The middle finger: a history of insult from Ancient Greece to Johnny Cash
From ancient Rome and Greece to modern road rage incidents, the middle finger has transformed from a crude sexual insult into a symbol of defiance
British neurologist John Hughlings Jackson once said that the first man who insulted another person instead of “knocking out [their] brains without a word” actually laid the groundwork for civilisation.
An insult can often feel like a sudden, painful slap to the face. But if you also show the middle finger, it can push some people into a full-blown tantrum.
Obscene hand gestures and vulgar puns permeate all areas of life – from supermarket checkouts and road rage situations to everyday conversations.
Social media comment sections are especially rife with crude gestures, often expressed through emojis and inflammatory remarks.
In certain contexts, a middle finger gesture can serve as a political statement or express clear anger or frustration.
However, in some countries, it is regarded as a punishable non-verbal offence.