Is it "Blowjob" or "Blow Job"? Who, exactly, is doing the blowing?

Is it "Blowjob" or "Blow Job"? Who, exactly, is doing the blowing?

Shannon Seewald

Humans have likely been engaging in oral sex for as long as we've had mouths and genitals, yet we still can't seem to agree on what to call it. The various names we use not only show our tendency to nickname things we enjoy but also highlight our mixed feelings about the act itself. Is it something to laugh about or take seriously? Is it trivial or significant? And, as many awkward middle schoolers have pondered, why do we call it a blow job when there's no blowing involved?

Interestingly, the most widely recognized term for oral sex didn’t really catch on until after World War I. While “fellatio” comes from the Latin word “fellatus,” meaning “to suck,” it only became popular in 1894 thanks to sexual researcher Havelock Ellis. The phrase “blow job” has older roots, dating back to the 17th century when “to blow” meant to bring someone to orgasm. During that same era, a “blowsy” referred to a disheveled woman, and those familiar with history or Les Misérables might connect the dots regarding the job options available to such women.

The specific use of “blow” for oral sex didn’t emerge until 1930, when it appeared in a pulp novel titled Nell Kimball: Her Life as an American Madam. It also popped up in a risqué poem from 1948 called “The Platonic Blow,” which is pretty self-explanatory. Some suggest that the term comes from Victorian slang where performing oral sex was referred to as giving a “below-job.” However, the first documented use of “blow job” was actually in a Tijuana Bible—a type of comic that depicted famous figures in explicit situations—printed in 1948, featuring a male politician from the McCarthy era.


It's pretty clear that the only real debate here is whether "blow job" should be written as one word or two. The American Heritage Dictionary claims it's one word, but both Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary say it's two. So, you can choose whichever style you prefer!

Practical Knowledge & Suggestions
Now that we have some background about the much-debated term, a few things need to be said about the act itself. Some partners (in this case, I discuss women), enjoy the act of a Blowjob. Others, however; are not happy about performing the act.

Some women swallow the effects of the act; others spit, whichever your choice neither is right or wrong. For some, the act is a no-go simply because they have a gag reflex. Still, others enjoy providing pleasure to their partners but wish it tasted better. Some outright refuse to do it because their partners take forever to climax, making it a literal pain in the neck! *giggle* So below is a product that help solve all of those issues, regardless if they are YOUR issue with a blowjob.

 

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1 comment

Wonder how that is on the back end

Sandra

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