# Do many American women actually raise one leg when they kiss someone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624 "2017-05-29T00:27:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/1 "2017-05-29T00:27:38Z")
OK, there was a [2003 thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=206266) on this but it was very short and didn’t answer the questions that interest me. Clearly, as evidenced by that thread, it does occur. But how far back does it go? What is the earliest known instance, either from real life, novels, movies, TV, etc? Did this actually originate on the screen? Do gay men sometimes do it when kissing each other or is this purely a woman thing? I’m not sure I buy the balance explanation. If that were the case it would surely be more widespread than it actually is and every woman kissing her taller boyfriend would be doing it and that isn’t the case. So if it isn’t a natural reflex that just leaves learned behavior. But learned from where and since when? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/2 "2017-05-29T01:34:37Z")
[TV Tropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FootPopping) has this quote: > [@](#): > > “When kissed for the first time, a girl should close her eyes. The second time, she should give an ecstatic back kick, clutching her sweetheart by his coat lapels.” > — “An Outline of Motion Picture Etiquette”, October 1923 issue of Screenland So not just from silent films, but already a cliche in 1923. It also says: > [@](#): > > According to some commentary on the topic (including several actresses from The Golden Age of Hollywood), this trope was/is also intended as a way for starlets to draw attention to their shapely legs. This is borne out by numerous posed “cheesecake” photographs from the 1930’s through the 1960’s where the model is striking a Foot Popping-style pose without actually kissing anyone (generally she’s the only one in the picture). Many old hosiery advertisements (stockings and pantyhose) also used the trope in this way, to showcase their wares by calling attention to the legs wearing them. That makes a lot more sense than the silly theories in the older threads. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/3 "2017-05-29T01:57:27Z")
Sure the leg lifting shows off the leg, but so too the high heels she is wearing are being worn to show off the legs Whats the real reason ? Well you walk with your arms moving for a reason too… it assists in the walking. So if the arms are forward to ensure the kiss doesn’t become an embrace , surely the lady would put her legs back ? Whether its strictly a _requirement_ depends on the stoutlyness and hygiene of the male , bust size of the female, and what shoes the female are wearing, and more. Sure, the leg lift works better for camera. But there’s also a reason it would be habitual. Imagine its opening night, and all the famous persons are there, and so she the singer actress stands and kisses every man … So to get through them quick, the reach provided by the leaning kiss means its possible to say hello, and goodbye (by verbal or body language ?), in one quick lean ,twist, and lean out, see ? come out twisted, back turned to last, face to next in line … It also prevents ,or allows her to escape, the hugging clutch a man might do if he felt it was an amourous gesture… So the idea that its just because it allows the heads to be seen on camera better, … eg with the hair in place rather than flopping around. yes, but not the only reason. it looks smart, and perhaps thats because it is smart. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/4 "2017-05-29T02:02:43Z")
I have never seen a woman do this in real life nor I have ever seen a picture of a woman doing this in real life (except as homage or parody), so I’m doubting every bit of your reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Pilgrim\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Pilgrim\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pilgrim_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/5 "2017-05-29T02:10:19Z")
“Happy Days” addressed this subject on an episode in which Richie wins a date with a beauty queen. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/6 "2017-05-29T09:39:39Z")
I’ve known only one woman who consistently raised one foot when kissing; I don’t know why she did it unless it made her stand out from the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/7 "2017-05-29T12:41:27Z")
I seem to remember Homer Simpson doing this 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/8 "2017-05-29T12:47:43Z")
If this happens at all maybe it’s just easier for her to stretch up on one tip toe and turn her head slightly to kiss a taller man. Seems more like a pose though. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/9 "2017-05-29T14:24:19Z")
They have other ways to mark their…oh, you said when they _kiss_. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/10 "2017-05-29T14:57:19Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > They have other ways to mark their…oh, you said when they _kiss_. Never mind. This … ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/11 "2017-05-29T16:33:35Z")
I didn’t know this was a thing, except that maybe, if it was pointed out, I would see that it happened sometimes, apparently; however, since it seems to be, might it not be connected to pleasure ? Just as that certain enjoyments can actually be unconsciously briefly felt in the extremities. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/12 "2017-05-29T16:43:43Z")
The one real life example; is[the VJ Day kiss](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MpKNHJElehc/V_gi_0zD9iI/AAAAAAAALXI/DOiQGTsaV0IKfSOLIcc9M8AL73KPFZ0iACLcB/s1600/V-J_kiss_times_square.jpg). I would venture it’s done to relieve pressure on the leg, the man is leaning in and the woman’s back is arched. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/13 "2017-05-29T18:17:43Z")
I always thought it was just a Hollywood thing. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/14 "2017-05-29T18:54:18Z")
All I know is that when _I_ kiss 'em, their toes and their hair curl. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/15 "2017-05-29T19:08:46Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The one real life example; is[the VJ Day kiss](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MpKNHJElehc/V_gi_0zD9iI/AAAAAAAALXI/DOiQGTsaV0IKfSOLIcc9M8AL73KPFZ0iACLcB/s1600/V-J_kiss_times_square.jpg). > > I would venture it’s done to relieve pressure on the leg, the man is leaning in and the woman’s back is arched. Her leg is not lifted. It is touching the ground behind her. The pose is entirely different in position and structure from the [classic](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/97/c7/df/97c7df131be873d05dedce1fcaec3780.jpg) [leg](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/9a/b4/f4/9ab4f432f8de30378c36f7a8c8ae11a2.jpg) [lift](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_liq3iwZDjD1qain3eo1_500.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/16 "2017-05-29T19:11:10Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The one real life example; is[the VJ Day kiss](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MpKNHJElehc/V_gi_0zD9iI/AAAAAAAALXI/DOiQGTsaV0IKfSOLIcc9M8AL73KPFZ0iACLcB/s1600/V-J_kiss_times_square.jpg). > > I would venture it’s done to relieve pressure on the leg, the man is leaning in and the woman’s back is arched. Hard to tell if the back foot is off the ground in that shot. The whole thing could be because women don’t want to fall over if a clumsy guy doesn’t hold them up or they pull away. And by VJ Day the pose was well known from movies so if it’s not done for a woman keeping her balance then it could just be imitation. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/17 "2017-05-29T19:27:07Z")
It was the only real life kiss photo I could find in a Google search that had anything resembling a leg lift. Everything else was obviously from Film, TV or was posed. It’s late at night here and I live alone, so my tests have been done by myself. Arching back while standing _does_ make you put your foot back, bend your knee and then eventually raise your heel to stand on tip toe, to maintain balance and perhaps to reduce weight. Actually lifting the leg would probably cause you to fall back catastrophically. At least in my solo tests. I’ll repeat this tomorrow with my SO. If anyone else what’s to kiss their wives to check this out in the next 12 hours, they are welcome. Kissing for science! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/18 "2017-05-29T20:57:28Z")
The whole thing about that classic pose is that the woman’s body is straight up and down. She is not being pushed backward, not being arched, not needing to brace herself. If anything she might be pushing [a bit toward the man](http://c8.alamy.com/comp/DHD1AP/thailand-koh-surin-island-couple-kissing-at-white-sandy-beach-DHD1AP.jpg). She is perfectly structural, so much so that she doesn’t even need the back foot to keep her upright. I included the comic book image of Lois Lane because her spine would probably snap in half if a real woman tried that pose. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/19 "2017-05-29T21:54:32Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The one real life example; is[the VJ Day kiss](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MpKNHJElehc/V_gi_0zD9iI/AAAAAAAALXI/DOiQGTsaV0IKfSOLIcc9M8AL73KPFZ0iACLcB/s1600/V-J_kiss_times_square.jpg). > > I would venture it’s done to relieve pressure on the leg, the man is leaning in and the woman’s back is arched. This can’t be counted because the woman wasn’t a willing participant. Her body language reflects the fact that she was being assaulted. Some random sailor just grabbed her and laid one on her without her consent. if you look at the picture with that knowledge, you can see that he has pulled her off balance. I’ve never seen this in real life, either. Note that in Exapno’s second link, her leg wouldn’t have shown at all if not for the leg lift, so putting it in there was an excuse to show some sexy leg and shoe. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624/20 "2017-05-30T03:09:31Z")
When I’m trying to reach something on a high cabinet shelf, I will definitely stand on the tip toe of one foot, with the other foot in the air. Putting both feet down necessarily sacrifices a bit of height. So I guess it’s possible that I’ve done the same when kissing a man who was taller than I. But I was certainly never conscious of it. And I doubt I would have lifted it that high, just off the ground. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-american-women-actually-raise-one-leg-when-they-kiss-someone/787624.md?page=2)