A simple question (which I have asked myself many times): Why should we people who engage in and enjoy fetishes, which we did not ask for, feel shame and humiliation?

I believe I know the source(s) of my fetishes. When I told my psychologist about some incidents that happened to me when I was very young, she expressed amazement that I hadn't developed fetishes. Then I told her that I had indeed developed the very fetishes that she was thinking of. Since then, I have had many productive discussions with her and with two other psychologists.

I now believe, very strongly, that my fetishes are an indelible part of my personality. I will readily admit that I still feel some shame about them, but it's nothing like it used to be. After all, how could anyone living in our society not feel shame when we are constantly bombarded with sex-negative rhetoric by the media, conservative politicians, and fundamental religionists?

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