My Theory: Status Humiliation

I was reflecting on what it was about rectal temps that effected me so much and more powerfully than other medical fetish procedures. The psychology is complex, but I believe the following is part of my fascination with them.

Like most people, it definitely relates back to childhood. I grew up at a time when RTs for children were common. You had very little privacy. If you were getting you temp taken at the doctor, it would be rectal and your pants and underpants would be all the way past your knees. It was an extremely vulnerable and submissive position. You had no choice and the temp being taken rectally was a sign of status.

I describe these as "Status Humiliations" They were things that were embarrassing but more so because they were being done solely because of your status.

Your status was that of child, you had no rights, no expectation of privacy. You were a hairless little boy with a tiny pee-pee and nothing to hide from the adults of your world who dictated to you. You were helpless and completely dependent on others for your very existence. These were very powerful emotions for a child and for me, the rectal temperature was the pinnacle of "status humiliation"

Surely there are other forms of status humiliation, like early bedtimes, being bathed by another, being undressed in front of others, like when I was very young and was forced to change out of my wet bathing suit right there on the beach. Something that you would never see an adult or even an older child being expected to do. You were being embarrassed solely because of your status.

Now combine that concept with the invasive nature of the procedure and the vulnerable position it puts you in combined with the stimulation of an erotic zone, I can see how rectal temperatures can become extremely powerful fetishes for people, myself included.

If this seems interesting to the group I can share some very powerful "Status Humiliation" stories to further demonstrate my concept. Perhaps I can write a PhD thesis on this? I would love to see everyone blush when I defend my thesis.

Yes, this all involves very complex psychology for sure, and yours is an interesting post. I’ve also wondered why this is such a strong fetish for so few of us. I believe you’re on the right track though. What fascinates me is why some people are aroused and stimulated by the shame, humiliation, and punishment aspects of submitting to a rectal temp or an enema while others seem to enjoy giving and receiving them purely for the physical and psychological pleasure they engender. I remember as a kid that these kinds of procedures were always done with love and tenderness when I was ill. It was almost as if I was occasionally given “permission” to be naked and to enjoy these strange, pleasurable sensations and strong erotic feelings created by the warm hands and comforting words of a caregiver. Of course I was afraid to admit my feelings, which created guilt and confusion for a long time. But these experiences eventually translated into a harmless and pleasurable fetish as an adult in the role of giver as well as receiver. It’s just too bad that more people don’t appreciate these unique pleasures, right?

I think you're right on this. I was subject to both shots in the bottom and rectal temperatures as a child, and I hated rectal temperatures because they were "childish". Shots in the bottom weren't childish to me, because I knew my mom also got them. So even though I still had to expose my entire bottom for the procedure, it was not near as humiliating for me to get a shot, and I got them that way up until I was young adult.

But when it came to temperatures, there were clearly two jars of thermometers. The blue ones were for "big kids and grown ups", while the red ones were for us "little kids" up until we turned 13. It didn't matter how big I tried to pretend I was, when I came to the doctor it was "slide your undies down and lie on your tummy so I can take your temperature." I sometimes wanted to protest, but it would do no good, and just draw even more attention to the situation and make it last longer. So I would just lay down, lift up, and quickly yank them down hoping it would speed things up. It was a strange feeling laying there, bottom bared, with the nurse poking a cold, slimy thermometer in. After it was over, you had a slimy bottom to remind you that you were still a baby. I could ask to wipe up and be spared from this humiliating reminder, but the wiping would be done right there with a tissue... just in case the doctor comes, he can't be kept waiting.

The last time it was taken rectally, I was deathly afraid the girl I had a crush on would somehow find out I had my temp taken the "baby way". I just knew the way I walked was going to give it away, or my mom would let it out somehow. It was an awkward experience compounded by the awkwardness of being a child.

Karma to you rt190 for a very thought-provoking post. I like your theory of "status humiliations" since it seems to fit a number of situations. Examples:

As a child you receive a physical exam with your mom in the room. Because of your status as a child, this is accepted as normal, but wouldn't be if you were older.

As a teenage boy in high school, you are required to undress in front of other boys in p.e. class, wear certain articles of gym clothing, take a group shower after class, etc. None of these things are required of adults, but teenage children must comply with the rules based on their status.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Now expanding on my theory of "Status Humiliations." ezrider hit the nail on the head. Why are some people aroused by Status Humiliations, other excited by forcing others to submit to them and other completely indifferent?

I have noticed for me, that a lot of RT fetishes involve role play of some type possibly even age play. For my partner and I, there is definitely status humiliation play, although we never called it that until I stated thinking about it.

I confessed to my partner one day that I had an RT fetish. At first, she was put off by it and confused. For her, RTs in her childhood did create "Status Humiliation" but in a negative way. For her, she was subjected to RTs even after her younger brother had switched to oral. Her mother would attempt to take an oral temp, but for some reason that she can not explain, the temps always came out low. So her mother would close the door to the room order her to pull her pants and undies down and lay on her stomach. She would plead not to have it taken that way, but eventually she was forced to comply. She recalls this happening up until she was at least 12 years old. She agrees that this was a "status humiliation" in that she felt humiliated that she was being subjected to this procedure in spite of her status as oldest. While her brothers were never allowed into the room during her temperature taking session, it was clear to them what was happening behind closed doors. So for her early childhood she was subjected to clear status humiliation. If this had happened to me I would have strong erotic feelings about it, but for her it did not translate into a strong fetish. Just the opposite. She has such strong negative association that it took her a long time to even accept my fascination with RTs. Eventually she did surprise me and that it certainly a story for another post.

I will share the story of the first time she indulged my fetish as well as some of the most powerful "status humiliations" stories of my childhood in future posts as I get the time to write them.

Agreed. I can't stop doing this.

Here is one of the most powerful Status Humiliation stories of my childhood.

First some background. My mother was the oldest in her family. One of my aunts was the youngest and was 10 years younger than my mother. I was the youngest of my siblings and I had a cousin who was the oldest in his, but I was 2 years older than my cousin.

Confused? Why is this important?

It all started one day when my mother and aunt heard about some vaccination or something being given out for free at this health clinic in the neighborhood. I was 10 years old at the time and my cousin was 8. They decided to go together to keep each other company so my cousin and I, my aunt and mother all went to get this vaccination.

When we registered and they found out we were all together they told us to come back to the room together so the four of us went back. After some paperwork and lots of boring questions, the nurse said she would need to take our temperatures to make sure we were not running a fever prior to the injection. The nurse then asked, "How do you take their temperatures at home?" My mother immediately spoke up a said rectal, which was in fact the way I have always had my temperature taken and the way I assumed all little boys had their temperature's taken. So imagine my shock when my aunt said, "actually I take his orally."

I glanced at my cousin in a state of shock. How could my aunt be taking my younger cousin's temperature orally while I still had to have mine in my hieny? My heart began pounding in my chest at not only discovering this fact, but having it announced to my aunt, cousin and nurse like that. It was like the whole world heard. My cousin smirked a little and I felt even more humiliated. The nurse just said, "OK, that will work."

She looked at me and asked my to hop up on the table and lie down on my stomach. Tears began to build in my eyes. It was bad enough that my cousin just found out I still get it rectally like a little boy, now it was going to be taken like that in front of him. Anyway, when you a little boy, you do as you are told. So I laid down. The nurse pulled the elastic shorts I was wearing all the way down past my knees before returning for my white briefs. She then spread my cheeks and inserted the well lubricated thermometer.

She then took a second thermometer, shook it down and inserted it into my cousins mouth and asked him to keep it under his tongue. I was never so humiliated in my life as I was that day. Number 1 on the Status Humiliation list for me.

So you ask, what was all that confusion at the beginning? This situation was caused by a fluke in timing. My mother, ten years older than my aunt, was from a time when RTs were more common. Me being the youngest in comparison with my older brothers and sister appeared to still be a little boy in comparison with my oldest brother who was 19 at the time.

My aunt, being younger was more "enlightened" and her oldest, my cousin,could handle an oral thermometer so she made the switch.

Now at the time, I had wished my mother and aunt had talked about there temperature taking preferences ahead of time so that I could have been avoided this painful humiliation. Yes my cousin did tease me about it afterwards. Reminding me I was a little boy and how I looked with my pants and underpants around my knees with the thermometer sticking out while he sat comfortably in the chair with the thermometer under his tongue like a big boy.

It got even worse. First of all, when it came time to finally remove the thermometer the nurse took mine out while my cousin was still having his taken. She wiped it off declared that I had no fever. I was looking over my shoulder at her, silently pleading with her to let me get dressed, but instead she looked at me and said, "Honey, go ahead and look at the wall" I knew what that meant. I did as I was told and sure enough I felt the cold alcohol on my cheek followed by the sharp sting of the needle. It caught me by surprise and I began to cry as tears fell from my eyes. The nurse declared it over and my mother came over to help me up, help me get my pants up and to comfort me as I cried.

I heard the nurse's voice declare my cousin's temperature normal so I quickly glanced over to him waiting to see his pants and underpants come down for the shot. Imagine my outrage when she started rolling up his sleeve. She gave him the injection and he yelped, but he did not cry full blown tears like I did.

I was so outraged at this injustice that I asked my mother "How come I had to get my shot in my bottom while he got it in the arm?"

The nurse overheard me asking my mother and said, "Oh, sorry honey. I actually prefer giving these in the bottom on little kids, but we can give them in the arm as well. I would have given it to you in the arm too, but I figured since you already had your pants down I would give it to you in your bottom."

Well, if that was meant to make me feel better it didn't. I felt 10 times worse after that comment.

And that is the story one of the(worst/best) Status Humiliations of my life. I have not had one as powerful as that since. My mother did continue to take my temperature rectally after that until I turned 13. Now when she took my temperature I no longer just saw it as a necessary medical procedure. From that day on it became a Status Humiliation. Every time I had to pull my pants down and lay on my stomach with my bottom exposed as the well lubricated thermometer found its mark, thoughts of my cousin sitting with the thermometer under his tongue shot through my head. At the time it hurt to think that my cousin had a higher status than me. Today, I get hard every time I think of it.

I am glad you brought this up about status humilation. RT has been a life long fetish for me and while I always dreaded and hated it, and protested I still had it done repeatedly. I relate to everything you said. I was watched by younger sibs and other adults, and no privacy was provided, doors left open etc. It was the most humiliating embarrassment ever and at the same time has turned into a big turn on for me. I like taking others temperatures. I would also like to understand more from someone professional about how these things get to be a turn on.

Here is a quick story then,

I was studying to become a Paramedic which required I spend time in the hospital ER shadowing nurses. We had an 8 year old boy come in with abdominal pain, vomiting, involuntary guarding of the abdomen. In other words, all the classic symptoms of acute appendicitis. We were in triage at the time and the nurses wanted to get a temperature on him. His father insisted we take it orally and we made two attempts to take it, but he kept retching. We apologized but had no choice but to take it rectally. I felt bad for him, not because we had to take his temperature rectally, but because in Triage, there is not a whole lot of privacy. We had the poor kids pants and undies down to his knees and with a curtain that can't close 100% and with everyone walking by knowing exactly what was going on as we completely explained the procedure to him.

To tell you the truth, the poor kid was in such discomfort I don't think he cared. The poor father, however, looked like he was going to faint. The only good thing is that these new electronic thermometers are quick. We had a reading (of 102.2) in less than a minute.

Ironically enough, I do not consider this a "Status Humiliation" in that the rectal temperature was medically necessary and not done because of the boy's status, but because of the condition he was in. The father however, acted as if this was a status humiliation. He requested we take an oral to protect his son's dignity, but we could not do that. In this case, it was not a "Status Humiliation" like it was with my cousin. We did what we had to do.

Oh, in case you are curious, yes he did have appendicitis, they operated and his is fine.

Love this topic. The humiliation factor for me does tie in with how it relates to some of my sexual cravings and fantasies. It seems wierd how that would be the case since back then during childhood I was traumatized by it. When you had your temperature taken recally and are old enough to remember it, clearly it's no wonder why it can make an impression upon ones mind. I know some are affected differenty but maybe some of the factors are because of gender. I was at age 6 when I ended up in the hospital for 4 days and having to have my temp taken every 4 hours by a usually young female nurse. Even back then I was aware of my sexuality. Of course I didn't know what sex was but I did think girls were pretty. Also being the fact that there was no modisty and you had to lay there for 4 minutes it seemed like an eternity. The nurses were all really nice but I knew not to protest or try and resist the proceedure. I would just buried my head in the pillow and pray for it to be over and hope that no one would open the door and come in. Hearing the words "roll over" can still make my face turn red when I think back on it.

I can readily relate to the humiliating experience of RTs at an early age. At age three, I was taken to the hospital for a tonsillectomy and, following check-in and assignment to a private room, was with my dad when a nurse entered to take my temperature. By that age, my mother had begun using the under-arm technique that I had become accustomed to and, when the nurse ordered me to turn on my stomach, I insisted she place the thermometer under my arm, but to no avail. I became outraged at the embarrassment I endured with my dad present, who'd insisted I obey the nurse.

At the same age, I endured my first enema, given one night on the kitchen table by both my parents. Again, I experienced both outrage and embarrassment, although this was the incident that sparked my interest in anal stimulation, curiosity for things anal, and a life-long secret craving for more enemas (but not so secret later in life).

My mother seemed obsessed that a daily BM was essential and, throughout my pre-school years, I was frequently given a dose of Fletcher's Castoria. Following that, I was required to sit on my child's potty on the kitchen floor while she went about with her work. That was mildly embarrassing, as only she and my younger brother were present. However, one morning, after receiving my dose of Castoria, an uncle showed up for a visit and I implored my mother to allow me to use the bathroom toilet, but she declined. To my extreme embarrassement, I had an uncontrollable and noisy BM while both my mother and uncle looked on.

OK, I finally got brave enough (and time enough) to relate the following story. First recall from an earlier post I wrote the following.

I confessed to my partner one day that I had an RT fetish. At first, she was put off by it and confused. For her, RTs in her childhood did create "Status Humiliation" but in a negative way. For her, she was subjected to RTs even after her younger brother had switched to oral. Her mother would attempt to take an oral temp, but for some reason that she can not explain, the temps always came out low. So her mother would close the door to the room order her to pull her pants and undies down and lay on her stomach. She would plead not to have it taken that way, but eventually she was forced to comply. She recalls this happening up until she was at least 12 years old. She agrees that this was a "status humiliation" in that she felt humiliated that she was being subjected to this procedure in spite of her status as oldest. While her brothers were never allowed into the room during her temperature taking session, it was clear to them what was happening behind closed doors. So for her early childhood she was subjected to clear status humiliation. If this had happened to me I would have strong erotic feelings about it, but for her it did not translate into a strong fetish. Just the opposite. She has such strong negative association that it took her a long time to even accept my fascination with RTs. Eventually she did surprise me and that it certainly a story for another post.

Well here is the surprise and it is very powerful and complex. My partner did eventually begin to indulge my RT fetish and occasionally took my temp RT. One day I was sick while her brother was over visiting, he was 18 at the time. I was upstairs in the guest room, which had a twin bed, while she was entertaining her brother downstairs. She came up to check on me, felt my forehead and said I felt warm and perhaps she should take my temperature. She pulled the covers all the way down to the foot of the bed then asked me to roll over. I admit I was surprised, because usually when she takes my temperature rectally it is during "play" but I was really sick. I asked her why she was going to take it rectally and she replied, "just because, besides I thought you preferred it this way?"

She was kinda right in that of course I preferred it rectally, but being sick, I was not feeling aroused at all and this was invoking powerful childhood feelings of having my temp taken while I was sick. Normally, knowing I was going to have her take my RT would give me an erection, but I remained flaccid (OK I will admit it, I have a low average size penis and I am a grower not a shower. While erect I get up to 6", flaccid it can be less than 1") It was a weird but strong feeling. The feelings were erotic, but not sexual, the kind of feelings I got as a child where you never fully understood what you were feeling, but the felt good and comforting so I rolled over.

Once I was on my tummy, she pulled the sweat pants I was wearing down and completely off leaving me in my white briefs. I felt a chill as the air hit my feverish body. Her hands returned to my briefs and she began to pull them down and off as well. She then pushed my t-shirt up to my shoulder blades (totally unnecessary for an RT, so she was obviously trying to expose as much of me as possible.)

I laid there practically naked waiting for the thermometer as my thoughts drifted back to the simpler, more innocent time of my childhood when I suddenly heard her brother's voice in the room say, "Here you go sis."

I almost turned completely over, but I remembered my 1" flaccid penis, and certainly had no desire to show that to another man (barely a man at that too, who I imagined had a much larger one then me.) But turned my head as much as I could without exposing my front and complained, why is he here? Tell him to get out! I noticed that he was carrying the thermometer and Vaseline jar. He was not smiling and had a deadly serious look on his face. My partner rubbed my back and told me it was OK, he was family and its OK for family to help each other out when they are sick. She told me not to be embarrassed and that I had nothing to be ashamed about and that I should not feel bad that I had to have my temperature taken rectally because an oral did not work right for me. I looked into her eyes then her brother's and I realized what was happening. She needed this scene to take place for very different reasons than I did.

It hit me like a brick. The trauma of her being subjected to RTs until 12 while her brother got to use oral was being replayed with me as the one getting it up the butt, while her and her brother were the "big kids" who got their's taken orally. We looked at each other and she knew I understood. Because I loved her and knew this would her her with her emotional issues, I said, OK and laid back down on my stomach like a good boy. My heart was beating in my chest knowing that he was there behind her staring at my helpless bottom waiting for the thermometer. I felt her spread my cheeks and my heart leapt and my stomach turned inside out as my bottom hole came into view, not only to her, but her brother, another male, who instinctively you never want to show weakness to. Its a primal instinct not to look weak in front of another male, part of me wanted to turn around and punch him right in the face, reminding him that no matter what he was seeing I was the alpha dog, but my love for my partner kept me on my stomach as she slowly inserted the well lubricated thermometer. I laid there for what seemed like an eternity before she finally remover it and told me my temp was 101.7 and she was going to go get some Advil.

She left the room with my still on my stomach, still practically naked. I looked over my shoulder to see her brother still standing there, still looking as serious as could be. He averted his eyes when he saw me staring at him then picked up the covers and covered me. Once I had the blankets I rolled over to face him, filled with anger. I still wanted to hurt him, but he said to me, while still looking away a little, "That was very brave of you to allow her to do that to you. I know she told you about how she hates that mom used to take her temp that way until she was 12. I don't think you realized how much this really hurt her over the years and how much she resented me for not being subjected to the same thing as a kid. I think this helped heal her wound and I am sorry you had to go through this. I want you to know that what happened today will remain between us and I will say no more about this." Hearing this softened my hatred for him a little but I snapped back a little snippy, "if she felt she had to subject someone else to this, why didn't she just take your temperature?" He immediately turned red and looked down at his feet. That's when I realized, she already did. He gulped and confessed that after I reveled that I liked having my RT taken to her, she came to him and confessed all the hatred for him that had been building over the years. She suggested to him that she be allowed to take his RT so that he would know what it felt like. He agreed to help heal their relationship. She said it helped a little, but that having him see someone he considered a strong dominate person subjected to the same thing would also help. I was of course going to be that person. She deliberately waited until I was sick correctly realizing that if I wasn't I never would have agreed to have my RT taken while he was in the house.

So I forgive her and her brother for what they did for me. The most fascinating thing, is that just like childhood, what I failed to enjoy at the moment has become one of the most powerful status humiliation memories of my life. Her brother has kept his promise. We have never discussed this since it happened. He shows respect for me and all is forgiven. While my partner and I still occasional have RT play, she has never repeated this type of stunt again.

Boy, I am sure some psychologist would have a field day with this stuff, but there you go.

Took me a while to write. I would definitely love to hear some comments and feedback.

Dear rt190 - In an earlier post where you talked about getting your RT taken in front of your younger cousin, you wrote, "At the time it hurt to think that my cousin had a higher status than me. Today, I get hard every time I think of it." So it seems you are aroused by being humiliated. Were you aroused when your partner took your RT with her brother watching? Are you aroused now by the memory of that incident?

At the time she took it in front of her brother I was not aroused at all. I can think about it today and I get all erect and excited.

That is what makes this so fascinating. No arousal when it actually is happening, but thinking back on it makes me rock hard.

This is unlike my sessions with just my partner and me which are sexual. I am aroused during the "pretend" part.

Rt190, i totally share your status of humiliation. i feel the same way about it.

This sense of status humiliation is probably why I can't forget the rectal temperature takings from my childhood. I went to a pediatrician where the cutoff for rectal temperatures was eight. When you turned eight you were switched to oral. When I turned eight however the pediatrician informed the nurses that I was a mouth breather. This meant I was at risk for corrupting the oral reading and therefore mouth breathers at this office still had rectal temps taken. In my case it lasted until I turned fourteen.

I know that the fact that each time I went to the pediatrician I dreaded what was going to happen. It was humiliating to be say eleven and in the sixth grade and know that you were going to be treated like the first graders. I would dread the command to slide your underwear down so I can take your temperature. There I was eleven having to display my private parts to the nurse like a first grader. I was filled with shame as I slid down my underpants and turned over to present my hiney to the nurse. My classmates had butts but I always felt that since I was treated like a first grader I was still presenting a hiney.

Then feeling someone spreading the cheeks of your hiney and knowing that their concentration was on your hiney hole was crushing to your status as a big kid of eleven. Then the most humiliating part was next the feeling of being penetrated by the greasy thermometer. Most kids my age did not have things poked up there anymore but here I was with something going up and then being left in there. The next five minutes all I could think about was that there is something sticking out my hiney hole because I am just like the little first graders. It was crushing.

Finally feeling the nurse pull the thermometer out of my hole meant that I could hurry and pull up my underwear but there was still more reinforcement of my shame as I felt the vaseline squish around my crack. I would be reminded the rest of the day by that feeling of what had been done to my hiney. I also was shamed as I watched the nurse take the thermometer and hold the vaseline smudged glass rod high in the air towards the light. I could not get it out of my mind that there she is holding it up in the air for all to see and knowing it had been up my hiney just seconds earlier.

Each pediatrician visit for me was therefore a status humiliating experience and I can still remember most of them.

I also agree that the humiliation factor is what makes it such a turn on. the vulnerability and anxiety. also for me, having my temperature taken rectally was my first situation of being sexually aroused. it sounds odd, but i believe i was aroused by that procedure when i was about 4 years old.

Humiliation granted, but for me the positive is vulnerability and acceptance. It was that way since I can remember and continued to this day. I am far from the Alpha type, so it fits better, but I feel there is a real sense of being human and wouldn't care for it to be any other way.

I never had my temperature taken rectally as a child, or at any other time apart from in play sessions. My family didn't even own a thermometer, rectal or otherwise - establishing temperature was done with the back of the hand on the forehead. I don't know if I've ever actually had my temperature taken for medical purposes at all. I still like it in a play context, for the reasons many people have listed, but I don't have any memories to evoke.

I think for me, the sensation of getting a rectal temp was similar to a spanking. In both cases, I would be commanded to pull my pants and shorts down, either by my mom or a nurse. However, while spankings hurt, I liked the sensation of a rectal temp once I got over the embarrassment of barign my bottom.

Definitely status humiliation and that's the appeal today as well. Being powerless, exposed and physically invaded. having my bottom exposed wouldn't have registered sexually with me in childhood, but I did understand intimate touch as a child, and feeling pleasure at being touched anally, that was not acknowledged. There is no pain and it's not a punishment, but these feelings make it punishing and arousing.Rectal temperatures are also somewhat calming; having to lie still. By contrast, I hated injections as a child; they were clearly frightening and painful. All the doctor had to do was say the word and I would be blubbering.

In another forum (supposedly non-sexual), there's a long thread on women whose husbands take their temperatures and record their weight every Sunday before or after church. Talk about ritual, and a turn-on. Not so much the weight thing.

Yes I have to admit that it is a huge turn on to be told to pull down my pants so that a woman could stick a cold glass rod in my ass because she felt it was the right thing to do.The sense of being overpowered by her authority and being told that I had absolutely no choice and knowing that I was going to take it in my ass whether I liked it or not was a huge turn on for me.

I also agree that the humiliation factor is what makes it such a turn on. It is definately the humiliation factor I enjoy, lying flat on the stomach and lying there in that state.

I agree the humiliation and consignment Is a great part of the whole wonderful mix of emotions one undergoes during an RT

John

I have allready indicated in several posts that I had my rectal temperature taken only twice in my all life outside the private sphere (alone or with girlfriend)

The first time, I was 6 or 7 and the doctor wanted to check my temp before given me a vaccine. I hated it, but Ithink I can't speak of humiliation at that age;

The second time was in the course of the school annual exam in my last year of high school. I was then 17 The school doctor, who was an attractive young woman, after the genital exam, asked me to turn around and inserted a thermometer in my rectum. .I did feel deeply humiliated, standing up with a thermometer in my ass,"like a baby" in my opinion, with not only the doctor, but also the nurse and the school psychologist watching the scene. My humiiation got worse when the psychologist made a comment about my "cute little ass". The situation caused me to burst into tears. I felt ever more humiliated, unable to control my nervous reaction; Fortunately, that was the end of the exam and the doctor let me go.

I would say the level of humiliation depends a lot of your personal psychology. Taking the exemple of this rectal temperature taking in he school medical exam,, most of my classmate, boys and also girls, did not share my feeling of humiliation and had only notice that the doctor had been very nice and friendly to them.

@rt190 In your post #12, what really struck me the most was your love for your partner and how that was illustrated. She's a very lucky woman to have such a man.

I relate to that notion of "status humiliation" and many of the examples cited below.

Like some other remarked, when I was in elementary or junior high school and going to the swimming pool with the school, we got "collective lockers": basically big rooms for males and big rooms for females, where we had to change to and from our swimming suits. In contrast the teachers had individual changing booths.

I suppose that the regular changing booths would not be enough if entire classes wanted to change at the same time. Still, having your own individual changing booth is a status symbol.

Similarly, on a school trip, the teachers got individual bedrooms and the students one big dorm. Again, I suppose it is a question of cost.

In my elementary school, the pupils had squat toilets like this one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:French_Squatter_Toilet.jpg

On such toilets, females, as well as males having a bowel movement, have to squat quite unstably on the white feet marks. I was told it's a good position to help a bowel movement, but it's sure uncomfortable. Furthermore, there was a single dispenser of toilet paper, at the restroom entrance, so you better not forget to take the right amount.

In contrast, the teachers had their own private seat toilet, the kind that everybody had at home.

I reckon squat toilets need less maintenance and can be cleaned more easily (I think you just hose them).

Now for more serious things.

At home, we used rectal temperatures. As soon as a child was old enough, perhaps 5 (not sure, maybe more), he or she would be told to take his or her own rectal tmperature under bed covers. Our parents did the same. THAT was equalitarian.

However, for reason that I don't quite know, my mom continued inserting suppositories long after I started taking my own temperature. I don't think popping a suppository in is more difficult than a thermometer. But maybe it was to check that I truly took it. (My mom had a whole protocol for medicated suppositories: I first had to try to have a bowel movement, then came the suppository, then came a sanitary pad in my briefs, in case of leaks. I felt "diapered", again, humiliating.)

Adults tended to speak about us children and our personal issues quite freely. My mom could for instance discuss my personal health issues with her sister, including the embarrassing parts (more on that below).

I recall being with my mom at a pharmacy, the clerk helping us shouted to somebody in the back "HEY DO YOU HAVE SOANDSO SUPPOSITORIES FOR CHILDREN". Everybody in the room heard that, including a little girl from my school who giggled. I strongly doubt they did that for adult medicine, out of respect for the privacy of patients (I don't imagine them shouting "HEY DO YOU HAVE SOANDSO VAGINAL SUPPOSITORIES? YOU KNOW THE ONES FOR THRUSH").

One of the worst episodes was when I got digital rectal exams for suspected appendicitis (one at home from our general practicioner, one at the hospital from somebody I assumed was the surgeon). Neither bothered to tell me "I will put my finger into your bottom", I was just told that they would feel me and that I should say if it was painful. Neither my mom told me so, even though I saw her talk with the G.P. before - she knew what was going to happen (I even think the G.P. asked her for vaseline). So I was "taken by surprise". Again, would they do a rectal exam to an adult without at least bothering to explain in what the exam consists before doing it?

I can understand that a child could not choose on such issues, but at least I could have been informed. I was something like 9, perfectly able to understand "finger in the bottom", thank you.

Another example. My cousin was diagnosed with phimosis and my mom feared I could have the same issue. Her solution? Have me disrobe in front of my aunt so that she and my aunt (my cousin's mother) could check whether my situation was comparable to his. And after my cousin got circumcised, my aunt had him show the result to my mom (!). I was luckier, I only had to put up with some checks from my mom (not much dignified either).

This was all the more vexing that my mom was cautious, even paranoid, about her own dignity. For instance, if she was to pee behind a bush (during a hike or long road trip), she would post us (my father and the children) as watchmen to check whether passersby could see her. She was apparently totally persuaded that any person, and more particularly any male, passing by, would be automatically interested in seeing... er... whatever you see when a female pees while squatting (not much). But at the same time she saw no problem in having me disrobe and show my genitals.

Where you had your temp taken wasn't usually negotiable in most homes. At least, not as a kid. Of course it's humiliating, to have your private parts exposed, and intruded upon, without your express permission. I wouldn't call it abuse in most cases, because it was done with well-meaning intentions, maybe with some exceptions. Being a minor and living under your parent's roof, or being a patient in the pediatrics ward, certainly had its drawbacks. I guess it can be compared to bondage. Being tied up and not being able to control the situation. I can picture a lot of youngsters begging to have their temp. taken orally, only to be refused, and wanting desperately to have the imposing thermometer removed from their behind.

The nostalgic effect brought by this little procedure has many explanations, some might say being helpless, and feeling that you are in someone else's control, or just not having control over this is enough to stimulate one's psychological senses. Add to that the sensitivity of the area, it all combines to reach this heightened state of excitement. Another theory might be what used to come after for us as little kids, maybe a sweet treat, or care from parents, or some form of love. That expectation becomes our main focus during the experience.

Nut job, iceman, and rt. I agree. Very nice story's