Has anyone noticed that ballet is a fetish among some men? These are men who like to wear ballet clothing (including pointe shoes) around the house, etc, usually in imitation of a "ballerina" image, often one that was created in childhood (graphic details spared for polite company).

Any theories over how this arose? I think it must have something to do with the way the ballerina was developed in the 19th Century as a not-quite-attainable "creature from another world", a kind of high-class backstage prostitute.

I know, ballet fetish is a topic that most people serious about ballet have absolutely no interest in talking about, it's an embarassment of sorts to our fine art. But I'm not so sure it's an illegitimate subject, since it seems likely that ballet fetish arose as a result of something that has been done regarding the production and promotion of ballet over time. Thus, it may not be extrinsic to the art of ballet, but somehow integrally linked to it.