Intercrural sex

History and modern practice

In ancient Greece, intercrural intercourse was a common manifestation of pederasty, with young men forbidden from engaging in any other form of sex with older men. Its prominence in such relationships is undetermined, and anal sex may have been more common. By the early-AD era, the practice declined as sex with women became more encouraged. Intercrural sex was depicted on vases in so-called "courting scenes" and discussed by writers; after the 5th century BC, visual depictions were sparse and almost exclusively on black-figure pottery.

Zeno of Citium and Aristophanes referenced the act, with Aristophanes first documenting it in a heterosexual context. Aeschylus' play Myrmidons implies adult men engaging in it. Joan Roughgarden called it the "gay male missionary position" of Ancient Greece. Historical sodomy laws included intercrural intercourse; in 15th-century Italy it was part of sodomy's reputation, and in renaissance Venice capital punishment was considered for the initiating partner.

Medieval penitentials highlighted it as sinful, while early Christianity regarded it as more respectable than anal sex. Islamic jurisprudents considered it "reprehensible," but its lesser status led to avoidance of harsh punishments. In early modern English, writers called it "rubbing" or "frigging." Literary works and satire depicted it, possibly encouraging the act. The trial of Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven in 1631, which resulted in his execution, mentioned intercrural sex and took on significant cultural prominence, likely shaping a perception of it as the main method of sex between men.

Etymology

The term "intercrural sex" was introduced by Kenneth Dover in his 1978 book Greek Homosexuality to describe sexual activity between an older man and a young boy. The Ancient Greek term for the practice was διαμηρίζειν, meaning "to do [something] between the thighs." Webster's Dictionary defines it as placing the penis between the other partner's closed thighs and thrusting to create friction. Synonyms include coitus interfemoris, thigh sex, and interfemoral sex. Kang Tchou of Cambridge University notes that Dover's definition resembles the idea of "heavenly love" articulated by Pausanias, which encourages a stable lifelong relationship and enhances the younger boy's intellectual development.

Statistics

In a 1994 study by Hickson et al., intercrural sex occurred in five of 219 male sexual assault cases reviewed in England and Wales. In 2014 in Sri Lanka, 18 of 270 medically examined sexual assault instances involved intercrural intercourse, with no physical injuries to victims; these assaults occurred when victims were between ages 4 and 19. An earlier study of boys aged 14 to 19 in Colombo District found intercrural sex was the second-most common form of abuse before oral sex, with 20 of 52 reported cases involving it. A 1957 analysis of 148 sexual offenders in the United States who assaulted children under 14 found 6% committed offenses via intercrural intercourse.

Another study two decades later observed "intercrural ejaculation" as a common way of sexual expression in pedophiles. In child sexual abuse cases, there are usually no physical signs. A 1973 study showed only 3 of every 10 boys and 4 of every 10 girls aged 14 thought intercrural intercourse could not result in pregnancy, so it is not recommended as contraception.

Education

In Nigeria, 13 of 298 HIV-positive respondents said the disease could be transmitted through intercrural sex, 30 said no, and 255 were uncertain. Intercrural sex has been reported as a safe means of sex preventing HIV transmission and is lower-risk than peno-vaginal sex. Epprecht (2019) noted that mine marriages involved intercrural sex with no danger of sexually transmitted infection.

Mistry & Jha (2015) wrote that because there is no anal or vaginal penetration, it is regarded as safe regarding pregnancy. In South Africa, intercrural sex was seen as a method of preventing AIDS transmission; a 1997 study found 12.5% of girls suggested it to avoid AIDS. It was once the most common contraception for rural adults in South Africa. By 2012, Mary van der Riet noted a shift from intercrural sex to injectable contraceptives, which set up conditions for condom use in response to HIV and AIDS.