Knickers, (panties)




Down to earth, literal, concrete meanings, forward,backward ('longnitudinal') meanings, t.r.a.


I. General functions of clothes are:-

(a) to protect the body, or part of it, from adverse environmental conditions, from discomfort or actual physical damage, from impact by hard surfaces, excessive heat, or cold, or harmful chemicals, or viruses or bacteria, or radiation, etc
(b) to prevent the body, or part of it, from being seen by others,to keep the person modest etc., especially in the case of clothes covering certain parts of the body, e.g. genitals, or breasts in older girls
(c) to protect outer clothes from getting soiled, in the case of underclothes?
II. Specific functions of knickers are :-

(a) to cover bottom and genitals, keep them warm, etc
(b) to keep the girl modest etc.
(c) to protect outer clothes from getting soiled?
(Note that the above covering functions also mean that the function of the body part covered may be impeded, e.g. wearing knickers makes it difficult to defecate appropriately, or use the vagina to have sex or to masturbate and so will often be removed or at least moved out of place, if these activities are to be engaged in).

Particular types of clothing for particular body parts will derive their meanings and associations from that body part. In turn the putting of the item on, or the taking off, of the item will derive a meaning. For example
knickers- taking them off, or pulling them down, might be the prelude to urinating, or defecating, or masturbating, or having sex or changing this item of clothing. A t.r.a. example of the last is where a child pulls down her knickers, and perhaps trousers, in front of an adult to show that she wants them changed, (she may have wet them).
Positive or negative functions achieved by putting clothes on , may of course be reversed by taking them off, so for example clothes can keep us warm, so if we want to cool down we take them off. They can keep us modest, so if we wish to exhibit ourselves sexually we remove them.
Taking all the clothes off may be the prelude to taking a bath, or shower, or having sex, or changing into other clothes
The association of an item of clothing with the part of the body it is designed to cover might result in the psychological phenomenon of fetishism. Typical cases involve knickers, shoes, etc. Via classical or sign conditioning these items come to arouse sexual feelings.
Note that although an item of clothing would seem to primarily serve the aims of modesty certain varieties of such items may have the reverse effect, and actually be stimulating. For example
the tight sweaters of the 1950's
tight jeans
semi-transparent knickers, or bras
certain colors of garments, e.g. red, or black underwear
frilly panties and other undergarments
These last two might be seen as having a remote connection with the characteristics of the female genitals
And by covering one area, one may focus attention on another, and this might become sexualised

More remote, 'vertical' meanings, 'Freudian' psychoanalytic meanings



I. General meanings of clothes:-

For various reasons, e.g. in view of typical actions done by the parent to/for the child, (the parent dresses the young child), these can represent:-

the MOTHER.

II. Specific meanings of knickers:-