page_title: Obscene gesture
section_title: The Finger
hierarchical_section_title: Obscene gesture / The Finger
caption_attribution_description: English: Image depiction of "The Finger."
context_page_description: An obscene gesture is a movement or position of the body, especially of the hands or arms, that is considered exceedingly offensive or vulgar in some particular cultures. Such gestures are often sexually suggestive.
context_section_description: Although "the finger" has been called "the universal sign of disrespect", it is not truly universal. For example, in Japanese Sign Language, when the palm is facing out, it is recognized as the character せ ("se"). Many other gestures are used in addition to, or in lieu of, the finger in various parts of the world to express the same sentiment. In some parts of the world, "the finger" does not have any meaning at all.
  In India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka the social circles exposed to the western cultures use the middle finger gesture in the same sense that it is used in those cultures. The same is true for most South Asian countries.
  In Portugal this gesture is also called "Pirete" or "Manguito".
  In Russia, the middle finger is used to simply point (usually at the speaker themselves) and to communicate emphasis.
caption: The finger
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