Tribadism or
tribbing, also known by the slang term
scissoring, is a form of
non-penetrative sex in which a woman rubs her
vulva against her partner's body for sexual stimulation.
[1][2] This may involve female-to-female
genital contact or a female rubbing her vulva against her partner's thigh, arm or stomach; it can also refer to a
masturbation technique in which a woman rubs her vulva against an inanimate object such as a
bolster, in an effort to achieve
orgasm. The term is most often used in the context of
lesbian sex, but is not exclusive to
lesbians.
Until the 20th century, the term was used to refer to lesbian sexual practices in general. Therefore, lesbians were occasionally called tribades.[3]
This position is not exclusive to humans. Females of the bonobo species, found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also engage in female-female genital sex, usually known as GG rubbing (genito-genital).[4][5]
As with any exchange of bodily fluids during sexual activities, tribadism has the potential to transfer sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) if those are present in one or more of the partners. Participants have the option of safe sex practices.[6]
