Sexual Taboos: 3 Types of Taboo Sex Acts Explained

By: Sam Pirson , August 5, 2024

Raised eyebrows and side glances are kind of commonplace when discussions of sexual pleasure arise. While sex positivity and vanilla sex are largely normalized in the mainstream, some sex acts are met with shame or judgment. They’re taboo.

There are still all different types of taboo sex, but keep reading and we’ll give some background on pegging, anal, and voyeurism.

What is taboo sex?

“Taboo sex” refers to sexual activities or behaviors that are typically considered socially or culturally prohibited, controversial, or unconventional to a specific community or society at large. Taboo sex can evoke strong reactions and often involves elements of secrecy, stigma, or moral judgment depending on the context.

For example, statistically heterosexual anal sex is not uncommon with 30% of women and 35% of men reporting having tried it. Yet, in plenty of circles or in larger conversations it’s met with judgment, disdain, and even homophobia. This is what sexual taboo looks like.

Some sexual taboos are considered kinks and fetishes

Some sex taboos are also well-known kinks or fetishes, but not all kinks, fetishes, or desires are taboo. For example, spanking and role playing power dynamics like teacher and student fit under the BDSM umbrella but are not at all taboo. Whereas, a kink like golden showers are much more taboo and evoke some sort of response from those uninterested in it from shock and disgust to shame.

Sexual fetishes are more of a fixation or attraction. Kinks are sexual practices or behaviors that are subjectively considered “abnormal.” Sex taboo acts are typically considered unacceptable or shameful.

Below, you’ll see how there aren’t always clear-cut lines as to categorizing sex, and when it comes to pegging, anal, and voyeurism, it’s received and participated in a range of ways.

Three types of taboo sex acts & kinks

Nowadays, sex acts become more normalized through word of mouth, being featured in the media and across conversations on social media. Curiosities arise as these conversations make their way into the bedroom (or wherever sex is happening).

Pegging, anal sex, and voyeurism are not all that uncommon, yet the basics and the desire for them are not always widely understood. Below, we’ll walk you through each.

1. Pegging

Pegging is when a woman wears a strap-on and has penetrative anal sex with her male partner. It’s two-fold in that it stimulates the male g-spot or prostate gland, and it subverts the traditional gender roles of the man penetrating the woman.

It’s essential to have plenty of lube available. For newbies, consider starting with a smaller toy or butt plug during foreplay. Move slowly at first and generously apply lube as the anus does not get moist like a vagina does. Lastly, the receiver must relax, and no one should be weird or judgemental about any unexpected poop.

Why is pegging a sex taboo?

It’s typically considered taboo or met with some pushback in terms of men’s view of their masculinity. Oftentimes, it threatens it with the question of whether they’re homosexual because of the anal penetration, and it undermines the outdated notion that men should be dominant during sexual intercourse.

2. Giving or receiving anal sex

Anal sex is any sex where something is inserted into the anus for pleasure. It can be a sex toy, finger or penis. For men receiving, there’s the potential of a prostate orgasm. For men giving it, the anus offers a different sensation than the mouth during oral or the vagina. For women receiving it, it also affords a far different sensation than penis to vagina penetration.

Similar to the basics for pegging, lube is crucial. Everyone should move slow and consider a butt plug before a toy or penis. When a woman is receiving, it’s important not to penetrate her with the same toy or penis back and forth between her anus and vagina without properly cleaning in between.

Why is anal sex taboo?

Anal sex is considered taboo in some circles because of the perceived uncleanliness. And, much like pegging, narrower-minded ideas of masculinity undermine men’s sexuality if they enjoy anal pleasure.

3. Voyeurism

Voyeurism is when someone is aroused by watching others in intimate or sexual acts. This can include undressing, sexual activities, or other private actions. The voyeur is typically more turned on by the act of watching than participating or touching anyone they are watching and pleasure themselves or masturbate while watching one or multiple people.

Responsibly done, this would include consent from a partner or group of people undressing or performing sexual acts on each other while the voyeur watches.

Why is voyeurism a sex taboo?

Without consent, this is where the concept of a Peeping Tom arose, which is inherently taboo. Watching someone without them knowing is largely illegal, which offers an obvious reason it is stigmatized or taboo. However, consensually it can be considered taboo simply due to it being abnormal or considered an infringement of privacy of the other parties. But, some people are exhibitionists and like to be watched (which can also be considered taboo.)

Other types of taboo sex acts to explore

Whether or not certain types of sex acts are considered taboo is truly subjective, but it’s typically a departure from traditional sexual norms or due to the contexts in which they occur. Beyond pegging, anal sex, and voyeurism, there are tons of obscure, lesser-known taboos, but these are the ten most common ones that still evoke a reaction from the mainstream.

Masochism: Deriving sexual pleasure from experiencing pain, humiliation, or suffering, often within consensual and negotiated boundaries.

Foot fetishes: A sexual attraction or interest in feet, where an individual derives sexual arousal from the appearance or touching of feet.

Sadism: Deriving sexual pleasure from inflicting pain, humiliation, or suffering with a consenting partner or partners.

Exhibitionism: Sexual arousal from exposing one’s body or sexual acts to others, often in a public or semi-public setting, typically with the intention of eliciting a response, gaining attention, or being seen.

Group sex: Consensual sexual activities involving more than two participants simultaneously, like having a threesome.

Raceplay: A form of role-playing that involves incorporating racial stereotypes, dynamics, or themes into sexual scenarios, often to explore or eroticize aspects of racial identity or power.

Ageplay: A form of role-playing in which parties act out scenarios involving different ages, typically by assuming roles or behaviors associated with a specific age group and power dynamics.

Light bondage: A gentler version of bondage aimed to enhance sexual pleasure by subtle restriction or sensory deprivation which can include blindfolding or lightly binding wrists.

Choking sex: Incorporating light choking or air restriction during sex.

Period sex: Having sexual intercourse when a woman is menstruating.

Find a partner who enjoys sexual taboos & kinks

The idea that some sexual acts are taboo is entirely subjective, and those taboos may exist in public settings much more than in private ones. You can find a variety of partners with a range of desires, sexual taboo interests, and kinks alike, on Instabang.com. Sign up and share your interests to find the right sexual partners to explore with. Being aligned will allow you to free yourself of society’s views limiting the bedroom.