“Foreplay” is defined as all those sexual activities and practices that do not involve penetration, such as oral sex, manual stimulation, kissing, caressing and even masturbation. Actually, such a concept is much questioned; indeed, believing in the existence of a clear distinction between the foreplay and the actual phase, of penetration/sexual intercourse risks to create an hierarchy, which does not need to exist in order for people to enjoy a satisfying sexual experience. For example, there are many people who will never experience vaginal penetration in their sexual life (for example. because they are not interested, because they are not attracted to this kind of practice, because they might have health problems, etc…). However, they will never be deprived of the completeness and satisfaction of their sexual life, because penetration is not the only “real sex” and neither the penetration of a penis into a vagina is. This does not mean that you are forced to stop calling it “foreplay” nor that you have to stop making distinctions between it and penetration, if that is what you feel most comfortable with or enjoy. What matters is to be aware that there are many ways you can explore a sexual practice and none is less important than another.
