Tribadism

Not to be confused with Tribology.
Two women rubbing their vulvas together in the missionary position

Tribadism (/ˈtrɪbədɪzəm/ TRIB-ə-diz-əm)[1] or tribbing, commonly known by its scissoring position, is a lesbian sexual practice involving vulva-to-vulva contact or rubbing the vulva against the partner's thigh, stomach, buttocks, arm, or other body parts (excluding the mouth), especially for stimulation of the clitoris.[2][3][4] A variety of sex positions are practiced, including the missionary position.[4][5]

The term tribadism originally encompassed societal beliefs about women's capability of being penetrative sexual partners.[6][7][8] Women accused of having been penetrative during sexual activity were subject to ridicule or punishment.[6][8][9] In modern times, the term typically refers to various forms of non-penetrative sex between women. It may also involve vaginal penetration by use of the fingers, a dildo or double penetration dildo.[2][8]

It is analogous to frot, which is penis-to-penis contact between men.

  1. ^ Gould, George M. (1936). Gould's Pocket Medical Dictionary (10th rev. ed.). P. Blakiston's Son & Co. Ltd.
  2. ^ a b Carroll, Janell L. (2018). Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity. Cengage Learning. p. 295. ISBN 978-1337672061. Archived from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  3. ^ Lehmiller, Justin J. (2017). The Psychology of Human Sexuality. John Wiley & Sons. p. 248. ISBN 978-1119164715. Archived from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  4. ^ a b Schell, Jude (2011). Lesbian Sex: 101 Lovemaking Positions. Ten Speed Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-1587613807. Archived from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  5. ^ Hite, Shere (2011). The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality. Seven Stories Press. p. 243. ISBN 978-1609800352. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  6. ^ a b Bonnie Zimmerman (2000). Lesbian histories and cultures: an encyclopedia (Volume 1). Taylor & Francis. pp. 776–777. ISBN 0-8153-1920-7. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  7. ^ Todd C. Penner; Caroline Vander Stichele (2007). "Still before sexuality: "Greek" androgyny, the Roman imperial politics of masculinity and the Roman invention of the Tribas". Mapping gender in ancient religious discourses. Brill. pp. 11–21. ISBN 978-90-04-15447-6. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c Halberstam, Judith (1998). Female Masculinity. Duke University Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN 9780822322436.
  9. ^ Dena Goodman (2003). Marie-Antoinette: writings on the body of a queen. Psychology Press. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-415-93395-1. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2020-11-22.