Frot is a slang term derived from frottage (ult. from the French verb frotter, "to rub") describing a form of non-penetrative male/male sex that usually but not always involves direct penis-to-penis contact.^[1]

The term "frot" was originally popularized by gay male activists who disparaged the practice of anal sex.^[2] The term has since evolved to encompass a variety of preferences for the act, which may or may not imply particular attitudes towards other sexual activities.

Owing to its non-penetrative character, frot has the safe sex advantage of minimizing the transmission risk for HIV/AIDS,^[3] and may also help to lower the risk of certain other sexually transmitted infections, without the inconvenience of purchasing condoms and condom-safe lubricants.

Concept and etymology[link]

Genito-genital sex or genital-genital (GG) sex is a physically descriptive term for sex in which there is contact between the genitals, in the same naming convention as "genital-anal sex" and "genital-oral sex".^[4] This type of sexual intimacy is not restricted to humans. "GG rubbing" is a term frequently used by primatologists to describe the act among female bonobos,^[5][6] and is sometimes used in reference to "GG rubbing" among bonobo males, under the term "penis fencing." Thus, penis-to-penis rubbing between males is thought, according to varying evolutionary theorists, to have existed before the development of hominids into humans and bonobos, and may or may not have occurred in the homosexual activity of both of these genetically related species.^[7]

As a modern concept that describes a specific activity among men who have sex with men (MSM), the term "frot" emerged in a context of a debate about the status of anal sex within the gay male community; some in the anti-anal, pro-frot camp insist that anal sex ought to be avoided altogether.^[8] Another view argued that the popularity of anal sex would decline (presumably with a corresponding drop in HIV rates) if gay men could somehow be persuaded to stop thinking of anal sex as a "vanilla" practice, but rather as something "kinky" and not-quite-respectable—as was the case in the 1950s and 1960s, when gay men who preferred to do only mutual masturbation and fellatio sometimes used the mildly disparaging slang term "brownie queen" for aficionados of anal sex. Oral sex was heavily practiced in the 1950s and early 1960s, and people who invited anal sex were called by a pejorative name such as "brownie queens".^[2]

Gay activist Bill Weintraub began to heavily promote and recommend the gender-specific meaning of "penis-to-penis rubbing" as "frot" on Internet forums sometime in the late 1990s, and said he coined the term. "I don't use the word 'frottage,' because it is an ersatz French word which can indicate any sort of erotic rubbing," he stated. "Frot, by contrast, is always phallus-to-phallus sex." Weintraub believes that is what actual sex is – genital-genital contact.^[9]

Alternative terms for frot include frictation, which can refer to the wider meaning of "frottage"^[10] but also penis-penis sex specifically,^[11] and frontism. Slang terms for frot include "cock rub," "bumping dicks," "knocking cocks," "tummy stix," "sword-fighting", "Oxford style", "Princeton rub", and "Ivy League rub".^[9] The lesbian form is referred to as tribadism, a term derived from the Greek word for "rub" (tribein). In ancient Roman sexuality, a tribas, or tribade, was a woman or intersex female who actively penetrated another person through use of the clitoris or a dildo. Because penetration was viewed as "male-defined" sexuality, a tribas was considered the most vulgar lesbian. Until the 20th century, the term referred to lesbian sexual practices in general, and therefore lesbians were occasionally called tribades.^[12][13]

Sexual practices[link]

General[link]

Frot can be enjoyable because it mutually and simultaneously stimulates the genitals of both partners as it tends to produce pleasurable friction against the frenulum nerve bundle on the underside of each man's penile shaft, just below the urinary opening (meatus) of the penis head (glans penis).

Safe sex[link]

Since frot is a non-penetrative sex act, the risk of passing a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that requires direct contact between the mucous membranes and pre-ejaculate or semen is reduced. Notably, HIV is among the diseases that require such direct contact, and is therefore very unlikely (but possible) to be transmitted via frot.^[14] However, frot can still transmit other sexually transmitted infections, such as HPV, HSV-II (genital herpes) and genital warts.

Comparison to anal sex and debates[link]

Some gay men, or men who have sex with men (MSM) in general, prefer to engage in frot or other forms of mutual masturbation because they find it more pleasurable or more affectionate than anal sex, to preserve technical virginity, or as safe sex alternatives to anal penetration.^{[1][8][15][16][17][18]} This preference has led to some debate in the gay male and MSM community regarding what constitutes "real sex" or the most sensual expression of sexual intimacy. Some frot advocates view "two genitals coming together by mingling, caressing, sliding" and rubbing as "sex" more than other forms of bodily pleasuring.^[1][2][19] Others associate male masculinity with the sexual positions of "tops" and "bottoms" during anal sex.^[20]

During anal sex, the insertive partner is referred to as the top or active partner. The man being penetrated is referred to as the bottom or passive partner. Preference for either is referred to as versatile.^[17][21] Some frot advocates insist that such roles introduce inequality during sexual intimacy, and that frottage is "equal" because of mutual genital-genital stimulation. The lack of mutual genital stimulation and role asymmetry has led other frot advocates to denounce anal sex as degrading to the receptive partner.^{[1][2][8][19]} This view of dominance and inequality associated with sex roles is disputed by researchers, who state that it is not clear that specific sexual acts are necessarily indicative of general patterns of masculinity or dominance in a gay male relationship, and that, for both partners, anal intercourse can be associated with being masculine.^[20] Additionally, some frot advocates, such as Bill Weintraub, are concerned with diseases that may be acquired through anal sex.^[1][2][22] In a 2005 article in The Advocate, one anal sex opponent said that no longer showing anal sex as erotic would help avoid AIDS, and opined that some gay men perceived him to be antigay when he was only trying to keep gay and bisexual men alive and healthy.^[8]

The view that anal sex is something that should be discouraged is not supported by all frot supporters. Author Joe Perez states that Weintraub and his followers have "gone overboard" in their enthusiasm for frot by claiming that supporting frot means disowning anal sex or that the latter is "inherently degrading, unnatural, or disease-spreading." He says Weintraub and his supporters' views should be taken "with a grain of salt if you can" and that he hopes for more inclusive frot communities.^[1]

Gay men, and MSM in general, who prefer anal sex may view it as "[their] version of intercourse"^[23] and as "the natural apex of sex, a wonderful expression of intimacy, and a great source of pleasure".^[16] Psychologist Walt Odets said, "I think that anal sex has for gay men the same emotional significance that vaginal sex has for heterosexuals."^[8] The act is generally viewed as vanilla sex among MSM,^[24] and is often thought to be expected, even by MSM who do not prefer the act.^[19] "Some people like [anal] because it seems taboo or naughty," stated author and sex therapist Jack Morin. "Some people like the flavor of dominance and submission... some don’t."^[23]

MSM who defend the essential validity of anal sex have rejected most of the claims made by radical frot advocates. Others have at times disparaged frottage as a makeshift, second-rate form of male/male intimacy — something better left to inexperienced teenagers and "closeted" older men.^[9] Odets said, "No one would propose that we initiate a public health measure by de-eroticizing vaginal sex. It would sound like a ridiculous idea. It's no less ridiculous for gay men."^[8]

Among other animals[link]

Genital-genital rubbing has been observed between males of other animals as well. The homosexual activities of bonobos are of special interest because of their genetic closeness to humans; however, despite their genetic similarity, bonobo sexuality has been described as "not driven by orgasm or seeking release. Nor is it often reproductively driven. Sex for a bonobo is casual, it's quick".^[25] Among bonobos, frot frequently occurs when two males hang from a tree limb and engage in penis fencing. Frot also occurs while two males are in missionary position. A special form of frot called "rump rubbing" in which males stand back to back on all fours and rub their genito-anal regions together.^[26]

Frot-like genital rubbing between non-human males has been observed among bull manatees, in conjunction with "kissing". Bottlenose dolphins have been observed rubbing their genitals against the genital area of other males often leading to the penetration of the genital slit, or less commonly the anus.^[26] Other forms of frot are also common among homosexually active mammals.^[27] Most species of bird do not possess a penis; for those animals, the distinction between penetrative and non-penetrative sex does not exist, though mounting and insemination are common aspects of avian homosexuality even when a phallic organ is not present.

See also[link]

Sexuality portal

• Sex positions
• Coitus, male-female genital sex
• Penis fencing

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• B. Bagemihl, Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity (1999)
• Olivia Judson., Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation (2002)

Catherine Frot
Frot at the César Awards 2009
Born	(1956-05-01) 1 May 1956 (age 56) Paris, France
Occupation	Actress

Catherine Frot is a theatre and film actress born in Paris, France on 1 May 1956.^[1]

Her surname is pronounced with a silent 't', as in 'to and fro'.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

The daughter of an engineer and a mathematics teacher, Frot demonstrated comic traits and expressions at an early age. At the age of fourteen, she enrolled in the Versailles conservatory while still in school. By 1974, she began her education at the Rue Blanche school and afterwards took up full-time studies at the conservatory.

Career[link]

In 1975, she demonstrated her talent at the Festival d'Avignon in the Compagnie du Chapeau Rouge which she founded with the help of others. From then on, Catherine put all her energy into theatre performances in roles such as the Présidente de Tourvel in the play Les Liaisons dangereuses in 1987. She performed in a number of classical plays such as La Cerisaie, directed by Peter Brook in 1982, and La Mouette directed by Pierre Pradinas in 1985. She also received the Theatrical Critic Award in 1983 for her role in Jean Bouchot's C'était comment déjà ?.

In films, Frot has made an enormous reputation in France. She won the César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1996, for playing Yolande, 'the sweet silly wife of a provincial bully' in Cedric Klapisch's Un air de famille and was funny and moving as a wealthy, rebellious nuisance in La Dilettante (1999). In 7 ans de mariage , a kind of French remake of The Seven Year Itch, Frot played a prudish banker, wife and mother, who is drawn by her bored, sexually frustrated husband into the world of Parisian clubs échangistes, or wife-swapping clubs.

Filmography[link]

• 1980: Mon oncle d'Amérique by Alain Resnais
• 1980: Psy by Philippe de Broca
• 1985: Elsa, Elsa by Didier Haudepin
• 1986: Escalier C by Jean-Charles Tacchella
• 1990: Chambre à part by Jacky Cukier
• 1996: Un air de famille by Cédric Klapisch
• 1998: Paparazzi by Alain Berbérian
• 1998: Le Dîner de Cons by Francis Veber
• 1999: La Nouvelle Ève by Catherine Corsini
• 1999: La Dilettante by Pascal Thomas
• 2000: Inséparables by M. Couvelard
• 2001: Chaos by Coline Serreau
• 2003: 7 ans de mariage by Didier Bourdon
• 2003: Après la vie by Lucas Belvaux
• 2003: Cavale by Lucas Belvaux
• 2003: Chouchou by Merzak Allouache
• 2003: Un couple épatant by Lucas Belvaux
• 2004: Éros thérapie by Danièle Dubroux
• 2004: Vipère au poing by Philippe de Broca
• 2004: Les Sœurs fâchées by Alexandra Leclère
• 2005: Boudu by Gérard Jugnot
• 2005: Mon petit doigt m'a dit... by Pascal Thomas
• 2006: La Tourneuse de pages (English: The Page Turner) by Denis Dercourt
• 2007: Odette Toulemonde by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
• 2008: L'empreinte de l'ange (English: Mark of an Angel / Angel of Mine) by Safy Nebbou and Cyril Gomez-Mathieu
• 2008: Le crime est notre affaire by Pascal Thomas
• 2009: Le Vilain
• 2009: Happy End by Jean-Marie Larrieu and Arnaud Larrieu

Awards[link]

• 1987: nomination for César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Escalier C
• 1995: Molière Award for Best Supporting Actress for Un air de famille (in theatre)
• 1997: César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Un air de famille (on film)
• 1999: Moscow International Film Festival : best actress for La Dilettante

She is officer of the Ordre national du Mérite.^[2]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Catherine Frot

• Catherine Frot at the Internet Movie Database
• (French) Portrait of Catherine Frot

This article about a French stage actor or actress is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This article about a French film actor or actress is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

André Dussollier
Born	(1946-02-17) 17 February 1946 (age 66) Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970–present

André Dussollier (born 17 February 1946; Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France) is a French actor.

Filmography[link]

• 1970 : Ils, directed by Jean-Daniel Simon
• 1972 : Les Chemins de pierre, directed by Joseph Drimal (TV series)
• 1972 : Une belle fille comme moi, directed by François Truffaut
• 1972 : Les Boussardel, directed by René Lucot (TV series)
• 1973 : Les Fourberies de Scapin, directed by Jean-Paul Carrère (TV)
• 1974 : Toute une vie, directed by Claude Lelouch
• 1974 : La Gifle, directed by Claude Pinoteau
• 1974 : Madame Bovary, directed by Pierre Cardinal (TV)
• 1975 : Un divorce heureux, directed by Henning Carlsen
• 1976 : Il pleut sur Santiago, directed by Helvio Soto
• 1976 : Histoire de rire, directed by Yves-André Hubert (TV)
• 1976 : Marie-poupée, directed by Joël Séria
• 1977 : Alice ou la dernière fugue, directed by Claude Chabrol
• 1977 : Le Couple témoin, directed by William Klein
• 1977 : Ben et Bénédict, directed by Paula Delsol
• 1977 : Rossel et la commune de Paris, directed by Serge Moati (TV)
• 1978 : Un ours pas comme les autres, directed by Nina Companeez (TV series)
• 1978 : Perceval le Gallois, directed by Éric Rohmer
• 1979 : L'Amour en fuite, directed by François Truffaut
• 1979 : La Muse et la Madone, directed by Nina Companeez (TV)
• 1979 : Orient-Express, directed by Daniele D'Anza (TV series) (segment Jenny)
• 1980 : Pollufission 2000, directed by Jean-Pierre Prévost (TV)
• 1980 : Le Barbier de Séville, directed by Jean Pignol (TV)
• 1980 : La Fraîcheur de l'aube (TV)
• 1980 : Extérieur, nuit, directed by Jacques Bral
• 1981 : Ideiglenes paradicsom, directed by András Kovács
• 1981 : Les Filles de Grenoble, directed by Joël Le Moigné
• 1982 : La Triple mort du troisième personnage (La Triple muerte del tercer personaje), de Helvio Soto
• 1982 : L'Épreuve, directed by Claude Santelli (TV)
• 1982 : Qu'est-ce qui fait courir David ?, directed by Élie Chouraqui
• 1982 : Le Beau Mariage, directed by Éric Rohmer
• 1983 : Elle voulait faire du cinéma, directed by Caroline Huppert (TV)
• 1983 : La vie est un roman, directed by Alain Resnais
• 1983 : Liberty Belle, directed by Pascal Kané
• 1983 : Au théâtre ce soir : Monsieur Masure, directed by Georges Folgoas (TV)
• 1984 : Première classe, directed by Mehdi El Glaoui
• 1984 : Les Enfants, directed by Marguerite Duras, Jean Mascolo et Jean-Marc Turine
• 1984 : L'Aide-mémoire, directed by Pierre Boutron (TV)
• 1984 : Frontières (Grens, De), de Leon de Winter
• 1984 : L'amour à mort, directed by Alain Resnais
• 1984 : Stress, directed by Jean-Louis Bertucelli
• 1984 : L'Amour par terre, directed by Jacques Rivette
• 1984 : Just the Way You Are, directed by Édouard Molinaro
• 1985 : Music Hall, directed by Marcel Bluwal (TV)
• 1985 : Trois hommes et un couffin, directed by Coline Serreau
• 1986 : Triple sec, directed by Yves Thomas (court-métrage)
• 1986 : Yiddish Connection, directed by Paul Boujenah
• 1986 : Mélo, directed by Alain Resnais
• 1987 : De sable et de sang, directed by Jeanne Labrune
• 1988 : Fréquence meurtre, directed by Élisabeth Rappeneau
• 1988 : L'Enfance de l'art, directed by Francis Girod
• 1988 : Mon ami le traître, directed by José Giovanni
• 1988 : Palace, directed by Jean-Michel Ribes (TV series)
• 1990 : Pour un oui ou pour un non, directed by Jacques Doillon (TV)
• 1990 : Le Chemin solitaire, directed by Luc Bondy (TV)
• 1990 : La Femme fardée, directed by José Pinheiro
• 1991 : Le Piège, directed by Serge Moati (TV)
• 1991 : Sushi Sushi, directed by Laurent Perrin
• 1992 : Border Line, directed by Danièle Dubroux
• 1992 : Roi blanc, dame rouge (Belyy korol, krasnaya koroleva (Russkie)), de Sergei Bodrov
• 1992 : Un cœur en hiver, directed by Claude Sautet
• 1992 : Chien et chat, directed by Philippe Galland et Marc Simenon (TV series)
• 1993 : La Petite apocalypse, directed by Costa-Gavras
• 1993 : Les Marmottes, directed by Élie Chouraqui
• 1994 : Montparnasse-Pondichéry, directed by Yves Robert
• 1994 : Aux petits bonheurs, directed by Michel Deville
• 1994 : Le Colonel Chabert, directed by Yves Angelo
• 1995 : Les Fleurs de Maria Papadopylou, directed by Dodine Herry (court-métrage)
• 1995 : Le Roman d'un jeune homme pauvre (Romanzo di un giovane povero), d'Ettore Scola
• 1995 : Belle Époque, directed by Gavin Millar (TV series)
• 1996 : Notre homme, directed by Élisabeth Rappeneau (TV)
• 1997 : Quand le chat sourit, directed by Sabine Azéma (TV)
• 1997 : Quadrille, directed by Valérie Lemercier
• 1997 : Un air si pur..., directed by Yves Angelo
• 1997 : On connaît la chanson, directed by Alain Resnais
• 1997 : Vérité oblige, directed by Stéphane Kappes, Jacques Malaterre et Claude-Michel Rome (TV series)
• 1998 : Voleur de vie, directed by Yves Angelo
• 1999 : Les Enfants du marais, directed by Jean Becker
• 1999 : Sade en procès, directed by Pierre Beuchot (TV) (voice)
• 1999 : Augustin, roi du Kung-fu, directed by Anne Fontaine (himself)
• 2000 : Scènes de crimes, directed by Frédéric Schoendoerffer
• 2000 : Les Acteurs, directed by Bertrand Blier
• 2000 : Aïe, directed by Sophie Fillières
• 2000 : La Dette, directed by Fabrice Cazeneuve (TV)
• 2001 : Un crime au paradis, directed by Jean Becker
• 2001 : Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (voice)
• 2001 : La Chambre des officiers, directed by François Dupeyron
• 2001 : Vidocq, directed by Pitof
• 2001 : Tanguy, directed by Étienne Chatiliez
• 2003 : 18 ans après, directed by Coline Serreau
• 2003 : La Légende de Parva, directed by Jean Cubaud (voice)
• 2003 : Effroyables Jardins, directed by Jean Becker
• 2003 : Tais-toi !, directed by Francis Veber
• 2004 : Suzie Berton, directed by Bernard Stora (TV)
• 2004 : Agents secrets, directed by Frédéric Schoendoerffer
• 2004 : Un long dimanche de fiançailles, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
• 2004 : 36 Quai des Orfèvres, directed by Olivier Marchal
• 2005 : Ils voulaient tuer de Gaulle, directed by Jean-Teddy Filippe (TV) (voice)
• 2005 : Mon petit doigt m'a dit..., directed by Pascal Thomas
• 2005 : Lemming, directed by Dominik Moll
• 2006 : Un ticket pour l'espace, directed by Éric Lartigau
• 2006 : Cœurs, directed by Alain Resnais
• 2006 : Ne le dis à personne, directed by Guillaume Canet
• 2007 : La Masseria Delle Allodole, directed by the Taviani brothers
• 2008 : Cortex, directed by Nicolas Boukhrief
• 2008 : Le crime est notre affaire, directed by Pascal Thomas
• 2009 : Les herbes folles, directed by Alain Resnais
• 2009 : Micmacs à tire-larigot, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
• 2010 : Une exécution ordinaire directed by Marc Dugain
• 2011 : Impardonnables, directed by André Téchiné

Awards and nominations[link]

César Awards[link]

Molière Awards[link]

External links[link]

• André Dussollier at the Internet Movie Database

v t e César Award for Best Actor 1976 Philippe Noiret · 1977 Michel Galabru · 1978 Jean Rochefort · 1979 Michel Serrault · 1980 Claude Brasseur · 1981 Gérard Depardieu · 1982 Michel Serrault · 1983 Philippe Léotard · 1984 Coluche · 1985 Alain Delon · 1986 Christophe Lambert · 1987 Daniel Auteuil · 1988 Richard Bohringer · 1989 Jean-Paul Belmondo · 1990 Philippe Noiret · 1991 Gérard Depardieu · 1992 Jacques Dutronc · 1993 Claude Rich · 1994 Pierre Arditi · 1995 Gérard Lanvin · 1996 Michel Serrault · 1997 Philippe Torreton · 1998 André Dussollier · 1999 Jacques Villeret · 2000 Daniel Auteuil · 2001 Sergi López · 2002 Michel Bouquet · 2003 Adrien Brody · 2004 Omar Sharif · 2005 Mathieu Amalric · 2006 Michel Bouquet · 2007 François Cluzet · 2008 Mathieu Amalric · 2009 Vincent Cassel · 2010 Tahar Rahim · 2011 Éric Elmosnino · 2012 Omar Sy