SPEAKING OF JOCKSTRAPS | |
|
Long before the advent of cute little male g-strings, pricey designer underwear and studded leather codpieces,
the jockstrap was a fashion turn-on for generations
of queer men. For many of us it still is.
As jock fetishist Doug Harrison writes, "A hunk is a hunk, but a hunk in a jockstrap is a gift. If I could have one, and only one scene, it would be with another man, both of us in jockstraps....Bodies rubbing and squirming, hairy chest to hairy chest, pouch to pouch." | 
Calvin Klein's well proportioned jock. |
|
The appeal of the lowly jockstrap seems pretty easy to fathom. It's a signifier
of masculinity--not the showy masculinity of butch leather outfits, but an easy,
unforced maleness. It is, after all, the underwear of the athlete, the hallmark
of sweaty sports. And it reeks of the camaraderie of the locker room, the place
where most of us first got our first glimpse of masses of naked male flesh.
It's sort of the Wonderbra of the cock, lifting the equipment, pushing it front and centre. The feel of it, semi-confining, keeping manflesh tight against belly, has erotic appeal; a full-fledged stiffy struggling to escape the confines of stretchy fabric can be way hot. But there's also something of the cocktease about it. The jockstrap conceals as it reveals, showing off the basket's lines while keeping the final revelation under elasticized wraps. And for such a macho bit of fashion, its message is surprisingly mixed, restraining the straining penis while leaving the butt near naked, cheeks temptingly framed, the hole wholly open to penetration. When it comes to fetishwear, the jockstrap is a stretchy little paradox. And kinda queer to boot. No matter. The aficionados of the athletic supporter are legion. And, as is the case with any clothing-connected kink, tastes vary. While many guys prefer the classic model, snowy white and ready for the first day of PE, some jockstrap fanciers crave variety; a number of gay-oriented clothing stores carry custom-dyed jocks in all the colors of the rainbow. Jet black jockstraps, especially on light-skinned guys, can be striking, and it's unsurprising that models with pouches in fetish materials like leather and latex are out there on the market, too. Some jock fans collect 'em by the dozens; they're budget-priced buggers, so why not grab a handful? Not everyone's turned-on by the spick-and-span fashion-ready models, though. Sweaty, smelly, and stained supporters get some guys going. Wet jocks, soaked through by water or, er, other fluids, have a definite appeal. (Damp pouches are more translucent, too, a wet striptease.) And amongst those with hard-core tastes, ripped-up, stretched-out, stiffened-by-use jockstraps have been known to set many a kinky heart aflutter. Beyond simply wearing the things, there are several play possibilities. There's sniffing them, of course, a throwback to the fantasy of the twisted changing room attendant. Jacking off into jocks can also be fun. On the bondage-and-discipline front, a jockstrap over the head makes for a team-sports hood, and stuffing a jock into the mouth of an unruly bottom can be cool while playing a coach-and-footballer scene.
But it's as apparel that the jockstrap usually shines. Under ripped-up jeans,
baggy trackies, or on its own skimpy lonesome, the athletic supporter not only protects
the family jewels, but showcases them as well. And it produces quite a few hard-ons
along the way. Not bad for a few ounces of elasticized cotton and a couple of quid.
Simon SheppardSan Francisco artist and activist Simon Sheppard is best known for his contributions to the erotic literary scene. He wrote hundreds of stories that appeared in S/M magazines; erotic anthologies; and over twenty editions of Best Gay Erotica and Best American Erotica. His Sextalk column has appeared on OutUK for more than 20 years. You can find out more about Simon Sheppard in this OutUK feature and tribute, or take a look at some of his many books that are still available:
Looking for something very sexy and just as smart? Man on Man collects the best and hottest gay sex writing by Simon, who is also co-editor of Rough Stuff: Tales of Gay Men, Sex, and Power as well as a collection of gay erotica called Hotter Than Hell. In KINKORAMA : Dispatches from the Front Lines of Perversion he takes readers behind the unmarked doors and black vinyl curtains that lead to the sometimes shocking, often hilarious, relentlessly arousing scenarios of extreme sex. There are also stories of bears in Tales from the Bear Cult: Beat Bear Stories from the Best Magazines. | |
