What Behaviors Do Young Heterosexual Australians See in Pornography? A Cross-Sectional Study. Issue 3 (24th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davis, Angela C.; Carrotte, Elise R.; Hellard, Margaret E.; Lim, Megan S. C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sex research. Volume 55:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 310
• Page End: 319
• Publication Date: 2018-03-24
• Subjects: Sexology -- Research -- Periodicals; Sex -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Sex; Psychiatry; 306.705
• DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2017.1417350
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4499

Abstract

Abstract : This study investigated how frequently a group of young heterosexual Australians (ages 15 to 29) saw a range of behaviors represented in pornography over the previous 12 months. Participants were recruited to an anonymous online survey. Those who reported having viewed pornography in the past 12 months ( n = 517) indicated how frequently they saw each of a list of 17 behaviors when they watched pornography in the past 12 months. Men's pleasure (83%) was seen frequently by the highest proportion of young people surveyed, followed by a man being portrayed as dominant (70%). Women were more likely to report frequently seeing violence toward a woman ( p < 0.01). Men were more likely to report frequently seeing heterosexual anal sex ( p < 0.01), ejaculation onto a woman's face ( p < 0.01), women portrayed as dominant ( p < 0.01), a man being called names or slurs ( p < 0.01), and violence toward a man that appears consensual ( p < 0.01). Younger age was significantly associated with frequently seeing women's pleasure ( p < 0.05), violence toward women which appeared consensual, and all types of violence ( p < 0.01). Older age was associated with frequently seeing men's pleasure ( p < 0.01) and heterosexual anal sex ( p < 0.05). Our findings draw attention to the gendered ways that behaviors in pornography are seen and identified by young heterosexual audiences.