WHEN WE THINK of sex, we generally think about sexual intercourse, particularly anal or vaginal penetration. There's a type of sex (or sex-adjacent) practice that does not include penetration, and no, it's not oral sex or shared masturbation. It's called intercrual sex.
Understood as thigh sex, “intercrural sex is non-penetrative sex in which the penis is positioned in between the partner's thighs and thrusts to attain satisfaction and/or an orgasm,” describes Lee Phillips, Ed.D., a psychotherapist and licensed sex and couple's therapist.
There are many reasons individuals choose to have intercrural sex to other types, and the practice of intercrural sex go back to Ancient Greece. Listed below, with the aid of sex and relationship professionals, we break down whatever you require to understand about the history and practice of thigh sex.
What's the history of intercrural sex?
K.J. Dover initially created the term intercrural sex in his book, Greek Homosexuality, released in 1978. The critical work checks out the nature of homosexual relationships in Ancient Greece, analyzing social standards, practices, and the cultural context surrounding these relationships. In it, he discusses how older males frequently had intercrural sex with more youthful young boys (i.e., pederasty). Anal sex (i.e., penetration) was seen through a lens of social status and supremacy. If you were the bottom (i.e., the individual being permeated), it was thought about outrageous or submissive. The leading or penetrative function was typically connected with power and supremacy. Intercrural sex skirted around these standards and ideologies: a loophole, so to speak.
Why have intercural sex now?
In this day in age, it may appear rather “ridiculous” or “unneeded” to have intercrural sex when anal sex isn't thought about disgraceful. (Well, it still remains in numerous cultures, locations, and religious beliefs, however we understand it should not be considered as outrageous). Queer sex teacher Gabrielle Kassel describes a couple of factors why grownups might choose intercrural to anal or vaginal sex.
“To begin, friction can feel fantastic versus a penis no matter where that friction is originating from,” Kassel states. Thighs use a special kind of friction that can feel amazing for those who are accustomed to getting friction from other body parts, like the butt, vaginal area, boobs, or underarm. “Both hairy thighs and smooth-shaven thighs can support a distinct experience.”
Of course, there are times when somebody might choose having intercrural sex to anal if, for example, “They are having a GI flare-up and do not feel comfy being the responsive partner.” In other words, there's no danger of a poopy tinker intercrural.
Even if you're a female, you might choose to have intercrural sex, Kassel states. “An individual with a vaginal area may choose getting intercrural sex to penetrative sex if they have endometriosis, fibroids, just recently delivered, or otherwise discover vaginal penetration unfit.”
Intercrural sex is likewise a lower-risk sex act compared to oral, anal, vaginal, or other genital-on-genital sexual acts,