'Furries' fetish attracte many Gen Z now, buy why?
Let us begin at considering an small question that sexualizes fandoms by misidentifying them as sexualized; doing this implies generalizing without understanding all fandoms.
This article should help answer and correct the question regarding furries, then the furry sex doll. They have roots in science fiction fantasy roleplaying as well as covering every corner of Science fiction fantasy imaginable. At conventions we meet to show off our new suits, art, writings, songs and dance moves while enjoying ourselves together; families from multiple generations participate. There's plenty to love in both fandoms as there's also Anthropomorphic fantasy sci fi! Adult Roleplay should only ever be discussed within private room parties or adult 18+ events.
Regarding dressing up and Roleplaying, there are different forms of play when it comes to Roleplay and costumed interaction: character play is when fursuiters assume an alternative persona when speaking or engaging in activities as themselves; popular furs serve as examples of fandom through how they engage younger fans who remind everyone it is acceptable and encouraged them to play!
Research by Leo over time demonstrates that furry fandom has literally saved some youths' lives from suicide; and yet when known about, furries seem to take an inexplicably prominent place within mainstream culture as a stigmatized group. Furries face discrimination due to both their distinctive aesthetic as well as incendiary media portrayals (CSI: Fur and Loathing in Las Vegas; 1000 Ways to Die; Vanity Fair etc) casting them as sexual deviant sexual fetishes that create discriminatory stereotypes against them that fall outside reality; mainstream portrayals often portray furry fans as sexualized sexualized sexualized beings which is both insulting as it demonstrably inaccurate.
Due to inaccurate depictions and public ignorance about fandoms like furries', many furries understandably fear discrimination and violence from public perception. Media and online incidents that stigmatized furries has prevented many from "coming out" or socializing for fear of negative repercussions such as abuse and social isolation; many furries have experienced physical, emotional, or cyberbullying due to ignorance and intentional misrepresentations; just like LGBT communities who benefitted from advocacy (e.g. gay marriage advocacy), furries need evidence-based support in order to combat pervasive stigma against their community members - much like other marginalized communities such as LGBT).
Oklacoma City news site The Lost Ogle recently ran an editorial in response to Oklacon being banned by Oklahoma State Parks, showing sympathy towards furries as opposed to banning Oklacon from happening there.
My issue with the piece lies with its inaccurate representation of furry fandom as seen through mainstream media: as one part fetish and one part fursuit wearers.
Athenean Studios is delighted to bring its clients an affordable solution in terms of photography. From classic portraiture and portrait photography, to commercial photo retouching services. On one hand, we should all take heart in seeing media coverage of furries increase significantly since furries were unfairly depicted as freaks; furries can usually cite specific television programs, magazines and websites which contributed to creating stigma against them among members of the general public who only know furries through what they hear in these outlets. Modern media pieces about furries no longer follow a similar narrative as in years past, which read, "Look at these weirdos in costumes! Aren't they perverted and weirdoes?! Can't believe their bizarre sex lives!" Rather, modern pieces about them tend to focus more on open-minded acceptance rather than condemnation: "We feel sorry about how society has treated these harmless sexual deviants; therefore we open-minded enough to support whatever crazy sexual activities these folks engage in!"
Many will recognize that although the later story seems sympathetic towards furries, its message still comes across as harshly; and herein lies its irony: while media attempts at being sympathetic towards furries they still trivialize furry fandom as a sexualized activity.
Put simply: media do not understand who or what furries are; therefore they continue to use inaccurate stereotypes from news stories from 10 years ago that proved harmful for furries. Look back at The Lost Ogle piece again. How are furries described therein?
At a furry convention...furries come together to socialize and mingle while wearing their costumes for conversation, interaction and sex with fellow furries.
...that some bad apples engaged in immoral acts wearing furry costumes?
I feel bad for our furry friends. Most are hardworking regular old people like any of us who enjoy dressing up as animals for Halloween parties or camping out under a full moon in hopes of playing Frisbee or Werewolf after hours.
See what I mean? The narrative has evolved into one where "perverted freaks are okay, as long as they stay weird". But this approach misses an essential distinction: furries belong to a fandom which gathers together around shared interest for art, stories, shows, music costuming with anthropomorphic themes as its focus. Although some furries do have sexual lives just like anyone else - their interests in anthromorphism could influence how these sexual lives play out - but it would be incorrect to define furries on sexual terms alone.
Take, for instance, video gaming as an analogy: its fandom has long been defined by shared interests in video games; thus making gaming fandom distinct from its counterpart fetishes such as homosexuality or lesbianism. Imagine reporters writing stories like PAX as follows: 'PAX convention provides a place where those with video game fetishes can meet up to have sexual encounters while gaming; we respect their decision." Fans would likely become outraged! Not because video gamers deny having sexual lives of their own but because such misinformation would mischaracterise video gamers as being defined - fans primarily as such shared interests are what make up its fandom nature rather than any potential sexual relations that may ensue between attendees!
As long as media sources continue to inaccurately portray furries as sexual activities or costume wearers (fewer than 25% own fursuits), reports like these will perpetuate stereotypes which cause many furries to keep their interests concealed from friends and family members.
Simply to be clear: there's nothing inherently inappropriate with being interested in furry-themed pornography or merging their natural sexual drives with art or stories featuring furries; just like there's nothing improper about video gamers having sexual fantasies of their favorite video game character or creating pornographic art of them.
There's something off about simplifying fandoms such as video gaming or furries to "just weird sex thing". When reporters can't even define properly what group they are writing about, it can make it hard for readers to believe their sympathetic account of it.
It's hard to describe scientifically, but it makes people happy, especially when the furry sex dolls can satisify their fantasies.
Let's continue to discuss the fursuits sexual or the ferry sex doll.
I knew a
Dominic Rodriguez, director of a new documentary on the "furry" subculture - as well as an active participant - states, "When I thought about getting a suit, it felt like an intuitive decision for myself," as stated by Much.
But seriously," he replied, "the suit is absolutely breathtaking; much better than expected and I don't want to ruin its elegance with oral sex. However, putting it on could still provide immediate pleasure if desired."
Furries (also referred to as Furry Culture or Fangculture) have long been the subject of scrutiny since emerging into public view in the 90s. Misconceptions and attacks against them remain rampant; such perceptions were addressed extensively within this film. But just what does someone inside Fungi culture consider themselves?
"[Furry fandom] encompasses anyone interested in animals with humanlike features," states Rodriguez. Many members enjoy dressing up in animal costumes for conventions like Anthrocon in Pittsburgh every June where more than 6,000 furries gather together.
Initial portrayals of furries -- in everything from Vanity Fair articles and episodes of "CSI," as well as appearances on "Dr. Phil" and "The Tyra Banks Show," etc -- often depict them in terms that were either too extreme for mainstream consumption (for instance that many members found their suits turning them on), or too demeaning of an aspect. With "Fursonas," available exclusively through iTunes starting Tuesday night and featuring several members from this community--most own elaborate costumes (some costing thousands), and all wish not be perceived as freaks by mainstream audiences.
However, Rodriguez does not shy away from broaching the topic of sexuality - an issue which has long plagued fandom culture. "For some it can be an entirely innocent, nonsexless experience; that may be part of what they enjoy about it. Personally I find the sexual aspect an integral component to fandom but cannot speak as to its importance for other fans."
Sexuality plays a large part in fandom for me -- I can't comment on its significance for those outside my own personal circle - Dominic Rodriguez
Rodriguez owns a "partial wolf suit", comprising of head, arms, legs, feet and tail. Over four years he spent creating this film project; during which time he met and fell in love with another furry, in the form of a lion! "We have now been together two and half years," notes Rodriguez. "Making this movie helped me feel more at peace with who I am as an individual.
Rodriguez says coming out as a furry wasn't as difficult for him than it may be for other. "Fortunately," he notes, "my family and friends have been extremely accepting. And they've given nothing but support." Still, Rodriguez admits: "I knew my parents would accept my choice -- although at first it felt embarrassing!"
His interest in furries began during his early teens. "I was totally immersed," he recalls, and that is not something to feel ashamed about; furry porn is beautiful in its artistry - you can see their personalities coming through on each piece created. Unlike videos showing people kissing one another it doesn't dehumanize people but brings humanity into an otherwise completely fantasy experience." Growing up among cartoons and the internet makes it understandable why some individuals may become interested in becoming cartoon animals themselves.
"Less anxiety gets in the way," Rodriguez points out, as people think more and experience higher anxiety than animals do when engaging in sexual acts. Animals simply take action without question or consideration while people must think more before initiating sexual relations - otherwise their boners could get rattled and end their session prematurely!
Rodriguez includes in "Fursonas" an interview with Bad Dragon's founder Varka who makes furry sex toys that include horse or canine-shaped dildoes as dildoes; these items come from his art studio located near Paris. According to Rodriguez, Varka is considered an "artist."
But as the author emphasizes, each furry is unique -- for many sex does not factor into it at all. Some view wearing fur suits to conventions as just another hobby; other see it as their identity -- one man featured in "Fursonas" even petitioned the courts to legally change his name to Boomer the Dog! Some furries consider themselves full time while some only dabble occasionally.
Rodriguez places herself somewhere in between these extremes: she wears her suit occasionally but not all the time around the house, not daily but whenever it hits. "Some may argue 'Oh we don't wear these suits around; only crazy people do that'; while for others this identity signifier may become essential to their sense of well-being and comfort," says Rodriguez.
Rodriguez endeavors to capture the excitement and camaraderie found at furry conventions, where thousands of adherents -- many wearing suits while others don't -- gather for panels, dances and more. Rodriguez sees these events as great social equalizers: "[You'll have these strange adventures], meeting someone new all day; then finding them again when their cell phone's been taken by someone with fur-covered paws on; at the end of it all you realize that you had no clue who these strangers had been until it hit them: 'Oh they're Chinese!'."
"Furries come in all sorts of flavors: Some wear costumes but continue acting normally; while others use animal sounds or make animal noises when communicating." According to Rodriguez, his favorite type involves talking a lot - "one unwritten rule says if your costume's jaw moves then so should your words. If not then keep quiet."
Rodriguez hopes that her film can give audiences who know little or nothing about furries or find them creepy an understanding of these people as people rather than labels they may already hold about them. "There will always be people you cannot convince; watching my movie won't change their opinion at all, says the director. My hope would be for anyone non-furry to even just gain some respect for these individuals as individuals -- especially as we now discuss identity politics whereas furries may once again appear on 'CSI' episodes in future decades! The world has changed! We no longer use labels when talking about people and labels can no longer apply so easily!
