The Ultimate Guide to Ethical Porn
The ethical porn industry is growing, and that's a good thing, because porn is correlated with more orgasms. Watching porn can be a great way to explore fantasies, learn about what turns us on, and prioritize our pleasure. In one 2018 study, participants who watched porn reported better sexual communication, more sexual experimentation, and more comfort with sex in general.
It can even make us better partners, depending on how we consume it. One study found people who are more accepting of porn, associated watching it with more relationship satisfaction.
The industry is worth a whopping $97 billion dollars globally, and 85% of people have watched porn in the past six months. Still, this source of mainstream entertainment is a touchy topic in our society. Even as we move toward more open-mindedness, porn is a topic of debate and controversy.
Porn helps some people tap into their bodies and explore sexual pleasure in a way that is fun, empowering, and safe.
So how can consumers make better decisions when sourcing porn? Scroll down to learn all about ethical porn (sometimes called feminist porn or fair trade porn), what it is, why it matters, and how to find it.
What is ethical porn?
Ethics are subjective and vary from person to person, so it is up to the company or performer to decide what is ethical for them.
However, there are things you can do to try and make sure you’re consuming porn that meets your values. Consider the following when choosing your pornography:
- · Are performers paid fairly and promptly?
- · Do performers have bodily autonomy?
- · Is it made with consent?
- · What physical and emotional safety practices are being taken?
- · Does it show both fantasy and realistic pleasure?
- · Does it represent diversity – including race, gender, body types, disabilities, and sexual orientation?
Read more about what ethical porn is:
Why is Ethical Porn Important?
Pornography has huge potential to help viewers discover new desires, explore fantasies, improve sexual communication, and reduce stress. Yet viewers may experience distress and negative feelings when watching porn that they believe doesn’t align with their own values.
Therefore, ethical porn allows people to watch porn, reap the benefits, and all without doubts or concerns that may otherwise ruin the enjoyment of it.
Read more about the benefits of ethical porn:
Ethical Porn Sites
OK so we’ve figured out more or less what people mean when they discuss ethical porn, and we know it’s important… So how do you find ethical porn? And does free ethical porn exist? (Spoiler: not really)
There’s no shortage of porn on the internet but finding what you like can be hard. Let us help you get your rocks off whilst feeling good about what you’re watching.
Read more about how to find ethical porn sites:
Ethical Porn Supports Sex Workers
One of the most important parts of ethical porn is that is supports sex workers and their rights. Our societal views towards sex can often perpetuate harmful stereotypes that further stigmatise the lives of porn performers and sex workers. Supporters of ethical porn and the people inside the industry are working hard to counter this.
Whether it’s to decriminalize sex work or to dismantle the “whorearchy”, the idea that some sex workers are better than others (think, street-based sex work at the bottom and high-end escorting at the top), the ethical porn industry cares about sex workers.
Read more about how to support sex workers:
Is porn bad for you?
People often wonder, is pornography bad for you? These discussions often treat pornography as a single entity and don’t take in all of the nuances involved in these debates.
If you take to the internet it’s easier to find people telling you why you need to give up porn, or how it’s ruining our lives - but these articles often blindly ignore all of the research that shows how porn can be good for you.
One research paper found that porn viewing increased sexual satisfaction and benefited other areas of their lives. It’s also been shown to reduce stress by cutting cortisol levels. For most people, watching porn has no negative effects.
Read more about if watching porn is bad for you:
History of porn?
So, how did we get here? Here’s a quick porn history lesson…
- 1920s: With the dawn of motion pictures came the dawn of pornographic films.
- 1970s: Porn peaked in the swinging ‘70s with the release of the cultural phenomenon, “Deep Throat.” Even Jackie Kennedy Onassis went to see it in theaters. Prosecution of obscenity laws becomes less strict.
- 1980s: Porn made its mark on the home video industry. It was around this time, Candida Royalle fought for women’s rights and elevated porn into an art form.
- 1988s: Larry Flynt, Jr., publisher of Hustler and free speech champion, made headlines with his 1988 court battle with Jerry Falwell, founder of the right-wing group Moral Majority.
- 1990s: Third-wave feminists became a megaphone for change, suggesting that porn and sex work needn't be oppressive to women and might actually be enjoyable.
- 2007s: Canadian-owned internet pornography site, Pornhub, launched and quickly became one of the most visited adult sites on the web.
- Today:: In more recent social acceptance, sexual wellness brand, Dame Products, won a three-year legal battle to promote its products on New York’s public transit system.
The Current State of Porn
What does this mean for the current state of ethics in porn?
The adult industry has seen a huge shift the past 20 years. Old industry vets are retiring or selling their companies and being replaced by young up-and-comers — many of whom are women and people committed to ethical standards.
Porn and sex work is here to stay, so it’s up to adult film producers to offer adequate pay and fair working conditions. This encompasses everything from sets free of assault and harassment to labor rights. Sex work is work, and sex workers deserve the same legal protections as any other people.