The discussion of porn in the feminist movement was a major contributor to the feminist sex wars of the 1980s and 1990s, which divided feminist scholars into anti-porn and pro-sex categories (Stewart, 2019). A major anti-porn argument stated that porn not only harmed women, but was harmful in itself due to the subordination of women (Stewart, 2019). In general, third- and fourth-wave feminists do not exhibit the same anti-pornography behavior as second-wave feminists, prompting many feminist scholars to call for a re-evaluation of the type of pornography consumed by women (Stewart, 2019), namely whether the porn women watch truly embodies the female sexual experience, whether mainstream porn has anti-feminine connotations, and whether this can be changed to reduce female subordination in pornography. As in every facet of society, women have had to carve a path for themselves through male-dominated infrastructure. So it was only a matter of time before women would begin to reevaluate and reshape the world of pornography. This has resulted in the creation of ‘feminist porn’, which focuses on the ‘female gaze’ and experience.
What is feminist porn and how does it capture the female gaze?
Feminist porn is a genre of pornography that portrays different body types, ages, genders and sexualities, incorporates boundaries and protections, challenges stereotypes and maintains a sense of realism; all while ensuring ethical processes off-screen (Altmann & Altman, 2022). Another important aspect of feminist porn is the inclusion of the female gaze, a concept that stems from film theory (Altmann & Altman, 2022). The Female Gaze discusses the differences in heterosexual male perspectives versus heterosexual female perspectives in film, and how those differences are portrayed using language, camera angles, character perspectives, and the fetishization of women (Altmann & Altman, 2022). In feminist pornography, the female gaze is used to capture aspects of female desire and portrays a sense of connection, intimacy, passion, desire, and communication not found in mainstream porn (Stewart, 2019).
Why is feminist porn necessary?
Feminist porn allows people looking for an online sexual outlet to find media that appeals to their beliefs as well as their needs. A very prominent aspect of mainstream pornography is its focus on the male gaze. Corsianos states that most porn scripts are written by heterosexual men and intended for a heterosexual male audience (2007). A necessary characteristic of the male gaze is the objectification of women, which, according to Corsianos, is emphasized by the similar characteristics that many female porn actors have, such as long hair, thinness, make-up, breast implants and high heels, creating an ideal of what they ‘should’ look like (2007). This creates a standard where the man is the observer and the woman is the object of observation. To counter this deficiency, the narratives must pivot; in comes the concept of feminist porn. Feminist porn not only facilitates the female gaze, but also enables a shift from the heterosexual, male-dominated porn scene to a more inclusive, broad and less intimidating environment.
Okay, but what does feminist porn consist of?
Feminist porn embraces diversity in terms of body shapes and sizes, age, sexuality, gender, couples, race, ethnicity, and disability (Steber, 2020). This allows many more women, men, and gender non-conforming individuals to find actors they resonate with, creating a more fluid and connected sensual experience when watching porn. Feminist porn has worked to dismantle the hurtful stereotypes imposed by the mainstream porn industry, such as unattainable expectations regarding weight, body hair, sexual prowess, female submission, and male aggression. Furthermore, many feminist pornographers define good porn for women as porn that encompasses all aspects of female sexuality. As defined by Stewart, this includes the representation of her desires, her pleasure, her experience of sex and her orgasm (2019). Feminist porn not only focuses on making porn for women, but has also sought to disrupt and expand conventional definitions of sex (Stewart, 2019) by creating porn that resonates with people of minority genders and sexualities. Unlike porn that focuses on the male orgasm, feminist porn expresses the many types of pleasure that other people experience. In terms of female-to-female sex representation in pornography, mainstream lesbian sex is depicted in a way that appeals to the heterosexual male audience, as opposed to the authentic queer experience (Brehas, 2021). Corsianos explains that mainstream lesbian porn is constructed as “the straight man’s fantasy”, one in which women are seen to seek lesbian sex not as a form of self-pleasure and empowerment, but as a tool to please male audiences (2007).
How does feminism in porn translate off-screen?
An important aspect of feminist porn is the concern for the rights and safety of the actors off-screen (Stewart, 2019). Feminist porn ensures fair and equitable treatment of its participants, creating a more comfortable, welcoming, safe, and empowering environment (Stewart, 2019). Consent is an issue that exists both on and off screen in feminist porn and is achieved through a discussion of boundaries, health issues, protections and limits (Steber, 2020). During the scene, feminist porn does not depict non-consensual sexual acts or vastly different power dynamics that are common in mainstream porn (Steber, 2020). Feminist porn instead ensures that the consent of the actors and consent throughout the scene is empowering for everyone involved, regardless of any differences (Steber, 2020). This is not to say that feminist porn consists of “vanilla porn.” There are productions of kink and feminist BDSM porn that ensure consent is present in all aspects of filming. As with all scenes produced in feminist porn, boundaries and boundaries are established before and during filming. Furthermore, the emphasis is less on genital aspects seen in mainstream porn, but more on the connection between the actors (Steber, 2020).
Should we all watch feminist porn?
The purpose of feminist porn is to represent the female sexual experience that is overlooked in favor of the male experience in mainstream pornography. For those underrepresented in the media, feminist porn is a welcome advancement in pornography because it represents minority groups while representing diverse experiences neglected in mainstream pornography. As for who should watch feminist porn, it varies depending on preference, subjectivity, and availability. Feminist porn has worked to emphasize the female sexual experience, and while there has been progress in diversifying actors in the porn industry, there may be misrepresentation or lack of representation. The sexual experiences depicted may also include aspects of sexuality that do not fit everyone’s definition of feminism. Finally, due to the amount of feminist pornography compared to mainstream pornography, it can be difficult to find the specific sexual scenes one craves (Corsianos 2007). But if you’re more concerned about consent and the ethical aspects of pornography, feminist porn might be for you. Feminist porn ensures that values and beliefs are not compromised when consuming pornographic material by placing ethics and consent as the highest priority. Overall, the question is not whether or not we should all watch feminist pornography, but whether or not mainstream porn should adopt the progressive practices that are integral to its mission.
Feminist porn uses the female gaze to capture and portray the female sexual experience that is overlooked in mainstream porn. Feminist porn also focuses on diversity, authenticity, empowerment and consent, allowing for the representation of marginalized groups. From the consent process both on and off camera to the less aggressive and more sensual portrayal of sex, feminist porn ensures that the dominant, heterosexual male experience is not the only one emphasized in pornography. Feminist porn has allowed the field of pornography to encompass the views, desires and needs of many more individuals, but much more remains to be achieved. The porn industry needs to reevaluate the negative stereotypes, expectations and sexual experiences it promotes and emphasize the importance of consent, representation and safety in pornography. Together with feminist porn, this can enable a more welcoming, safe, inclusive, and healthier environment for sexual expression.
Sonya Gill (she/her), BAH Psychology Class of 2025, Queen’s University
References
Altmann, G., and Altman, G. (2022, April 20). What is the female gaze? The female gaze.
Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://www.thefemalegaze.com/what-is-the-female-gaze/
Brehas, A. (2021, September 22). ,. , -YouTube. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://archermagazine.com.au/2014/12/feminist-pornography-beyond-the-male-gaze/
Corsianos, M. (2007). Mainstream pornography and ‘women’: Questioning sexual agency.
Critical sociology, 33(5), 863-885. https://doi.org/10.1163/156916307X230359
Steber, C. (2020, July 28). Sex experts explain everything you need to know
Feminist porn. Rush. https://www.bustle.com/wellness/feminist-porn-sex-experts-differs-mainstream
Stewart, R. S. (2019). Is feminist porn possible? Sexuality and culture, 23(1), 254-270.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-018-9553-z
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