Wise Readers,
Sexuality blogger Rachel Rabbit White launched Lady Porn Day this week, and ABC News online interviewed me about porn in that connection. Nutshell version of my part? If you want to know why women don’t watch much, all you need to know is this: Porn often bores us.
Most of the research on porn has been done to assess its impact on violence against women by men (upshot: violent porn causes violence), and to find out whether men become less committed/attracted to their female partners as a direct cause of porn even when the porn is not violent (upshot: yes). You can read my article about that at this link.
Less~a LOT less~is known about women’s take.
What we know for sure is that almost every kind of porn does turn women on physically. Interestingly, though, women often aren’t consciously aware we’re turned on! Our vaginas are doing flip-flops over everything from straight sex to gay sex to bonobo sex…but only some women are psychologically grooving on what they’re viewing.
I think that speaks to a really fascinating thing about women’s sexuality: Our minds and the way we construe sex are more core to our sexuality than anything happening genitally. So, to the extent porn fits with what women usually want, it’s going to be more of a conscious turn-on.
What it all means? Porn that specifically caters to female fantasies is probably going to ring a lot more women’s conscious bells than porn that plays out the same-ol’/same-ol’ male stereotypical fantasy.
Details? Women usually fantasize about a lot of foreplay and build-up that involves affection, love and expressions of commitment from just one man; the sex isn’t the only important thing, and in fact the relationship has an equally starring role. Male-fantasy-derived porn that depicts a lot of body parts without showcasing emotional connection will hit some women’s cognitive (and other) sweet spots, yes~but for most women, the money shot will be about heart and soul, stuff few porn film-makers have chosen to focus on in a market that is dominated by men as directors and consumers.
Movie makers in every genre tend to create the storylines that ring the cash register. And men tend to want and watch most of the porn.
Which leads me to wonder what will happen if porn directors turn their attentions more specifically to female desires. If they build it…will we come?
Cheers,
Duana
If this article intrigued, captivated, elevated or explicated you or your understanding of relationships, please click “share article” below to distribute to your favorite social media websites.
Do you have a question for Duana? Email her at Duana@LoveScienceMedia.com.
Related Love Science articles:
http://www.lovesciencemedia.com/love-science-media/porn-pastime-or-peril.html
http://www.lovesciencemedia.com/love-science-media/is-her-straight-boyfriend-gay.html
http://www.lovesciencemedia.com/love-science-media/qa-from-is-her-straight-boyfriend-gay.html
The author wishes to thank Donald Symons for extensive research and publication about men’s and women’s sexual fantasies, and what they show about evolved mating psychology .
All material copyrighted by Duana C. Welch, Ph.D., and Love Science Media, 2011.