Rubberism

Rubberism (also rubber fetishism) is a form of material fetishism in which rubber and rubber-like materials are central to arousal, aesthetics, or identity. It often overlaps with BDSM, sensory play and identity expression, such as wearing full-body suits or gas masks, but is not limited to these. It can be a solo experience, a partnered one, or something shared within a community.

Rubberists often describe a combination of sensory impressions: the smooth, glossy or matte surface, the distinctive smell, the snug fit against the skin, the sounds of creaking and squeaking and the visual effect of shine and shape. For some, the tactile experience is the main draw, while for others it is the transformation of the body into a sleek, anonymous silhouette. The ritual of dressing, caring for and polishing the material is also a significant part of the experience for many.

Materials

In the narrower sense, rubberism centers on latex, which is natural rubber harvested from the sap of the rubber tree and processed into thin sheeting. It is highly elastic, fits very closely and is usually maintained with silicone shine products. Chlorinated latex is easier to put on and needs less lubricant, but it feels different against the skin.

Other materials are often included, some of them true rubbers and some synthetics:

• Industrial and technical rubber, such as butyl rubber and other synthetic rubbers, is found in gas masks, protective suits, hoses, inner tubes and heavy rubber. Many people are drawn to its sturdy, matte and weighty character.
• Neoprene, a synthetic rubber based on chloroprene, is known from wetsuits. It is thicker, warmer and more padded and feels quite different from thin latex.
• Rubberized everyday clothing, including raincoats, capes, aprons, rubber boots and rubber gloves, is central to the fetish for some, particularly within the tradition of Mackintosh fetishism.
• Silicone is not technically rubber, but it is often grouped with it in the scene, for example in toys, masks or garments with a rubber-like look.
• Rubber bedding and protective sheets serve practical purposes but also feature in fetish contexts, such as sensory play or wet and messy scenes.
• PVC and vinyl are plastics rather than rubber, but they are considered related shiny materials and regularly appear alongside latex. Those who prefer a stricter definition keep them separate from rubberism

Related Terms

• Shiny Clothing
• Silicone Clothing
• PVC Clothing
• Vinyl Clothing
• Polyurethane Clothing
• Spandex Clothing
• Latex Clothing
• Rubber Creature
• Rubberist