Tribadism

Tribadism (pronounced ) or tribbing, commonly known by its scissoring aspect, is a form of non-penetrative sex in which a woman rubs her vulva against her partner's body for sexual stimulation. This may involve female-to-female genital contact or a female rubbing her vulva against her partner's thigh, stomach, buttocks, palm or arm, and does not always reflect a scissoring motion; a missionary position, as well as other sex positions, may also be acted upon. The term can also refer to a masturbation technique in which a woman rubs her vulva against an inanimate object such as a bolster, in an effort to achieve orgasm. The term is most often used in the context of lesbian sex.

History and culture

In the sexuality of the ancient Romans, a tribas (a Greek loan-word) was a woman or hermaphrodite who actively penetrated another woman.

Until the 20th century, the term was used to refer to lesbian sexual practices in general. Therefore, lesbians were occasionally called tribades.

Sexual practices

Tribadism is a common sexual practice among lesbians and women who have sex with women. Though usually applied to the act of vulva-to-vulva stimulation, the term encompasses a variety of sexual activity. In addition to the commonly titled "scissoring" motion, tribadism may involve a missionary position, a woman on top position, a doggy style position, or simple movement of the woman's vulva against her partner's thigh, stomach, buttocks, palm, or arm. Tribadism may be accompanied by penetration of a partner with fingers or a dildo, "and so mutuality and reciprocation tend not to be the main objective, although satisfaction for both partners through different means most definitely is its aim."

Some lesbian and bisexual women object to the term "scissoring," as they do not partake in this particular aspect of the activity and attribute it more to the male fantasies of the heterosexual porn industry. Often times, "scissoring" is used as an umbrella term for all genital-to-genital forms of tribadism, and many lesbian and bisexual women are unaware that some of the sexual acts they include in their lovemaking are aspects of tribadism, as tribadism is commonly omitted from mainstream sex research.

Occurrence among female bonobos

Female-female genital sex is not exclusive to humans. Females of the bonobo species, found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also engage in this act, usually known as GG rubbing (genito-genital). "Perhaps the bonobo's most typical sexual pattern, undocumented in any other primate, is genito-genital rubbing (or GG rubbing) between adult females. One female facing another clings with arms and legs to a partner that, standing on both hands and feet, lifts her off the ground." Bands named after tribadism also include Scissorfight and the lesbian punk band Tribe 8. Genital-genital tribadism was depicted three times during the "D-Yikes!" episode of the cartoon South Park, referred to in that episode as "scissoring." The episode is credited as having popularized the term "scissoring."

See also

Vanilla sex

Coitus, male-female genital sex

Intercrural sex, or interfemoral sex: with the penis between the partner's thighs, perhaps rubbing the vulva, scrotum or perineum.

Frot, male-male genital sex

Penis fencing, a similar behavior in flatworms.

References

External links

Expert Felice Newman Lesbian Sex Questions Answered by Lesbian Sex Expert Felice Newman, author of The Whole Lesbian Sex Book

Category:Sexual acts Category:Lesbianism