Voyeurism

Voyeurism is a practice in which an individual derives sexual pleasure from observing other people. Such people may be engaged in sexual acts, or be nude or in underwear, or dressed in whatever other way the "voyeur" finds appealing.

Related Topics:
Sexual pleasure - Sexual acts - Nude - Underwear

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Voyeuristic practices may take a number of forms but its characteristic feature is that the voyeur does not directly interact with the object of their voyeurism (often unaware that they are being observed), instead observing the act from a distance, peeping through an opening, and/or using techniques like binoculars, a mirror, camera (including camera phone and video camera), etc., and this stimulus becomes part of a masturbation fantasy during or after the observation.

Related Topics:
Binoculars - Mirror - Camera - Camera phone - Video camera - Masturbation

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Some voyeurs derive sexual pleasure from looking up skirts or trousers, known as an upskirt. This can be accomplished by camera or simply by a chance viewing when a person sits down. Some voyeurs also derive pleasure by looking down shirts and viewing breasts, particularly when a person is bending over. This is commonly referred to as a downblouse.

Related Topics:
Upskirt - Breasts - Downblouse

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When done openly it may be tolerated or even appreciated, especially if the person(s) viewed is/are exhibitionist. However, non-consensual voyeurism is an invasion of privacy.

Related Topics:
Exhibitionist - Privacy

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Voyeurism is considered to be deviant and even a sex crime in some cultures, most frequently practiced by males, and is tolerated to some degree in certain societies depending upon the circumstances (e.g., adolescent "Peeping Toms" and the UK dogging craze).

Related Topics:
Deviant - Sex crime - Peeping Tom - Dogging

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In the United Kingdom, non-consensual voyeurism became a criminal offence on May 1, 2004, under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - May 1 - 2004 - Sexual Offences Act 2003

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Some institutions such as gyms and schools, have banned camera phones because of the privacy issues they raise in areas like changerooms. Saudi Arabia, banned the sale of camera phones nationwide for a period of time, but reallowed their sale in 2004. South Korea requires that all camera phones sold in the country make a clearly audible sound whenever a picture is taken.

Related Topics:
Changeroom - Saudi Arabia - 2004 - South Korea

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