Anklet

As an ornament

An anklet, or ankle bracelet, is an ornament worn around the ankle. Anklets historically have been worn for centuries by unmarried women in India, though in the United States both casual and more formal anklets became fashionable in the late twentieth century. While in western popular culture both younger men and women may wear casual leather anklets, they are more popular among women, and more formal anklets (silver, gold, beads) are confined to women's fashion.

The anklet is meant to draw attention to the wearer's legs and feet, and it can be an aphrodisiac for foot fetishists who are aroused by the clinging sound. Anklets can be made of silver, gold, or sometimes iron. Apart from the aesthetic considerations, it is often meant for attracting the male's attention. They are sometimes worn with toerings—a ring placed on the toe in order to attract attention to the feet. However, there is debate as to what exactly is the attractant: the jewelry itself, the sound it makes or the combination. The preference most likely varies from person to person, though cultural norms might also have influence over attractant. Foot fetishists often are attracted to women who wear anklets and toe rings; some those who wear anklets do so purposely to attract such fetishists. More so, the person who is just simply aroused at anklets might have something else that is arousing him.

In Islam a woman is forbidden to wear jewelry in public designed to make noise specifically to attract men's attention. Nevertheless at home, she can wear a lot for pleasure for her husband, although some scholars disapprove of anklets because they view it as a bell, which is forbidden.

Anklets made from other less precious materials such as plastic, rope, inexpensive metals, and rubber are also available. In the western world anklets or ankle chains are mainly worn by younger females, but some older women wear them.

A survey carried out recently in the UK determined that most anklets are worn on the right ankle. The statistics were: 87% right ankle and 13% left. Perhaps this is due to more people being right-handed. This would seem to be in contract to the usual assertion that an anklet worn on a married woman's right ankle is frequently used as a "code" to publicly designate that she is a hotwife .

Anklets are of two types - flexible and inflexible. The flexible ones, often called pajeb or jhanjhar in India, are made by tying links in a chain. Subsequently, sonorous bells can be attached to the chain, in order to make pleasing sounds while walking. Inflexible ones that require less skills to make are created by giving shape to a flat sheet.

Debate about sound(s) qualifying as an aphrodisiac

However, there is debate as to if the sounds generated by anklets attract male's attention and which sounds actually work as an aphrodisiac. Some males prefer plastic, glass, or heavy filled jewelry-- such as gold or silver. It is probably known already that simple heavy metal clanking doesn't produce the soft gentle tinkling sound that sexually arouses people. Scientific tests could be performed by measuring the frequency or tone of the sound generated so in this area more research is needed.

In scuba diving

Scuba divers sometimes wear lead anklets to stop a tendency for their legs to float up when diving in a drysuit.

See also

• Foot fetishism
• Toe ring