Digitus Impudicus: The Middle Finger and the Law - Wired

1420 University of California, Davis [Vol. 41:1403
The Arab version of “the bird” is similar to the upright middle
finger. Arabs gesture with the palm down and the fingers pointing
outward, with the middle finger pointing down. 118 The nose jerk also
is used as a rough equivalent of the middle finger gesture in Arab
countries. 119 It is formed by making a peace sign with the middle and
index fingers with the palm facing the gesturer, placing the bottom of
the “V” under the nose. The gesture symbolizes sexual intercourse
and is believed to be the root of the English equivalent of the middle
finger gesture. 120 In Australia, pointing the index finger at individuals
is considered “rude” and “provocative.” 121 An equivalent gesture in
Russia is formed by bending back the middle finger of one hand with
the forefinger of the other hand. 122 This version of the digitus
impudicus is called “looking under the cat’s tail,” and is considered
extremely vulgar. 123 In Greece, Turkey, and central France, “the fig” is
an equivalent of the middle finger, and is said to symbolize the
“phallus in a taunting fashion.” 124 “The fig” is formed by pushing the
thumb through the middle and index fingers; one uses it to send the
message of “get lost,” “up yours,” or “take this.” 125 Although these
cultures consider “the fig” a boorish insult, other cultures view it as a
sexual signal or even a good-luck symbol. 126 Greeks also use a gesture
known as “moutza” to tell a person, “Go to hell!” 127 The moutza is
formed by holding the hand open with the palm facing down.
Interestingly, most Asian cultures do not have an equivalent to the
middle finger gesture, although showing someone a single, raised
pinkie finger sends the message that the recipient is a worthless
person. 128
Although this Article focuses on the middle finger gesture in the
context of the American legal system, the United States is not the only
country in which individuals have been punished for using the middle
finger or an equivalent gesture. For example, a driver in Essex,
England received a fine and a visit from the police for using the
118
AXTELL, supra note 58, at 31.
119
LOHEED ET AL., supra note 33, at 78.
120 Id.
121 See supra note 38.
122
AXTELL, supra note 58, at 32.
123 Id.
124 Id. at 92.
125
MORRIS ET AL., supra note 56, at 148, 155.
126
AXTELL, supra note 58, at 38, 92.
127
LOHEED ET AL., supra note 33, at 78.
128 Id. at 81.