Foot fetishes explained: everything you need to know

House of the Dragon’s latest steamy escapade has us all chatting about one thing: foot fetishes.

In episode 9, there’s a foot fetish scene involving Larys Strong and Queen Alicent. In a meeting between the pair, Alicent takes off her shoes, then her stockings, and eventually shows her feet. Larys then proceeds to stare at her feet and then starts masturbating. 

More often than not, depictions of foot fetishes in the media perpetuate a “think of the children” narrative. This is because the only foot fetish portrayals we see are usually those of serial killers, from Jerry Brudos to Ted Bundy. There’s a lot of stigma surrounding foot fetishes, and scenes from popular culture that depict it as a seedy, deviant act (like that of Larys) certainly don’t help. In actual fact, foot fetishes are as normal as pie.

With a view to cut through the noise to deliver some home truths on the subject, here’s a definitive rundown of foot fetishes that will make you re-think any misconceptions you might have about the popular fetish.

Where do foot fetishes come from?

So, what is a foot fetish? Simply put, a foot fetish is where a person becomes aroused by images of feet, having their feet played with, massaged and tickled, or by touching the feet of others. Foot fetishes are learned, rather than something someone is born into liking. This is because fetishes, as a rule, generally develop when a person has a sexual awakening from a sensory experience. This creates a pathway in the pleasure response system in the brain, so when that sensation is explored further it becomes more deeply pleasurable. According to researcher Dr. Justin Lehmiller, people can experience intense orgasms when they engage in fetish-focussed foreplay, creating positive reinforcement in the brain for future mind-blowing climaxes.

Fetishes, as a rule, generally develop when a person has a sexual awakening from a sensory experience.

No two foot fetishes are the same. While there are some things people with foot fetishes may have in common, such as being attracted by the visual nature of toes, soles, and ankles, each experience is unique, depending on what they find captivating. It could be sniffing, licking, touching, tickling, biting and massaging feet — or using the feet to massage gentiles, a foot job, if you will. 

Ness Cooper, a clinical sexologist and sex therapist, tells Mashable: “Some find toes phallic and this is what turns them on. In certain cultures feet are taboo and it’s the risk of going against social rules they find titillating.”

“There is also research to suggest that, due to the feet’s nerve endings also being linked to the genitals in the brain, forming a physical arousal response which is easy,” Cooper continues.

Cooper is talking about the somatosensory cortex, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for processing sensory information. When this lights up, we can feel pain, temperature and arousal. So, when we see or touch the feet of someone with a foot fetish, or if we have one ourselves, there can be an immediate response. 

“The curves of the feet and folds of skin also turn some on,” Cooper explains, “some find these look similar to the folds of a vulva, which can be deeply erotic.”

Oli Lipski, a queer sensual intimacy coach, tells Mashable that it could be because of our early memories of comfort and love from our parents, as well as the way our brains are wired. 

“We have 7,000 nerve endings in each foot,” Lipski says, “As a queer sensualist who adores feet in a sensual scenario, be it platonic or romantic massage, or as part of sexual play — using them to offer a new sensation for stimulating the genitals — I can totally appreciate the pleasures that practising both foot fetishes and foot worshipping can provide in their own rights.”

And, while this might sounds kind of wild if you have only ever thought about your feet for walking, foot fetishes remain one of the most common fetishes on this good green earth. 

Foot fetishes are more common than you realise

About one in seven people has a foot fetish, according to recent studies by Bedbible. Research has found that five percent of heterosexual women and 11 percent of lesbian and bisexual women have foot fetishes, compares to 18 percent of heterosexual men and 21 percent of gay and bisexual men. 

So, while men are more likely to develop a liking for feet than women are, foot worship is more common in queer communities than heterosexual ones. But why is that?

“When seeing that others have similar kinks, it can break the stigma and shame we may have internalised due to social expectations.”

“This could be due to the destabilising nature of queer sex as flipping the script, perhaps as a way of transmuting the energy from one of objectification (consensual) to one of human elevation and admiration,” explains Lipski. 

“What I mean by this,” she says, “is that role-playing a foot fetish in a heterosexual dynamic could prescribe to more heteronormative ideals of objectifying the feet as distinct objects, separate from women’s bodies. Whereas foot worshipping in a queer context could offer up the whole person with their feet as parts of the desired recipient to be worshipped. In either scenario, being aroused by feet is entirely normal.”

In fact, foot fetishes are so normal that they have been recognised by psychologists and psychiatrists under the umbrella of fetishism, not disorders. This is because fetishes played out between consenting, sober adults are harmless, (and very fun). Only when something is characterised by distress, depression or obsessive behaviour should there be any concern.

“There’s nothing wrong in finding feet a turn-on,” says Cooper, “when seeing that others have similar kinks, it can break the stigma and shame we may have internalised due to social expectations — so knowing that there are other people out there can be liberating.”

What is a foot fetish fantasy?

A foot fetish fantasy (try saying that fast), consists of sexually pleasing acts involving feet, though they do not have to be inherently sexual in nature. From sniffing, licking and sucking on toes and feet to trampling, with a lot of other acts in between, including using the foot for penetration.

Foot fetishes fit easily alongside other fetishes and kinks too, from BDSM to tickleplay — it is feet we’re talking about, after all. The joy of a foot fetish (or any kind of fetish, really), is that it’s up to you how creative you want to get with it. You might enjoy licking feet as an act of submission or having them shoved into your mouth as an act of humiliation, worshipping them with kisses and massages, you might find yourself feeling intoxicated by their smells or watching them walk in high heels. 

There are plenty of websites where you can explore your interests, from FeetFinder to OnlyFans, if you’re feeling curious. And, if you’re new to the scene and feeling a little awkward about asking for what you want, remember to take it one step at a time.