You see and hear the phrase “oral sex” a lot these days. Now, forgive me for laboring the obvious, but there are two kinds, right? One is cunnilingus and the other is fellatio.
You would suppose, logically, that if people meant just one kind but not the other, they would use the specific word: either “cunnilingus” or “fellatio.” Therefore, if the general phrase “oral sex” is used, they must be referring to both kinds at once. Right?
I’m not so sure.
Because almost every time I read a news story (or a Doper thread), the context indicates they mean only fellatio. What can we conclude from this? Setting aside logic for a moment, in actual usage “oral sex” = “fellatio” only.
My question is: WHY???
Is there an assumption that sucking cock is the only real oral sex? The only one worth mentioning? Or that cunnilingus might as well not exist? Isn’t this unfair to women? It’s discrimination!
Because I personally believe that nothing is more important in the world than women’s sexual satisfaction, and that since women cannot always get orgasms from vaginal penetration intercourse (some never do), and cunnilingus is the best method of giving a woman an orgasm, that cunnilingus is vitally important to the human race and should not be overlooked.
Men, if you are not giving cunnilingus to your woman, then get busy and get down!
I think this was the attitude for a long time. If people even knew what oral sex was they often believed it was disgusting and embarassing, and cunnilingus would have been thought especially unworthy of mention because it is an act that primarily brings pleasure to women and women’s sexual pleasure has long been treated as unimportant or even impossible. Luckily, it seems that things have changed a lot. As young as I am I feel like I’ve seen a shift in cultural attitudes since I was old enough to know what oral sex was (about a decade ago). But old habits and attitudes die hard, so we’re still seeing the effects of some of the old sexist ways of thinking about sex.
Well, if we’re going to parse words, unlike fellation, cunninglingus isn’t specifically “oral;” sometimes the nose finds gainful employment. But nobody ever talks about nasal sex.
You would suppose, logically, that if people meant just one kind but not the other, they would use the specific word: either “cunnilingus” or “fellatio.” Therefore, if the general phrase “oral sex” is used, they must be referring to both kinds at once. Right?
Wrong. “Cunnilingus” and “fellatio” don’t lend themselves to many conversations for two reasons: they sound high-falutin’ and academic, and they tend to draw graphic mental pictures. Since “oral sex” can mean either or both, many find it more natural and comfortable to say “oral sex” even when they just mean one kind.
Is there an assumption that sucking cock is the only real oral sex? The only one worth mentioning? Or that cunnilingus might as well not exist? Isn’t this unfair to women? It’s discrimination!
Well, you seem to be making these assumptions. My assumption would be that fellatio is of more interest in the discussions being referenced–which is not the same as its being better, more real, more significant, etc. For whatever reasons cunnilingus gets talked about less, but that doesn’t mean it gets done less or is respected less.
