Glove fetishism is a form of sexual fetishism relating to gloves, referring to sexual preoccupation with gloves of various kinds. People with this fetish find that gloves themselves arouse sexual feelings, whether visualised, worn by themselves or when worn or held by someone else, and in particular by a partner. In some cases, the fetish is enhanced by the material of the glove (e.g., leather, cotton, latex, nitrile, PVC, satin or nylon). Often, the actions of a gloved hand are as arousing as the glove itself, because the glove provides a second skin, or in other words, a fetishistic surrogate for the wearer's own skin. Medical gloves and rubber gloves provide a safer sex environment. Movements by the gloved fingers or the hand as a whole can provide the individual with a visual stimulus and sexual arousal. The act of putting gloves on, or taking them off, can also be a source of stimulation. Smell may also be a factor, in particular when it comes from latex or rubber, as can be the sound of latex or leather gloves. Glove fetishism may also coexist with hand fetishism. Many glove fetishists build a collection of gloves and take pleasure in buying gloves over the counter or online. Receiving parcels containing internet purchased gloves may provide an extra-special frisson for the glove fetishist.
Gloves are also used for fisting and sounding. They are also a frequent component of costumes worn by superheroes or superheroines and exposure to such at an early age may be developmentally influential. Gloves also feature prominently in cosplay scenes, music videos, and films.
Most people with glove fetishes prefer full-fingered, tight and shiny gloves, but there is a wide diversity of interests, which span various materials, colours, lengths (including fingerless or not) and capacity for shine or polishing materials that enhance the final appearance. One type of material or glove length may dominate, but over time the glove fetishist may develop multiple favourites.
It is a fetish that crosses gender and sexuality stereotypes, needing no anchor to one or to the other. In general, males appear to adopt sexual fetishes much more often than females or perhaps non-binary persons do, and in respect to glove fetishism, this is no less true . The prevalence of glove fetishism in the general population is currently unknown. Further research is needed to provide conclusive demographic data. Within the context of fetish clothing as a whole, glove fetishists appear to make up a relatively small portion of the community, although the exact size of the glove fetish community remains unclear. Whether ethnicity or cultural factors influence this frequency is unknown. At what age it becomes apparent is also poorly understood, but older glove fetishists can recall interest in or fascination with gloves prior to puberty, which is backed up by comments on social media, so it may manifest in some form at quite a young age and possibly only take on sexual connotations as a child matures into adolescence. Psychologists and psychiatrists appear to identify onset mostly around puberty. The permanence of glove fetishism is largely undocumented, however it would appear to persist well into late life. There are no reports of it disappearing spontaneously in the long term.
Medical glove fetishism involves thin latex gloves, which come in many different types. Personal preference ranges from color, smell, size, texture, smoothness, powdered, or un-powdered.
There is a fetish called GOM which stands for 'Glove Over Mouth' where a gloved hand is placed firmly over ones mouth and/or nose and is sometimes associated with breath control. This can be arousing to the giver and/or the receiver.
Some glove fetishists prefer particular glove lengths, for example the long opera-style or gloves that cup the elbow or short cuff length. The shoulder or opera length glove appears to be especially popular, perhaps channeling the burlesque glove length or that popularised in the raunchy cartoons that appeared in the mid-20th century, such as those of Bill Ward. Some prefer gloves as part of an outfit, such as a nurse, policewoman or French maid uniform. Others, who are of a sexually submissive nature are stimulated when their dominant partner wears gloves. Dominant partners may likewise prefer that their submissives wear gloves. As with all fetishes however, there need not be a BDSM connection to a sexual affinity for gloves.