Chastity belt

A chastity belt is a locking item of clothing designed to prevent sexual intercourse or masturbation. Such belts were historically designed for women, ostensibly for the purpose of chastity, to protect women from rape or to dissuade women and their potential sexual partners from sexual temptation. Modern versions of the chastity belt are predominantly, but not exclusively, used in the BDSM community, and chastity belts are now designed for male wearers in addition to female wearers.

According to modern myths, the chastity belt was used as an anti-temptation device during the Crusades. When the knight left for the Holy Lands on the Crusades, his Lady would wear a chastity belt to preserve her faithfulness to him. However, there is no credible evidence that chastity belts existed before the 15th century, and their main period of apparent use falls within the Renaissance rather than the Middle Ages. Research into the history of the chastity belt suggests that they were not used until the 16th century, and then only rather rarely; they first became widely available in the form of 19th-century anti-masturbation medical devices.

Chastity belt (BDSM)

Chastity belts in BDSM may be used as part of a practice of orgasm control, to prevent the wearer from engaging in sexual intercourse or masturbation without the permission of the dominant, who acts as "keyholder". Chastity belts may be worn by both men and women as part of BDSM play. A chastity device may be worn for the duration of a sex play, for a limited period or as a long-term arrangement.

Purpose

The putting on of a chastity belt, by a partner, is an indication of the dominance by the "keyholder" over the wearer's sexual activities. By accepting the chastity belt the wearer accepts surrender of control over their sexual behavior to a partner, who may grant permission to the wearer to engage in sexual activity by removing the belt. The dominant may decide when, where, how, how often, and even if, the submissive is allowed sexual release.

The wearer of the belt is regarded as the submissive in a BDSM relationship. This is a part of the wider practice of orgasm denial. Some claim it increases submissiveness in men. It has often been reported that when worn, the chastity belt frequently evokes sexual frustration in the wearer.

Chastity Belt (band)

Chastity Belt is an American indie rock and indie pop band consisting of Julia Shapiro, Lydia Lund, Annie Truscott and Gretchen Grimm. The band plays a style of alternative rock, rock and roll, noise pop, and pop rock music. Chastity Belt was established in Walla Walla, Washington in 2013. The group have released two studio albums, No Regerts, in 2013, and Time to Go Home, in 2015.

Background

They formed in Walla Walla, Washington during 2013, with Childbirth front woman, Julia Shapiro, as their lead vocalist and guitarists, with fellow lead guitarist, Lydia Lund, bassist, Annie Truscott, and drummer, Gretchen Grimm. They mostly take on feminine-stereotypes and customs with a humorous take on those subject matters in their lyricism.

Music history

The all-female band commenced as a musical entity in 2013, with the release, No Regerts, a studio album, on August 13, 2013, with Help Yourself Records. Their subsequent studio album, Time to Go Home, was released to positive criticism from music critics, on March 24, 2015, from Hardly Art Records.