To say (sexual fetish)… or not to say (sexual fetish). That is the question
| Date | 24 November 2023 |
| Pages | 22-24 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-08-2023-0032 |
| Published date | 24 November 2023 |
| Author | Robert John Searle |
To say (sexual fetish)... or not to say
(sexual fetish). That is the question
Robert John Searle
Abstract
Purpose –In a recent report the author wrote about a service user,the author was challenged by the
service user’sadvocate in respect of the author’s use of the term ‘‘sexualfetish’’. The author was informed
of the advocate’s fears in respectofpeople involved in the serviceuser’s future care and support needs
feeling uncomfortable and possibly stigmatising someone having a sexual fetish. Consequently, the
author was asked to change their wording from ‘‘sexual fetish’’ to ‘‘sensory need’’. The purpose of this
study/paper aims to highlightbest practice regarding the most appropriate wording for individualswith
sexualfetishes.
Design/methodology/approach –A review of the availableevidence was ascertained.
Findings –A review of British PsychologicalSociety guidelines and recent researchhighlights that what
were once called ‘‘perversions’’ must be destigmatised,which will not be achieved if people continue to
sweep theterm fetish under the metaphoricalcarpet.
Originality/value –It is the author’s sincere hope that use of the term ‘‘sexual fetish’’ embraces and
normalises people’s sexualfetish and results in heightened awareness andde-stigmatisation of what is
essentiallya reference to an element of the wonderful and pleasurableworld of sexual behaviour.
Keywords Learning disability, Intellectual disability, Sexuality, Fetish, Masturbation, Sexual fetish
Paper type Viewpoint
In a recent report I wrote, I was challenged by an advocate in respect of my use of the
term “sexual fetish”. I was informed by the advocate of her fears in respect of people
involved in my client’s future care and support needs feeling uncomfortable and
possibly stigmatising someone having a sexual fetish. Consequently, I was asked to
change my wording from “sexual fetish” to “sensoryneed”.
Stigmatisation
On the one hand, I could see the advocate’s point. Evidence suggests that society largely
possesses a negative viewpoint ofatypical, nonmainstream sexual practices, such as
consensual nonmonogamy or fetishes(Hutzler et al.,2016;Sharma, 2003). However, recent
research from Ruzansky and Harrison (2018) suggests that those who practice fetishes
wish to stress the consensual andnonpathological nature of their behaviours, and they
conclude that a wider dissemination of this general knowledge is needed to dispel societal
notions of deviance among those who practice fetishes and other atypical sexual
behaviours. This is supported by Coslor et al. (2018), who state that currently, strategies
used to manage stigma have shifted from the eradication of the stigma or tryingto render it
opaque to recognition or embracing the stigma–accepting it and making it part of their
identity. Furthermore, Jeffreys (2022) states that men’s fetishes are merely fascinating
varieties of human behaviour which should be normalised and encouraged in public space.
Organisations have also chosen to suppress stigmatisation at the point of founding while later
embracing their core stigma as an established organisation. For example, founded in 2007,
Robert John Searle is
based at Department of
Psychology, Learning
Disabilities, Aneurin Bevan
Health Board, Torfaen, UK.
Received 30 August 2023
Revised 2 October 2023
Accepted 14 October 2023
Since submission of this article,
the author has updated their
affiliations. Robert John Searle
is at the Ty Lafant Assessment
and Treatment Unit, Llanfrechfa
Grange Hospital Caerleon
Road Llanfrechfa Cwmbran
NP44 8YN.
PAGE 22 jADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES jVOL. 18 NO. 12024, pp. 22-24,©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-08-2023-0032
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