This article was published on March 21st, 2018
Chastity may sound antiquated and from the Middle Ages, but the fact of the matter is that they have been around for centuries, and today they occupy a unique space in the fetish world. Since the 15th century, chastity belts have been referenced in popular culture, initially viewed solely as a device to enforce fidelity. These armored bikinis were made of iron with a small screen in the front for urination and an even smaller space of iron for the vagina.
Chastity belts were originally designed so medieval men off to war could ensure that their women remained chaste while away at combat. The misogynistic slant of chastity belts to oppress and subjugate women held sway for centuries and are considered by modernists to be a crude aspect of life during the Dark Ages. Some historians contend chastity belts were merely a figment of men’s imaginations and possibly only ever existed in theory.
Chastity belts have worked their way in to the fabric gay culture and are used as fetish objects, playing a role in sexual fantasy. It can be arousing to lock up a partner and keep their sexual desire in check. In the BDSM community, chastity belts are used as a form of orgasm control, with the wearer prevented from sexual activities like masturbation and oral sex.
When used in role-playing, chastity belts can be worn for a specific scene or for a longer span of time, sometimes hours, days, or even weeks at a time. The dominant controls when, where, and how sexual release is permitted. Chastity belts are also popular in cuckold play.
Chastity belts come in a wide-range of styles, with both solid and ring formats. For short term play, silicone work well; however, for wearing over longer periods, stainless steel is recommended because it is more hygienic and is easier to keep clean without having to be removed. Most chastity belts are designed for padlocks to be used, allowing the dominant partner to poses control. Tamper-proof numeric plastic locks can also be used, which will let a Dom know if his Sub has removed or tried to escape the chastity belt.
Chastity belts can also include other elements including urethral sounding rods, anal plugs, or complete rubber cages that encase both the penis and testicles for complete cock and ball torture (CBT).
If you’re into bondage, and being dominated by your partner, devices like Mike’s Spikes, which locks around the penis and employs spikes to prevent the wearer from reaching a full erection, are one example of how a Dom Top might keep their sub from reaching orgasm.
The curiosity of chastity belts continues to captivate gay culture through consensual sexual relationships that contain power, dominance, and control.
