Female hands
Female hands

Hand fetishism[1] or hand partialism or also cheirophilia is the sexual fetish for hands. This may include the sexual attraction to a specific area such as the fingers, palm, back of the hand and/or nails, or the attraction to a specific action performed by the hands; which may otherwise be considered non-sexual—such as washing and drying dishes, painting of the fingernails and nail-biting. This fetish may manifest itself as a desire to experience physical interaction, or as a source of sexual fantasy.

Hand fetishism is recognized by the porn industry; however, aside from handjobs, it is one of the least common fetishes, despite foot fetishism being the most common.[2]

Characteristics

A hand fetish involves a sexual attraction to the hands. This attraction is most commonly expressed with fingering, handjobs, sucking on the fingers, and licking the palms.

Fingernail fetishism

A sub-type of hand fetishism that is often expressed with attraction towards the fingernails. Most commonly scratching with the fingernails, painting the fingernails, and fingernail length.

Frequency

In 2007, a study was conducted by the University of Bologna on around 5000 fetishist participants to see the prevalence of fetishes. The study analyzed the content inside online fetish communities and found only 669 participants (less than 1%) referring to nails, an extension of hand fetishism. This did not refer to fingernails specifically.[3]

In popular culture

In Hirohiko Araki's popular manga series, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4: Diamond Is Unbreakable, the main villain, a serial killer named Yoshikage Kira, has a notable hand fetish which drives most of his homicidal actions. He often goes for the hands of females he deems as “pieces of trash” and murders the woman while severing one of their hands easily with his ability. He keeps the hands of his victims as his 'girlfriends', which he treats like an actual person until they start decomposing, where he will then search for a new victim. His hand fetish had been stated to have begun early in his teens after he witnessed the portrait of the Mona Lisa, saw her hands, and “got an erection”.

See also

References

  1. ^ E. L. McCallum. 1998. Object Lessons: How to Do Things With Fetishism. SUNY Press.ISBN 0791439798. p.59
  2. ^ Moore, Lucy (November 4, 2009). "Foot fetishes: Fun or freaky?". Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  3. ^ Griffiths, Mark (January 22, 2016). "Handy crafts: A brief look at fingernail fetishes". Retrieved July 8, 2016.
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