Pegging - Bend over, baby!

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Nurse Lilu with the Real-Doe Harnessless Double Dildo

Pegging is a sexual practice in which a woman penetrates a man's anus with a strap-on dildo or using one of the new harnessless double dildoes. The neologism "pegging" was popularized when it became the winning entry in a contest in Dan Savage's Savage Love sex advice column, that he held after observing that there was no common name for the act. However, while Dan's readers christened the term pegging, they did not invent the act. According to Violet Blue's research (she wrote the book, "The Ultimate Guide to Strap-on Sex for Couples", which is currently out of print, sorry!) pegging started showing up in adult movies during the early 1970's and then became increasingly popular with straight kids, once strap-on harnesses became more commercially available by the 1990s.  Continued popularity for the act of pegging?  "Perhaps straight guys are more interested in having women play with their asses because of increased awareness about prostate health," says Violet. "Or maybe, guys are just more comfortable and confident about their heterosexuality."

Physical pleasure For women, in terms of physical pleasure, her genitals may get direct stimulation from the base of the dildo, the strap-on leather or cloth rubbing on the clitoral area or in the case of a newer double-ended dildoes, both vaginal penetration and clitoral friction stimulation. A secondary vibrator, can also be used between the dildo and her genitals for added pleasure from pegging. In men, the anterior (front) wall of the anus provides direct access to a man's prostate. The prostate, for those who have never heard of it, is the seat of a man's orgasm. It is the seat of the mysterious mounting pressure that a man feels, just before orgasm hence the location the orgasm emanates.

A woman pegging a man doggy-style with a 4-strap harness and dildo

The intense stimulation of the anus, rectum, as well as the sensitive nerve endings in the ring of the sphincter muscles all add to the impact of the internal stimulation of the prostate. Most men claim they have uniquely different types of orgasm, anally, as they feel varying waves of sensations along with the rhythm and stimulation while the dildo slides in and out. Some men enjoy masturbating (or being manually stimulated) during pegging, ultimately reaching a mind blowing orgasm.

Psychological pleasure

Advice columnist Dan Savage wrote that he believes all men should try pegging at least once, as it may introduce them to a new enjoyable sexual activity and illuminate them to the receiver's perspective in sex. Given our new understanding of the natures of masculinity and femininity, we can now understand why there is no danger to a relationship if a couple chooses to engage in pegging. It is more likely to actually improve the relationship than it is to harm it, as long as both partners engage in it voluntarily and with open communication. To comfortably engage psychologically, there are a few steps needed to assure success. First, a man must be comfortable with and in his body. Oddly enough, many men have very strong fears about their anuses, such as phobias in touching or handling their anuses because of connotations of being gay, or the hygiene related to feces, or concerns about being stretching the anal opening causing incontinence. All of these are normal responses to engaging in unknown territory, but rest assured, thousands of healthy, heterosexual men are engaging in this practice... and are very happy about it. Even though hygiene is always a concern with any anal play, it is actually a fairly clean place. The basic physiology of the rectum (which is the part of the anus immediately inside the sphincter) is not used for storing feces, it is only present when you have that feeling of having to defecate. Therefore, if you don't feel like you have to defecate, there is probably little, if any fecal matter in the rectum. In terms of keeping the outside of the anus clean, a little soap and water in the shower everyday combined with good wiping skills keeps it clean.

Dan Savage, who coined the term, believes all men should try  pegging at least once.

The anal opening actually has a set of two muscle groups, an internal and an external sphincter. Our body has conscious control of the external sphincter muscle, while the internal one is involuntary. Basically, this allows for exercising the outer sphincter to increase muscle tone, avoiding any sort of incontinence issues. Just like all other muscles in our body, the more they are used, the stronger they become. Therefore, anal play can actually make the anus muscles stronger!

Although there are certainly many more benefits, a very important psychological factor is that pegging helps a man understand the complexities of emotions and intricacies of the woman response to penetration. This understanding can help him to better appreciate what his partner feels, both physically and emotionally during sex. It may also help explore variations of positions or thrusting techniques, to share on a deeper (pun not intended) level the results of being on the receiving end.

Likewise, the many benefits for women begin with an understanding about what it feels like to be the penetrative partner. There is also the pure joy of knowing you have given your partner a uniquely exquisite pleasure. This carries through the power exchange role play that can exhilarate and add a new confidence to the couple's dynamic, ultimately enhancing communication. Being open and honest about your desires and needs helps your partner to be more open and honest about their own, which builds a much stronger relationship of trust and understanding, in so many other aspects of life, as well.

Instructional materials

A few instructional movies and books have emerged in recent years, including Bend Over Boyfriend (1998), co-produced by Fatale Media, Inc., and created and directed by Shar Rednour and Jackie Strano, SIR Video Movies co-founders. Bend Over Boyfriend originally inspired Dan Savage to call the act 'BOB' but his readers subsequently voted on the winning term, pegging. And for the more advanced and more " rockin' and less talkin' "... Bend Over Boyfriend 2 (1999).

The American adult film director and sex educator Tristan Taormino released an instructional pegging movie in 2009 by Vivid Entertainment Studio,  Expert Guide to Pegging, featuring a detailed explanation about male anal pleasure and strap-on dildo sex. In it, she teaches a workshop with instructions and skills for safe and pleasurable female on male anal sex, along with three scenes, in which pairs of adult film actors explore different sexual devices and positions for pegging.

As an accomplished author of numerous sex guides and informational books on various sexual taboos, Violet Blue wrote and released The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex.

Pegging in Adult Films

Pegging has recently been featured in a number of adult movies; the first pegging scene (long before the term was developed) appears to have been in the semi-documentary 1970 film Myra Breckinridge, based on the novel of the same name by Gore Vidal, although it was not explicit. The first explicit female to male anal penetration scene is believed to have occurred in the 1975 adult film The Opening of Misty Beethoven.

Female-to-male strap-on pornography became a flourishing industry in the U.S. in the early 21st century, with a number of studios producing dedicated series about it. Adult titles include Strap It On (black women on white men), Babes Balling Boys, (with sixteen editions), Strap Attack, Strap-on Sirenz, Strap-on Chicks, Boss Bitches, (with over two dozen editions), various movies produced by LEDA Studios, and San Francisco-based Men In Pain. Several hundred exclusively pegging titles were developed, as well as twice as many bisexual and straight films with strap-on scenes. Well-known female porn stars who professed an enjoyment of pegging their male partners include Taylor Wane, Brittany Andrews, and Monique Covét. When questioned about her particular kink Covét replied, "If we women have to take it from behind, then why not a man?"

Examples from popular culture and the arts

• The 2008 film Zack and Miri Make a Porno features pegging between characters played by Traci Lords and Ricky Mabe.
• There is a depiction of pegging in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch. The dildo used in the scene is called a Steely Dan III, and is the source from which the musical group Steely Dan takes its name.
• The 2007 film YPF features a storyline in which a couple who feel their lovemaking has become boring over time, attempt to spice up their sex by trying pegging.
• Pegging was featured in the 2005 series of the UK comedy Peep Show (2005).
• It was featured in the television show Weeds, during the episode "Crush Girl Love Panic" (2006).
• In the pilot episode of Dirt (2007), Lucy Spiller (Courteney Cox) blackmails Prince Tyreese (Rick Fox) with photographs of him being pegged by a prostitute.
• The theatre company Pack of Others have an entire theatrical performance devoted to "spreading the word about the pleasures of prostate stimulation and strap-on sex." The show has toured nationally and won Best Comedy at the 2008 San Francisco Fringe Festival.
• Dan Savage was the guest on The Colbert Report on November 29, 2010. During the interview Savage educated host Stephen Colbert on the practice of pegging. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/366752/november-29-2010/dan-savage
• Broad City / Comedy Central (Season 2 Ep 4) Feb. 4 2015 / "To Peg or Not To Peg " Abbi calls Ilana for advice after Jeremy makes an unexpected request in the middle of their date: he wants to be pegged.