Pinafore eroticism
Encyclopedia
Petticoating, also called pinaforing, is a type of forced feminization that involves dressing a boy in girls' clothing to punish him humiliatingly or to change his behavior. The term also describes the literature, erotic fiction, and roleplaying fantasies involving the practice. While this practice is rare in modern society (because the humiliation of children has become socially unacceptable), it has occasionally been observed. However, the terms "petticoating" and "pinaforing" nearly always describe the sexual fantasy, not the actual practice.
There is some evidence that "petticoat punishment" has occasionally been used as a form of discipline
, with credible stories of such going back at least to Victorian times
. "Pettycoat punishment," as a sexual fetish interest, involves imagining or reenacting this scenario. However, as a fetish interest, these activities are usually heavily exaggerated and sexualized, including elaborate humiliation and public nudity. They often involve the male being feminized into a sissy
(the term used to describe a feminized male) by a powerful female presence (often a mother or aunt) in front of his cousins, sisters, or in some cases, girls of his own age whom he had offended by his boorish behavior.
Petticoating roleplay may include being forced to wear makeup and to carry dolls, purses, and other items associated with girls. Sometimes, boys were made to perform tasks that they considered to be "girls' work" and to appear in public in girls' clothing with their mothers, who occasionally dressed in matching outfits. Some people claim that for the mothers, pinaforing sometimes had a sexual context, and many mothers who disciplined their sons in this fashion either had long wanted daughters or found it erotic to feminize their sons. In addition, according to the folklore of people with this condition, this type of castigation
is found in the history of some of those who later develop Transvestic fetishism
.
Petticoat discipline also occurs in the context of some marital relationships, as a means by which a wife may exert control over her husband. This may involve various items of feminine clothing or underwear in a variety of contexts, ranging from the husband having to wear a feminine apron around the house whilst performing household chores, to the wife insisting that the husband wear a brassiere
on a full-time basis under ordinary male clothing. In all such circumstances, there is a strong reliance on the element of humiliation, whether actual or potential, should the husband's secret be discovered.
.
Spanking was also sometimes added as a pinaforing component to punish the boy further.
In Gynecocracy
: A Narrative of the Adventures and Psychological Experiences of Julian Robinson, by "Viscount Ladywood" (1893), the author recounts his punishment as a boy at the hands of the governness to whom he is sent, along with three female cousins, after having taken indecent liberties with a household maid. Forced to wear girls' clothing as his ordinary attire, Julian, as Julia, is subjected to frequent flagellations, as are his cousins, one of whom he later marries, submitting to her dominance through continued forced feminization and crossdressing.
The Victorian classic, My Secret Life
, contains an account of pinaforing in which the main character, Walter, witnesses the birching
of a wealthy middle-aged man by a prostitute while the man wears feminine attire.
The Pearl, A Journal of Facetiae and Voluptuous Reading, a Victorian pornographic magazine, also contains an account of the flagellation of a victim dressed as a woman, although, in the strict sense, this account does not represent pinaforing per se because the man, Frank, is not petticoated as part of his punishment but has, rather, dressed in ladies' garments to disguise himself as a woman: to avenge herself, Lucretia persuades Frank to pose as his sister and to join a ladies' private whipping club, the qualification for admission to which is the applicant's receipt of a whipping.
Farrer is the editor of nine books containing material on pinaforing consisting mostly of extracts from British magazines and newspapers from about 1840 onward, listed below. "The Regime of the Stay-lace" contains the highest percentage of material on pinaforing.
For those who are interested in pinaforing, MacDonald recommends the following books:
There is some evidence that "petticoat punishment" has occasionally been used as a form of discipline
Child discipline
Child discipline is the set of rules, rewards and punishments administered to teach self control, increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable behaviors in children. In its most general sense, discipline refers to systematic instruction given to a disciple. To discipline thus means to...
, with credible stories of such going back at least to Victorian times
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. "Pettycoat punishment," as a sexual fetish interest, involves imagining or reenacting this scenario. However, as a fetish interest, these activities are usually heavily exaggerated and sexualized, including elaborate humiliation and public nudity. They often involve the male being feminized into a sissy
Sissy (transgender)
A sissy is a man who crossdresses, adopts hyper-feminine behaviors, and engages in stereotypical "feminine" activities , often within the context of BDSM. Particularly within the BDSM community, a "sissy" will typically assume the submissive role to a dominant female and/or male partner...
(the term used to describe a feminized male) by a powerful female presence (often a mother or aunt) in front of his cousins, sisters, or in some cases, girls of his own age whom he had offended by his boorish behavior.
Petticoating roleplay may include being forced to wear makeup and to carry dolls, purses, and other items associated with girls. Sometimes, boys were made to perform tasks that they considered to be "girls' work" and to appear in public in girls' clothing with their mothers, who occasionally dressed in matching outfits. Some people claim that for the mothers, pinaforing sometimes had a sexual context, and many mothers who disciplined their sons in this fashion either had long wanted daughters or found it erotic to feminize their sons. In addition, according to the folklore of people with this condition, this type of castigation
Castigation
Castigation , chastisement , or chiding is the infliction of severe punishment. One who administers a castigation is a castigator or chastiser....
is found in the history of some of those who later develop Transvestic fetishism
Transvestic fetishism
Transvestic fetishism is having a sexual or erotic interest in cross-dressing. It differs from cross-dressing for entertainment or other purposes that do not involve sexual arousal and is categorized as a paraphilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association...
.
Petticoat discipline also occurs in the context of some marital relationships, as a means by which a wife may exert control over her husband. This may involve various items of feminine clothing or underwear in a variety of contexts, ranging from the husband having to wear a feminine apron around the house whilst performing household chores, to the wife insisting that the husband wear a brassiere
Brassiere
A brassiere is an undergarment that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the late 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting breasts....
on a full-time basis under ordinary male clothing. In all such circumstances, there is a strong reliance on the element of humiliation, whether actual or potential, should the husband's secret be discovered.
Techniques
This fantasy/roleplay revolves around the male frequently being made to appear nude, before being dressed as a girl, either in front of his mother, his sisters, or, in some cases, girls of his own age whom he had offended by his boorish behavior . Somewhat related to CFNMClothed female, naked male
Clothed female, naked male is a genre of erotica featuring one or more nude men and one or more clothed women. It is sometimes described as a sexual fantasy, by women or men, depicting such a exhibitionist or physique worship scenario...
.
Spanking was also sometimes added as a pinaforing component to punish the boy further.
Political incorrectness
Stella Gonzalez-Arnal of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Hull sees pinaforing as a "politically incorrect form of sexuality" in which "women's clothing and women's traditional occupations" are regarded "as inferior and humiliating; reinforcing undesirable stereotypes by characterising females as submissive, passive, helpless and subservient". She adds "I will argue that petticoating is a politically ambiguous form of sexuality which can have positive readings. I claim that it can be educational and therapeutical and that it can subvert our notions of masculinity and femininity.".Literary accounts
A number of erotic novels of the Victorian period contain accounts of pinaforing.In Gynecocracy
Gynecocracy (novel)
Gynecocracy: A Narrative of the Adventures and Psychological Experiences of Julian Robinson is a Victorian pornographic novel in the form of an autobiography by the pseudonymous "Viscount Ladywood", in three volumes, published in 1893...
: A Narrative of the Adventures and Psychological Experiences of Julian Robinson, by "Viscount Ladywood" (1893), the author recounts his punishment as a boy at the hands of the governness to whom he is sent, along with three female cousins, after having taken indecent liberties with a household maid. Forced to wear girls' clothing as his ordinary attire, Julian, as Julia, is subjected to frequent flagellations, as are his cousins, one of whom he later marries, submitting to her dominance through continued forced feminization and crossdressing.
The Victorian classic, My Secret Life
My Secret Life (erotica)
My Secret Life, by "Walter", is the memoir of a Victorian gentleman's sexual development and experiences. It was first published in a private edition of eleven volumes, which appeared over seven years beginning around 1888....
, contains an account of pinaforing in which the main character, Walter, witnesses the birching
Birching
Birching is a corporal punishment with a birch rod, typically applied to the recipient's bare buttocks, although occasionally to the back and/or shoulders.-Implement:...
of a wealthy middle-aged man by a prostitute while the man wears feminine attire.
The Pearl, A Journal of Facetiae and Voluptuous Reading, a Victorian pornographic magazine, also contains an account of the flagellation of a victim dressed as a woman, although, in the strict sense, this account does not represent pinaforing per se because the man, Frank, is not petticoated as part of his punishment but has, rather, dressed in ladies' garments to disguise himself as a woman: to avenge herself, Lucretia persuades Frank to pose as his sister and to join a ladies' private whipping club, the qualification for admission to which is the applicant's receipt of a whipping.
Additional information
For a greater and more detailed of literary accounts of pinaforing, see "Petticoat Punishment in Erotic Literature" by Peter Farrer .Farrer is the editor of nine books containing material on pinaforing consisting mostly of extracts from British magazines and newspapers from about 1840 onward, listed below. "The Regime of the Stay-lace" contains the highest percentage of material on pinaforing.
- Men in Petticoats: Selection of Letters from Victorian Newspapers (1987)
- In Female Disguise: Anthology of English and American Short Stories and Literary Passages (1992)
- Borrowed Plumes: Letters from Edwardian Newspapers on Male Cross Dressing (1994)
- The Regime of the Stay-lace: Further Selection of Letters from Victorian Newspapers (1995)
- Confidential Correspondence on Cross Dressing: 1911-15 Pt. 1 (1997)
- My First Party Frock and Other Contributions to the Glad Rag 1985 to 1991 (1997)
- Confidential Correspondence on Cross Dressing: 1916-20 Pt. 2 (1998)
- Cross Dressing Between the Wars: Selections from London Life 1923-1933 (2000)
- Cross Dressing Between the Wars: Selections from London Life: 1934-1941 Pt. 2 (2006)
For those who are interested in pinaforing, MacDonald recommends the following books:
- The Rise and Fall of the British Nanny
- A History of the English Public School
See also
- Cross-dressingCross-dressingCross-dressing is the wearing of clothing and other accoutrement commonly associated with a gender within a particular society that is seen as different than the one usually presented by the dresser...
- Erotic humiliationErotic humiliationErotic humiliation is the consensual use of psychological humiliation in a sexual context, whereby one person gains arousal or erotic excitement from the powerful emotions of being humiliated and demeaned, or of humiliating another; often in conjunction with sexual stimulation of one or both...
- Forced feminization
- Sissy (transgender)Sissy (transgender)A sissy is a man who crossdresses, adopts hyper-feminine behaviors, and engages in stereotypical "feminine" activities , often within the context of BDSM. Particularly within the BDSM community, a "sissy" will typically assume the submissive role to a dominant female and/or male partner...