Sexually Suggestive Gesture
I have a question for my readers. Namely, what is the significance and/or common cultural context of this sexually suggestive gesture-and-maneuver where a woman wags her tongue between her spread fingers?
I, myself, have only seen this done “in the wild” on one occasion, when it was directed at me by a street-walking prostitute outside the entrance to the Sputnik Hotel in Moscow in the late 1980s. In that context, it appeared to be a sexual come-on designed to transcend language barriers. But I’ve been told that it is also used, in certain times and places, as a rude gesture, like the almost universal “middle finger” or the old Roman fig.
It seems to suggest pussy licking, which strikes me as equally odd for a prostitute or for the deliverer of an insult. Unless, as in insult, it is supposed to suggest “you lick pussy” and stems from times or cultures where that might be considered an insult to a man’s virility?
I’d google it, but I don’t know what to call it. So, what’s the verdict? What does it mean to you, and why?
Shorter URL for sharing: https://www.erosblog.com/?p=1981
I’ve seen it used numerous ways.
I’ve seen it used by those who dislike lesbians (god knows why) to insult someone, as you guessed.
It can also be used as a sort of offer, not so much in a “do you want me to lick your cunt?” type of thing, but almost an in your face offer, if that makes sense.
Its about as interperative as sliding a finger in and out of a closed fist, it can mean many things, but it does imply cunnilingus. I’m not sure how the meaning would change between a man doing and a woman doing it, but I do think it would change the meaning.
It was used in the movie King Pin with Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Bill Murray and Vanessa Angel.
Woody Harrelsons land lady uses it towards him. The woman was not exactly pretty, and he was forced to lick her pussy for rent money. His recurring nightmare after that includes her making this gesture.
Is that Rosario Dawson from Clerks II?
I’ve always thought it was meant as a harassing insult about cunnilingus, something maybe a stereotypical construction worker would do to a passing woman.
Dan:
Yes that is Rosario Dawson from Clerks II.
As ID said it can be used as a nightmarish reminder of service due like in that movie.
I however have seen it used as an insult very rarely. In my experience it has been used more as a mean of broadcasting an offer to a woman. The person doing said gesture stating that they participate in cunnilingus and would like to do so toward the individual they are directing the gesture toward. However it has become much less frequent within the past ten years or so, at least in my environment.
I’ve only seen the maneuver twice. The first time was in the very early eighties when a now popular female rock icon had just broken away from her first band and was touring smaller venues with her new group. This time a bar in a small to medium-sized city. From a table near the front I saw her flash an evil grin into the audience. Following her sparkly-eyed gaze, I saw a fan wagging his tongue at her from between his upthrust middle and ring finger, with his thumb pinky and index finger curled beneath his chin. I’d never heard of this symbol before but I got it instantly knowing the recipient’s already bad reputation… The second time that I saw it, some time in the nineties, it was girl-to-girl and delivered with the full (backwards) Vulcan “Live long and prosper” four fingers up, palm facing the chin, and thumb under the lower jaw. Unlike the Rosario Dawson version, this was again with tongue wagged between the ring and middle finger. I too would assume the Moscow incident was a come-on, though given by a driver who’d just cut me off in traffic, I would take it as an insult.
I’ve only ever seen it used in seriousness as an insult, from one guy to another. I remember guys in high school doing this to other guys as if to say “you’re a wuss.”
however, I’ve also seen it used jokingly as a mock come-on — most often from one girl to another.
During the San Francisco Pride Parade a couple of weeks ago, someone in the crowd directed this either at me, or someone else in our contingent, or maybe our contingent in general, I don’t know. It seemed to be a compliment, or a kind of cheering gesture. We took it as a compliment, anyway.
i think it’s usually an offer for sex…
But then again, a Russian prostitute? Maybe she had a few sips of vodka in her, maybe she was deranged? Do tell more about this trip!
For sure its pussy licking.
Somebody just did that to me recently. I was walking to work and a guy was driving past me at an intersection and made this gesture. He was pudgy and pasty and driving a 1984 hatchback. I was not flattered.
Wasn’t it used in an episode of “Sex and the City”? I seem to recall the Samantha character using it derisively to refer to her then lover and his cheating ways.
In my experience, it is often used as a half-joking come on in lesbian circles. I have been known to use it myself on occasion to ask a lover for a certain something ;)
Chris Onstad nails it in the alt text of an Achewood comic- “the acrimonious, universal signifier of insincere cunnilingus.”
http://achewood...52005
In what context does Rosario Dawson use this gesture in “Clerks II”? My experience of this gesture being directed female to male has been as a come-on not an insult. And it, um, generally works quite well…
In some dialects of American Sign Language, it’s the sign for cunnilingus. There are regional dialects, so I don’t know how widespread it is, but it was once included in the “dirty signs” lesson in a sign language class.
I’ve seen this gesture used only once, and my impression was that it was *both* a come-on and a mocking gesture at the same time.
The Victoria’s Secret girl shown here: http://tuff-tit...rade/ in the yellow dress, seems to be doing a variation on this theme (It helps to enlarge the photo…).
My fantasy is that the girl beside her, who has encircled her waist with her arm, is her lover, and the gesturing gal is teasingly announcing it to all concerned…
A more detailed depiction can be seen if you click on the link in comment #5 seen here:
http://www.eros...ments