Exploring the social and sexual “reality” of contemporary pornography

Adolescents’ Exposure to a Sexualized Media Environment and Their Notions of Women as Sex Objects

“…Our findings are in line with two different strands of research. First, the fact that we found sexually explicit on-line movies to be related with notions of women as sex objects concurs with content analyses that have demonstrated that women are objectified in sexually explicit material (e.g., Brosius et al, 1993;Cowan et al, 1988;Ertel, 1990). This objectification may partly result from men's derogatory sexual comments about women (Cowan et al, 1988;Ertel, 1990).…”

“…Content analyses of sexually explicit content have suggested a sexual objectification of women through, for example, frequent fullscreen genitalia shots (Cowan et al, 1988), male ejaculation on the body, the face, or in the mouth of a woman (Brosius et al, 1993), and the depiction of women in a passive role (Ertel, 1990). At least in its frequency and intensity, the sexual objectification of women in sexually explicit content may thus be more distinct than sexual objectification of women in sexually non-explicit or sexually semi-explicit material.…”

“…In sexually semi-explicit movies, examples of female nudity outnumber males nudity in a ratio of 4:1 (Greenberg et al, 1993). Finally, sexually explicit material in videos, DVD's, magazines, and on the internet primarily treats women as sexual playthings and subordinates, whose bodies and genitals are the center of attention (e.g., Brosius, Weaver, & Staab, 1993;Cowan, Lee, Levy, & Snyder, 1988;Ertel, 1990). Cowan et al (1988), for example, reported that 69% of sexually objectifying genitalia full-screen exposures were shots of women, and 31% were shots of men.…”

Associations between Young Adults' Use of Sexually Explicit Materials and Their Sexual Preferences, Behaviors, and Satisfaction

“…Another common theme (generally directed towards women) was "pre-sex preparation," which included personal appearance and grooming advice such as what clothes are "sexy" and appropriate pubic hair removal. Overall, content analyses suggest that in addition to highlighting male sexual prowess and female sexual subordination, sexually explicit media depicts sexual activities that are uncommon in their variety and sexual performances that are unrealistic in their intensity (e.g., Brosius et al, 1993;Jensen & Dines, 1998).Little research has specifically examined how SEM use is associated with sexual behaviors, satisfaction, and preferences. The majority of researchers exploring associations between SEM use and sexual behaviors focus on sexual violence (e.g., Malamuth et al, 2000), finding associations between SEM use and increased sexual perpetration and aggression, the trivialization of criminal behavior (e.g., rape), and increased risk for sexual deviancy (Kingston, Malamuth, Fedoroff & Marshall, 2009;Manning, 2006).…”

“…Furthermore, men are more likely to seek out and experience sexual arousal in response to SEM, as well as to use SEM as masturbatory aids than women (Boies, 2002;Paul, 2009;Wasserman & Richmond-Abbott, 2005). These consistent differences in men and women's use of SEM have predominantly been explained through SEM's male-oriented content that promotes male sexual prowess and sexually objectifies women (Brosius et al, 1993;Jensen & Dines, 1998). Indeed, both men and women are more likely to agree that SEM degrades women than men (Traeen, Spitznogle, & Beverfjord, 2004).…”