A "facial" in the context of adult entertainment refers to a sexual act where a person ejaculates semen onto the face of another. This practice is a form of non-penetrative sex, typically occurring after other forms of sexual stimulation. While facials have a presence in both mainstream and niche pornography, their portrayal and perception vary widely, ranging from expressions of sexual liberation to acts of degradation.
Definition and Context
A facial is generally performed after some other means of sexual stimulation, such as vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, manual sex or masturbation. The performance of a facial is typically preceded by activities that result in the sexual arousal and stimulation of the ejaculating participant. The volume of semen that is ejaculated depends on several factors, including the male's health, age, degree of sexual excitement, and the time since his last ejaculation. Normal quantities of ejaculate range from 1.5 to 5.0 milliliters (1 teaspoon). These scenes often conclude with a "money shot," a term used to describe the moment of ejaculation.
The act itself involves the ejaculate coming into contact with the recipient's face, and sometimes specifically the eyes or mouth. Predating the modern age of pornography, facials were described in literature. As an example, the French aristocrat Marquis de Sade wrote about performing facials in his work The 120 Days of Sodom, written in 1785. One passage of the novel reads "… I show them my prick, then what do you suppose I do?
Historical and Cultural Presence
Facials are not a new phenomenon. As an example, the French aristocrat Marquis de Sade wrote about performing facials in his work The 120 Days of Sodom, written in 1785.
In addition to mainstream pornography, the popularity of facials has led to creation of its own niche market, like video series that specialize in showing the act. In 2010, psychologist Ana Bridges and colleagues conducted a content analysis of best-selling heterosexual pornographic videos showing that over 96% of all scenes concluded with a male performer ejaculating onto the body of his female partner. The mouth was the most common area to be ejaculated upon.
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Varying Perspectives
The perception of facials is highly subjective and varies across different groups and individuals.
Feminist Perspectives
Facials have been a point of contention within feminist discourse. Some feminists view facials as degrading and symbolic of male dominance. Radical feminist and noted critic of pornography Andrea Dworkin said "it is a convention of pornography that the sperm is on her not in her. It marks the spot, what he owns and how he owns it. Sociologists Gail Dines, Robert Jensen and Russo echo these sentiments in the book Pornography: The Production and Consumption of Inequality. It asserts, "In pornography, ejaculating onto a woman is a primary method by which she is turned into a slut, something (not really someone) whose primary, if not only, purpose is to be sexual with men."
Gail Dines, writing in Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality, describes the money shot of a man ejaculating on the face or body of a woman as "one of the most degrading acts in porn". To Dines, the ejaculate on the female performer's body "marks the woman as used goods", conveying a sense of ownership, and she quotes veteran porn actor and producer Bill Margold as saying, "I'd like to really show what I believe the men want to see: violence against women. I firmly believe that we serve a purpose by showing that. The most violent we can get is the cum shot in the face.
One the other hand, when feminist pornography emerged in 1980s, pioneer Candida Royalle always excluded facial cum shots, and with few exceptions all other male external ejaculations, from her sex scenes. Ms. Pornography-actress-turned-filmmaker Candida Royalle was a critic of "cum shot" scenes in mainstream pornography. Commenting on Erika Lust's work, feminist pornographer Petra Joy (2007) argued: 'Feminism is committed to equality of the sexes, so surely "feminist porn" should show women as equals to men rather than as subservient beings… If you want to show cum on a woman's face that's fine but don't call it feminist.'
Sex-Positive Perspectives
Conversely, some view facials as a form of sexual expression that can be empowering and enjoyable. Sociologist Lisa Jean Moore suggests that Dworkin's explanation does not take into account that it is the pleasure the actresses exhibit that the male partners enjoy, and that it is more accurate to think men want their semen to be wanted. Correspondingly it is a porn industry standard for the actress to act eager and loving for the facial she receives, and not in displeasure. Cindy Patton, activist and scholar on human sexuality, claims that in western culture male sexual fulfillment is synonymous with orgasm and that the male orgasm is an essential punctuation of the sexual narrative. No orgasm, no sexual pleasure. No cum shot, no narrative closure.
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Sexologist Peter Sándor Gardos argues that his research suggests that "… the men who get most turned on by watching cum shots are the ones who have positive attitudes toward women" (on the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex in 1992).
Expert Opinions
Sex therapist Ruth Westheimer believes facials are "humiliating and not sexy". She advises the average person contemplating oral sex to not think that a facial is a necessary part of the act. In response to an inquiry from a reader, sex columnist Dan Savage wrote: "Facials are degrading-and that's why they're so hot." Daily Nexus columnist Nina Love Anthony views the practice of facials in a non-threatening light, feeling that it adds variety to the sexual experience. In one of her weekly articles she wrote, "But let's give credit where credit is due: The money shot, by itself, is great for a number of reasons.
Health and Safety Considerations
While semen is in itself generally harmless on the skin or if swallowed, but not on the ocular tissue (Conjunctiva). However, semen can be the vehicle for many sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and hepatitis. The risks incurred by the giving and receiving partner during the facial sexual act are drastically different. For the ejaculating partner there is almost no risk of contracting an STI. In rare cases, people have been known to experience allergic reactions to seminal fluids, known as human seminal plasma hypersensitivity. Symptoms can be either localized or systemic, and may include itching, redness, swelling, or blisters within 30 minutes of contact.
Risks of Semen in the Eye
Getting semen in the eye can cause intense pain, sting and burn, because the semen contains components which irritate the ocular tissue. The reaction can be tearing, sensitivity to light, redness and blurry vision. Any sexual activity that involves contact with the bodily fluids of another person contains the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs).
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