Most people just want to know if they fall on the sexually “normal” spectrum. The truth is, there is no normal when it comes to sex—we’re all different in our sexual desires. As long as there are mutual consent and satisfaction with your partner, it really doesn’t matter what you chalk up to normal.
That said, some things are “common” in that a wide number of people share a fascination or inclination to a particular thing or activity. This includes fetishes, or when a person experiences sexual excitement in response to an object or body part that’s not typically sexual, such as shoes or feet. Fetishes aren’t bad and they’re actually more common than one might think. Today, we’re breaking down some of the most popular ones.
1. Foot Fetish
If the smell of raw feet does nothing but makes you want to take a cold shower, you’re probably not going to fall into the foot fetish camp. Every detail about the foot can get this particular person going. Those who possess a foot fetish often like to smell, lick or taste feet and require some interaction with any part of your foot to experience orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction.
This one is actually one of the most common, so don’t be surprised if your future SO asks you to take your socks off.
2. Voyeurism
Voyeurism is a fetish that revolves around getting turned on by looking at people having sex or staring at naked bodies, wherever they can find them. A lot of people have this common fetish for observation; they might just be unaware of it.
3. Latex
One of the most common fetishes, latex describes those who experience immense sexual pleasure when their partner wears latex, rubber, vinyl, or other shiny and tight materials. Rubberists, another term for these fetishists, experience the presence of such slinky materials as a type of bondage. For others, simply the smell or feel of latex revs them up.
4. Dominance and Submission
These are part of the acronym, BDSM, which has become part of the common vernacular, thanks to the explosion of 50 Shades of Grey. It stands for bondage, dominance and submission, sadism, and masochism, but it’s really an umbrella term for couples who engage in any kind of dominant-submissive powerplay during sex. For this to be considered a fetish rather than just one part of a person’s healthy sex life, one or more of the participants must require this type of play in order to feel sexually stimulated.
5. Body Piercing
This is a quite popular fetish and incorporates everything from pierced belly buttons to eyebrows, penises, and nipples. People who have piercings are often drawn towards other people who have pierced themselves just as provocatively. Just the look of another person with piercings might be enough to turn on a person with this particular fetish, but they likely also enjoy the feeling of the cold metallic object rubbing against their body.
6. Water, Thunder, and Lightning
Ah, the power of the elements. In some cases, just the sound of running water is enough to turn a person on. A shower, a faucet, or even rainstorms all work to fulfill this fetish. Some folks might even find the sound of thunder and lightning gets them going. Those random acts of gigantic flashes of light in the sky can be enough to trigger their desire for sex.
No matter what you or your partner is into sexually, keep in mind that there is something out there for everybody. It’s important to stay open-minded and never be afraid to try something new. You never know—you might find that one of these common fetishes really strikes your fancy—and there’s nothing wrong with that.
