Frottage
p. 17
Knee on knee action: innocent flirting or just creepy?
Knee on knee action: innocent flirting or just creepy?
Well, it depends. This "accidental" touching of another person's clothed body is defined as "frottage," from the French, 'to rub'. This can be highly illegal (in a crowded subway car unwanted touching is a major problem) or can be a consensual "test the water" gesture to see whether the other person is interested.
Well, it depends. This "accidental" touching of another person's clothed body is defined as "frottage," from the French, 'to rub'. This can be highly illegal (in a crowded subway car unwanted touching is a major problem) or can be a consensual "test the water" gesture to see whether the other person is interested.
Frottage in this sense is derived from excitement over physical contact with another body: the sense that you can linger with knees touching can indicate a mutual comfort, if not an attraction, and could potentially escalate if the other person is interested.
Frottage in this sense is derived from excitement over physical contact with another body: the sense that you can linger with knees touching can indicate a mutual comfort, if not an attraction, and could potentially escalate if the other person is interested.
The key notion here is CONSENT! Maura (accidentally?) touches Pete's leg: he shifts away, meaning either he is not interested or is being respectful of her space. Either way, Maura doesn't touch him again, so go Maura.
The key notion here is CONSENT! Maura (accidentally?) touches Pete's leg: he shifts away, meaning either he is not interested or is being respectful of her space. Either way, Maura doesn't touch him again, so go Maura.
frot·tage
/frôˈtäZH/
noun: frottage
1.
ART
the technique or process of taking a rubbing from an uneven surface to form the basis of a work of art.a work of art produced by taking a rubbing from an uneven surface.
plural noun: frottages
2.
the practice of touching or rubbing against the clothed body of another person in a crowd as a means of obtaining sexual gratification.
Origin
1930s: French, ‘rubbing, friction’, from frotter ‘to rub’, of unknown origin.