacy of reflexology are slim, WE can confirm these spots feel very sexy):
- Inner ankles: the area beneath the inner anklebone is thought to correspond to the sex organs. Gently massaging this area with small circular motions may help awaken sexual arousal.
- Solar plexus point: Located in the center of the foot, just below the ball, this point is believed to promote relaxation and reduce tension, which can enhance overall arousal.
- Pituitary gland reflex: Found in the center of the big toe, stimulating this point is believed to affect hormone production, potentially influencing arousal.
2. Toe sucking
For both beginners and true BDSM types, toe sucking/kissing can be super hot. Receivers, obviously make sure your feet are clean and hygienic; givers, this is a warming oil you can lick off their toes.
3. Foot washing
Imagine warm water, with someone lovingly washing your arches, your toes, your ankles…heaven. Try this as a (super loving!) gesture or as the prelude to foreplay.
4. Temperature play
On a related note, you can also incorporate ice cubes or warm oils to create contrasting sensations. This “shocks” the feet’s sensory receptors, making everything feel more sensitive.
5. Light sensation play
You can also brush your fingertips lightly across certain areas of the feet to wake up its nerve endings. Try incorporating this into other sex/sensual activities, like making out. Think light circles around the ankle, cupping the heel, and running your fingers along the back of the achilles towards the calf.
And just like that, cute foot play ideas for you and your sole mate. Try working this underrated body part into your sex to spice things up…it’s a step in the right direction.
Want to learn more about foot play? Ask me anytime inside my membership platform, SmartSX, submit your Qs to Ask Emily, or sign up for my newsletter and get sex secrets on the regular.
