Let’s talk about porn

The porn industry perpetuates violence toward women

JESSICA MILLS / ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

Content warning: sexual content, sexual violence, violence against women, nonconsensual sex, verbal aggression and derogatory terms.

Pornography, also known as “porn,” is a taboo word that refers to the highly lucrative industry that produces and creates sexually explicit content for viewers. Revolutionized  by the internet,   anyone   with   a wireless connection and computer can experience their sexual fantasies at any time, anywhere. Much of which is entirely free. 

While the nature of the films vary, physical and emotional violence, aggression, degradation and humiliation are frequently present toward the woman (or women) — particularly in heterosexual videos   With   28,000 people in the  U.S. watching porn every second,  according to Recovery   Village, it   is crucial to examine the types of films that are produced and consumed as well as their impact on society. 

From a research study conducted in 2017, researchers found   that   90%  of    the     most popular pornographic video discs (DVDs) contain physical aggression such as spanking, gagging and slapping. 50% include   name-calling   as   a   form of verbal aggression. Rather than showing two (or more) individuals experiencing a sexual act together, the films frame sex as something happening to — rather than with — the woman. Along with other research, this study links domestic violence as a result of the porn industry. 

Furthermore, the female participants in porn are often shown as willing and animated participants, leading viewers to repeat the behaviors and actions in their own bedroom, likely hoping for similar results. The repetitive violence against women in porn — forceful penetration, degrading positions, derogatory words and harmful power dynamics — normalizes and even encourages this for porn viewers when having sex.

As pornographic films became more widely accessible, the rate of violence against women and young girls has increased. In 2022, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women reported that worldwide, one in three women, aged 15 and older, are subject to physical and/or sexual violence, an increase in recent years. 

While sexual desires range for everyone, fantasies of forced sex are the most popular among men, reported by author, sociologist and researcher Natalie Purcell. This includes mistreating, coercing or forcing a partner into submission. Across social media platforms, many men have shared their preference for violent sexual acts and ultimately ignore how this contributes to violence against women.

“Amateur porn,” is a category that utilizes non-professional actors when creating/producing pornography. This trend was    heightened   in  2016    when   the internet content subscription OnlyFans     emerged. The platform is primarily used by   amateur sex workers who produce their own content, participating in single, duo or group   acts.  Unlike popular porn platforms, such as PornHub, OnlyFans often showcases real couples or individuals with relational intimacy. With over 170 million global subscribers, the service’s influence is immense.

Many prefer OnlyFans to other platforms because the former pays their creators directly, allows more space for non-professionals and features less aggressive content. Viewers are often less intimidated by amateur porn, illustrating more realistic and even teachable moments between authentic couples.

However, many of the videos depicting soft porn — sexual content that is less violent, hardcore or detailed — employ video titles that suggest the opposite, such as utilizing words like “sl*t”, “wh**e”, “b***h” and other derogatory terms. The  videos   may   depict   a loving couple, but   the way the creators   choose   to   label    creates   a power   imbalance and deprecates the female participant. 

Despite some films on OnlyFans presenting non-aggressive videos, the same violent actions are present in the overall, vast majority. Viewers see women, often in a heterosexual relationship, being forced into positions of submission, where they’re further debased. Because this service is referenced as “amateur,” it normalizes and desensitizes this treatment toward women in amateur or real settings outside of the porn industry, regardless of whether they’re in a monogamous or non-monogamous relationship.  

Viewers are   also missing  a key   part of these sexual scenarios — a conversation regarding consent and boundaries. Individuals are entitled to their own sexual preferences. But, by skipping over this area, watchers only see various forms of verbal and physical aggression played out, without a prior discussion and agreement. 

Like everything else in life, what   you   engage   with   matters. There’s numerous platforms where   one  can watch or purchase ethical pornography. Ethical   porn focuses   on   making   films   that are   consensual   and   in   a  safe environment   with diverse bodies, racial identities and genders. 

Viewers can also monitor what they already consume. Checking the title  and content of the   films   and  only watching videos that are consensual and non-aggressive toward any participant is a great way to boycott those in the industry continuing unethical practices. Despite what’s shown on these platforms, sex doesn’t have to be violent. 

Bottom line: it’s your decision to watch porn. But, it’s important to be aware of the kind of porn you’re watching.