Porn 101

Before we start The information provided can be shared to anyone Every personal story is confidential, ”what happens in sexsoc, stays in sexsoc” Do not share private information about other people Be nice, and respect each other’s opinions. We all come from different backgrounds and cultures, so keep that in mind

Pornography the way we see it today has been around since the late 1960s, with various new forms receiving more mainstream popularity over the decades Whereas moderate consumption of porn can be akin to a healthy stimulant, more taboo forms of pornography as well as addiction and dependency may occur if not viewed moderately In addition to this, most mainstream porn is heteronormative; a less attractive man has awkward-looking sex with a conventionally attractive woman until the man reaches orgasm

Effects on Performers Because so many enjoy porn, and wish to do so without guilt, the effects on performers are often overlooked Long term physical damage, such as tearing the muscles around sexual organs, prolapsing and permanent mental damage can plague the lives of some performers. Because actors and actresses must appear as if they enjoy what they are doing for cameras, it is hard to tell who truly does and who is “smiling through the pain” so to speak T/W substance/sexual abuse: Jessica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk23mL15qpA Greg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx-p9Wr6xg0

Affects on Viewers “About 53% of 11- to 16-year-olds have seen explicit material online, nearly all of whom (94%) had seen it by 14, the Middlesex University study says. Furthermore, more than three-quarters of the children surveyed - 87% of the boys and 77% of the girls - felt pornography failed to help them understand consent, but most of the boys (53%) and 39% of girls saw it as a realistic depiction of sex.” Pornography often depicts sex as something that a man is always ready for, and a woman is always willing to offer him, teaching young people nothing about consent between sexual partners, damaging their views of how to engage in sexual activities as young adults Because of the readily available nature of porn, issues with how women dress are often blown out of proportion, as some men are unable to concentrate if a woman’s shoulder is exposed (i.e. as soon as they skin they lose control of their imagination) In more serious cases, this can lead to physical/sexual abuse, desensitisation and a mental dependency on porn to achieve orgasm/pleasure This mental dependency often shapes what we see as attractive (i.e. large, unobtainable perky breasts, incredible large penises and heavily enhanced body parts) Date My Pornstar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THsQc07gY2Q

Viewers Cont. Popular lesbian porn is almost never involving real lesbians, often times when men say they find ‘lesbians’ hot, they mean two straight women performing for the male gaze Expectations from your partner should not be based on porn; squirting, anal and rough sex. Also not everyone is ready for sex from the beginning whereas some are, communication is key in sexual relationships Some sexualities and gender identities do not seem themselves represented in media, and sometimes porn is the only sexual education available.

Positives In moderation, porn can stimulate the imagination in a positive way Couples can experiment in the bedroom, adding new moves and positions to spice up their sex life (missionary isn’t everything) BDSM is generally more positively represented in porn, whereas films like Fifty Shades of Grey/Darker completely forego important concepts such as safe words and consent Often times, sex can be majorly disappointing, and sometimes porn fulfils the need that sex didn’t Porn can also potentially change a person’s mind and introduce them to body types, gender identities and sexualities that they had not experienced/been able to experience before

Discussion questions Do you watch porn? What kind of porn do you watch? Why? What do you enjoy in porn? Favourite porn star? Do you feel guilty for watching or not watching porn? Is porn good or bad? Do you think societal taboos concerning porn are justified? Why?