WOMEN AND PORNOGRAPHY
We have heard many times the claim that pornography is primarily aimed at a male audience, while the female audience misses certain aspects of it. From a certain point of view, this makes complete sense, since for centuries the creators of pornographic content have been predominantly male.
It's not that women don't belong to the larger percentage of viewers because watching porn is condemned or considered offensive from their side. On the contrary, the situation is that women would stand to watch pornography more often. The problem is content that is very often focused on the female perspective from a male viewpoint and does not allow many opportunities for women to identify with such content and fully enjoy it.
“Just like men, women are fans of pornography.”
FEMINIST PORNOGRAPHY / PORN FOR WOMEN / ETHICAL PORNOGRAPHY
On the one side, there is pornography, which usually portrays actors in gender-stereotypical roles with random plotlines and clichéd details that everyone notices. In contrast, pornography described as feminist pornography, porn for women, or ethical pornography is characterized by a more realistic depiction of sexual acts, a balanced position of the actors, a respectful approach, but also a unique perspective in terms of an individual attitude towards sexuality. Unlike traditional pornography, these films are more focused on content that reflects a woman's gaze and perception. The question is whether pornography should be categorized or divided into two distinct directions based on the viewer's gender. The truth is that it is simply impossible to express a comprehensive description of what pornographic content should look like. Just as every person is different, so too are their fantasies and desires. Women may prefer romance, but they like experimentation and hard sex just as much; they want a sensitive man, but also a dominant one. Thus, both a woman's and a man's desires are equally diverse and varied.1
Although men and women may have very similar sexual expressions, their sexual desires are simply different in some ways, and the truth is that not many porn filmmakers focus on creating a compromise between them. Thus, what is specific to a woman's view of eroticism or sex disappears at the expense of objectification. This mention is particularly important for further outlining what ethical pornography seeks to confront and how it aims to create unified content that connects the desires of all. An example of this could be the ability to identify with the story and imagery of a pornographic film. In this case, it is satisfying for a woman to be profiled in the position of a woman who is self-assured and presents herself as an active, recognized figure providing and receiving pleasure. They do not need men in positions of strength and independence, but rather men who share similar values and respect them.2
“Ethical porn”
In recent years, the term ethical pornography has become more widely known, alongside its more common names, “feminist pornography” and “porn for women”. These terms are very close in meaning, and I find it appropriate to use them separately. Some creators and writers who use the term "feminist pornography" do identify as feminists or refer to the time era when this term was the most prevalent in its category.
In my text, I will prefer terms like "ethical pornography" and "porn for women" as more contemporary labels, but also in relation to writers who do not identify as feminists and prefer to use these terms. This includes porn actors, directors, and producers (regardless of gender) who are part of platforms, productions, and collectives presented under the genre of ethical pornography. The overall goal is largely similar: to eliminate the pervasive negative influence that mainstream pornography has in our society. As mentioned in the context of the liberal feminist approach to pornography, the focus is primarily on enacting change from within the core of the industry, rather than attempting to eradicate it completely.3
There will certainly be those who question the idea of ethical pornography or porn for women, perhaps simply because the mention of content created from a female perspective or the fight against the portrayal of violence and the submissive positioning of women evokes a negative impression of a conflict between the female and male genders, accompanied by feminist disputes.
In ethical pornography, the primary focus is on equality and more humane treatment in general, and these factors do not only pertain to women but also relate to men. It is essential to view pornography from a different perspective and not overlook the facts that concern all of us.4 In short, it is certainly not the case that porn created by female authors is aimed solely at female viewers.5 "Female creators of porn films do not seek to create a second extreme — to reject all men on the grounds that they do not understand and will never understand the female perception of sexuality.” (Kašparovská, 2011) Their primary aim is to highlight certain aspects that they personally feel are lacking or overlooked in pornography and to make them more visible.6
I should also point out that if the desire for positive, ethical, and egalitarian porn is also a concern for men, and if we want to further identify this type of porn, what would be the ideal label for it? Some still primarily use the term "porn for women" as it seems to them to be the most recognizable in the entire field of pornography.7 Stereotyping and the inappropriate positioning of women in pornography remain significant problems, and I understand the creators who strive to highlight the reasons for the emergence of new pornographic directions. Therefore, simply to have the opportunity to move away from categorization and gender divisions, I find the term "ethical pornography" to be the most ideal as the most contemporary label.
„Ethical porn is very similar to what we think about in terms of ethics in fashion or ethics in food.“ This comparison by porn activist Ayesha Hussain intrigued me with its simple explanation of the term ethical pornography at its base.8 But the reality is that ethical pornography is much more than just this straightforward. There are many aspects within it that cannot be described unambiguously and practiced on a general scale. That is, they can vary depending on each individual's attitude and the person involved in the industry.
Ethical porn emerges as a conscientious alternative seeking to redefine standards of adult entertainment. It is designed to respect the rights and dignity of performers, promote healthy sexual expression, and prioritize ethical production practices. It transcends mere visual stimulation; it embodies principles of justice, respect, authenticity, and inclusivity.
The ethics of ethical pornography are based in how the porn is produced and its impact on consumers. From the production methods, through who is involved, fair treatment, and fair financial compensation, to the overall impression and experience of the viewer.9
Ethical pornography must primarily be humane and consensual. It must not only fulfill ethical criteria but also portray the reality of intimacy, equality between partners, and real situations, as well as provide a sense of safety. It's about our own freedom to choose content that aligns with our moral standing.
„Porn by women, for everybody. I learned about sex through porn, but never how to bring authentic pleasure and hot sex into my life.“ - Lilly Sparks
Can KINK be ethical?
Ethical pornography, as many might imagine, does not focus solely on the most romantic and gentle sex. Ethical pornography is just a classification and a direction of creation, which may or may not be the deciding factor for us. It is about the opportunity to assure ourselves that there is a correct approach to the creation and filming process of the content we consume.
Thus, in this category we can also find hard sex, or more extreme sexual practices classified as BDSM, but only because that's just the way it is in reality. Pornography develops our knowledge and interests about sex. Being inspired by the sexual practices we see in porn is not wrong in any way. No one can judge us for the content we watch, even if it does not belong to the most common category.
“Dr Anne-Francis Watson from the Queensland University of Technology says the fact some porn may include sexual acts some people don't enjoy watching, doesn't necessarily make it unethical.”10 Any form of sexual expression, including interest in experimentation, role-playing, or types of fetishes, is just as normal as being vanilla. Everything is perfectly fine as long as we do not cross the boundaries of ourselves or our partner. What’s important is mutual respect and the ability to listen, especially when we are about to try something new.
“under control”
Some sexual practices are popular due to a desire for pain, numbness, or a feeling of helplessness. Such sex can also be very risky and, in marginal situations, life-threatening. In such cases, we must be extremely cautious and ensure that anything we do aligns with how our partner feels, maintaining constant communication.
"In the process of filming pornography that includes such elements, the same principles apply. Actors must know in advance what they will be doing and agree on the procedure, personal boundaries, and a potential safe word or gesture that is easily understandable. From the very beginning, it is important that actors are not forced into anything, and it is entirely up to them how far they want to go. Ethical pornography is primarily consensual from the very beginning to the end, and during the filming process, actors must feel exactly how they want and be surrounded by a sense of safety that is ensured by everyone involved. It is important to check in with the actors during filming to ensure that everything is according to their expectations and that filming can continue. Actors are also informed about the possibility to stop filming at any time for any reason.
When watching such pornography, we do not need to worry about or question their approach. We can be assured that there is no pressure on the actors, and everything should proceed according to each individual's needs. Of course, the actors themselves sometimes try new things during filming and may have a desire to experiment, just as is common in real-life situations. If that happens, it is important to know about it in advance. Content creators should be informed about the actors' experiences beforehand and handle this information in a way that prevents any harm to the person's mental health.Pornography represents content created by people for people. People are diverse and have different fantasies, which this industry tries to visually express through pornographic content. Simply put, it’s nice to watch content knowing that no one was forced into it. This way, it is much more enjoyable than speculating the behind the scenes of the pornography we watch.
"Porn is just fantasy made visual. There are many very healthy people with deeply disturbing fantasies." (Kellie Scott, 2016)