Impact of pornography

Author :

Editor Odess

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In this article, we will mainly talk about the impact of mainstream pornography on mental and sexual health, we talk specifically about the content free of access you can find on the most famous websites.
The starting point for talking about pornography is the realization that pornography is an industry , and therefore everything that appears there is fiction. Pornography, as a visual representation of sexuality, distorts the image of sexual relationships by objectifying them, which in turn affects sexual attitudes and behavior.

1. Expectations of sex and body image

Porn can create unrealistic expectations about physical attractiveness and sexual performance. Keep in mind that sex in real life is very different from a scripted scenario of porn movies with great looking actors and professional lighting. Moreover, sexual acts depicted in porn movies last much longer than the average in real life, men maintain erections longer without ejaculation, and women experience orgasm more easily than during real-life intercourse.

We should have in mind that men don't have to be ready for sex at any time, and not every women express their emotions as enthusiastically as they usually do in porn movies. Each of us likes something different in sex, so the basis for a satisfying intercourse is conversation and consent of both parties. If we expect our sex life to look like in the movies - we can experience a deep disappointment.

Unrealistic portrayals of body that are represented in pornography have the potential to induce body insecurities and performance concerns that are known to adversely impact sexual well-being. It has a negative impact of beauty ideals on the well-being of both women and men. Comparing appearance and sexual performance to actors from adult movies could have a significant impact on ourself and create feeling of dissatisfaction and inferiority.

2. Attitudes towards women

One of the most prevalent concerns associated with pornography is the objectification of women. Mainstream pornographic content objectifies women, making the physical appearance more valuable than personalities, emotions, and intelligence. This can reinforce harmful stereotypes and contribute to society where women are perceived as sexual objects.

Mainstream Porn normalizes violence against women by presenting it as entertainment. Even 90% of porn videos depict sexual violence or aggression. According to the study made by The British Journal of Criminology, that analyzed titles of porn movies, 1 of 8 titles on the front page of mainstream pornography websites describe acts of sexual violence.

In addition, some pornographic film productions use inappropriate and degrading treatment of actresses. Sometimes actresses are pushed to perform non-consensual, even violent, sexual acts under production pressure. Actresses are sometimes misinformed about the scenes to be shot, which can put them in uncomfortable or even dangerous situations. Failure to respect boundaries of actrecesses can have serious consequences for their emotional and physical well-being..

3. Attitudes towards physically aggressive sex

Pornography can be very harmful - sexual violence found in internet pornography can blur the distinction between sexual pleasure and sexual harm. Far from being represented as aberrant, sexual practices involving coercion, deception, non-consent are described in mainstream online pornography in ways that position them as permissible. It is another important concerns associated with the impacts of pornography, it's about the potential for desensitization and normalization of violent behavior. In some explicit content, aggressive acts are shown to be pleasurable and consensual, making some viewers to perceive these behaviors as normal or even desirable in their own sexual relationship. This can lead to confusion in drawing the line between fantasy and reality and contribute to misunderstandings about consent and boundaries.

Partners may feel pressure to imitate behaviors they see in pornography material, which can lead to:

  • Power imbalance. Some explicit content depict power imbalances and domination as natural aspect of sexual relationships. This can affect the power dynamic within a relationship, as partners may try to imitate these behaviors, potentially leading to an unhealthy power imbalance or manipulation.
  • Miscommunication.Miscommunication. Pornography can impact the way couples communicate about their sexual desires, boundaries, and consent. They may find it difficult to express their feelings, concerns, or discomfort if they think that pornographic explicit content are considered "normal."
  • Conflict.Differences in sexual preferences and attitudes can lead to conflicts within a relationship. If one partner feels pressured into physically aggressive sex due to the influence of pornography, it can strain the relationship and cause tension and resentment.
  • Intimacy problem. Seeking physically aggressive sex based on unrealistic expectations of pornography can get in the way of true intimacy because it may not align with the emotional connection and mutual consent essential for healthy, fulfilling sexual experiences.

4. Importance of sex education

A lack of comprehensive sex education can lead adolescents to turn to pornography as a primary source of information about sex. People watch porn for a number of different reasons: to increase sexual desire, to satisfy curiosity about sex or to learn about sexual anatomy because of lack of basis sexual education. Whatever the reason, bear in mind that porn plays a role in normalizing sexual violence. Adolescents regularly exposed to pornography have been found to replicate sexual activity seen in pornographic material and have earlier sexual activity. The content of pornography may reinforce double standards of an active male sexuality and a passive female receptacle, perpetuate harmful patterns and promote unsafe sexual activities. For a healthy, happy and safe sex life, it is necessary to reach for proven source of sex education.

For some of your questions regarding sexual wellness, you can find answers on our blog.

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