Why is Anal Sex Called "Greek, Greek System Or Going Greek"? And Oral Sex Referred to as " Frenchie, French job or French"? We could query the use of such words or slurs to discourage cultural stereotyping.

The association of certain sexual acts with nationalities, like "Greek" for anal sex and "French" for oral sex, is an interesting way of how cultural stereotypes, historical interpretations, and language mingle to shape modern slang. These terms didn’t emerge out of nowhere, but evolved from a mixture of history, myth, and our attitudes toward sex.

The Greek Connection: Why is Anal Sex Called "Greek, Greek System Or Going Greek"?

To get why anal sex has come to be known as "going Greek," we need to look into the history of ancient Greece, where certain sexual practices have become linked—accurately or not—with the culture. It’s true that ancient Greek society was complex in its views on sexuality. Pederasty, a socially accepted relationship between an older man and a younger boy, was a central part of their education system in certain city-states. These relationships were often sexual in nature and typically involved mentorship as well as an introduction to physical love before marriage.

Ancient texts hint at how the Greeks conceptualised love and sex, with same-sex relations between males playing a prominent role. However, the link between the Greeks and anal sex isn't simply historical accuracy. While the Greeks did write extensively about sexual pleasure, they didn’t particularly associate anal sex with something exclusive to their culture. The term "Greek" in this context is a modern creation, not a term used by the Greeks themselves. Perhaps it shows more of a Western fascination and later stereotyping of ancient Greece as a place of sexual liberalism and experimentation.

The Greeks are also credited with the first recorded recipes for lubricants, specifically using olive oil. This fact, when tied to the imagery of their same-sex relationships, further fed into the stereotype. Over time, "Greek" became shorthand for anal sex, not because they invented it, but because of how their culture has been mythologised and sexualized in narratives.

Why is Oral Sex Referred to as "French"?

On the other hand, oral sex being labelled as "French" is another stereotype, this time linked to the popular stereotype that the French are sensual, liberated, and daring when it comes to love and sexuality. This position might have roots in France’s relatively open attitude toward sexual pleasure, which contrasts with the more prudish or conservative views in other parts of Europe, particularly in the Victorian era England.

The association of France with oral sex became popular, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when terms like "French kiss" and "French letter" (a term for condoms) emerged, all tied to the idea that anything sexually adventurous or "naughty" must be French. The French have long been perceived as cultural pioneers in the art of seduction and love-making. 

As one source suggests, Anne Boleyn, having spent time in France, was said to have learned advanced sexual techniques there, including oral sex, which she supposedly used to please King Henry VIII. This is discussed in various works of historical fiction and academic discourse, suggesting that Henry’s pleasure from such acts may have conflicted with his religious guilt, especially given the pressures of producing a male heir.

Yet, the association between "French" and oral sex goes beyond just Anne Boleyn or even Henry VIII. It leaks into broader European ideas about French society being permissive and sexually liberated. The French weren’t the inventors of oral sex by any means, but much like the Greeks with anal sex, their image as sexually adventurous led to oral sex being dubbed as "French" in slang.

Sex, Language, and Cultural Myths

Both the "Greek" and "French" labels come from cultural mythology than historical reality. These terms didn’t arise in ancient Greece or from the courts of Henry VIII, but through centuries of projecting cultural stereotypes onto specific acts of sex.

In both cases, there’s an irony: sex, in its most basic form, is universal. 

Ancient Greeks weren’t the only ones engaging in anal sex, and the French didn’t invent oral sex. But through a combination of historical associations, cultural projections, and evolving language, these acts have become linked to specific nationalities.

BTW In my opinion most modern terms like these often serve to trivialise or exoticize the sexual practices of different cultures. In today's world, we might question the use of such words, considering their origins in cultural stereotyping. What was once a playful or titillating term can now be seen as reductive or even offensive, depending on the context, the terms persist, continuing to reflect how we’ve shaped—and reshaped—our views on sex throughout history.

Olofin VIA [ 4Qua of Orion ]