Bottoms Up

“In actuality, it seems that most people can more comfortably discuss murder and rape than anal pleasure,” writes butt sex expert Jack Morin, author of

Anal Pleasure and Health: A Guide for Men and Women

.

It’s all God’s fault. Okay, maybe not all, but he’s the guy who took it upon himself to wipe out the entire city of Sodom. There are several theories as to why the Almighty got so worked up -- some even say it was merely a case of over-extended hospitality on the part of a coupla locals -- but the story that stuck was that the townsfolk were carrying on like a good night at your average gay club. Whatever the reason (maybe God was just feeling left out), thanks to his wrath, buggery’s gotten a bum-rap ever since.

The taboo surrounding anal sex isn’t just rooted in homophobia, however. We are the Mr. Clean society - devoted to eradicating every natural body odour and euphemizing every body function and its excretions. So a butt hole, despite being a highly erogenous and potentially accommodating orifice, is “dirty” because that’s where, well, you know, number two comes out. “It’s made for stuff to come out of, why would you want to stick anything up there?” a girlfriend stated matter-of-factly. Because everyone tells you not to, silly.

“Taboos... never really eliminate the behaviours and feelings they forbid,” writes Morin. Instead, these desires go “underground,” both individually and collectively.... In this way, a taboo gives the forbidden feeling or behaviour an inflated significance.”

As is evidenced by the glut of rectally inspired porn - Anal Angel, Hot Tales from the Backside, Analmania, Rearing Rachel, Anal Security Squad, Backing In, Backdoor Brides, the Buttman series, Backdoor Beauties, Rump Humpers, or, my personal favourite, Anal Lust 1 & 2 (Red Hot Butt Banging Poop Chute Action).

Dr Marc Ravart, a sexologist and psychologist at Montreal General Hospital and in private practice, believes anal intercourse with women is such a common theme in heterosexual pornography because it’s got that deviant edge without being too “out there.” And since men are still the primary consumers of porn, Buttman et al put ideas in their heads, and next thing you know they’re knocking at your back door, trying to convince you to “tryyy it you’ll liiike it.”

I remember being with one guy when I was much younger who wouldn’t give it up. It tugged at our lovemaking, constantly. One day I brought a cucumber to bed and said, “You first!” That slowed him down a little. I know there are plenty of women who genuinely enjoy a little “poop-chute action.” It’s just that, if the guy’s not careful, it’s potentially much more of a pain in the butt for us -- literally. Which kinda kills the enthusiasm. When you consider that, while 43 per cent of female respondents to a Men’s Health survey said they had engaged in anal intercourse, and only 40 per cent said they enjoyed it, you get a pretty good sense of whose idea it was.

“It’s easier for men to sexualize it,” Ravart believes. “There’s less association with pain, and more with pleasure.” And being such a nice, tight fit and all, he says some men believe that “if he feels it more, she’ll feel him inside her more than in her vagina. It’s very important to some men to have her feel him inside her as much as possible.”