Women love porn. We need to accept it. We need to embrace it, because it's just a fact. Luckily, there does seem to be an increased awareness about women and porn in recent times. In fact, Marie Claire recently released a survey of over 3,000 readers to look at women and porn. Some of the information is no surprise to those interested in female porn-viewing — the fact that straight women often prefer lesbian pornography, or that women are far more likely to seek out BDSM or group sex in pornography than men, has been covered before.
But this survey provides a more comprehensive look at the entire experience ― issues like why we watch porn, how we do it, and how it makes us feel. I love this idea. As someone who masturbates every day and watches porn very, very regularly, it was nice to hear I'm not alone. Nearly a third of women surveyed reported watching porn every week — and 10 percent watch it daily. You can see why Marie Claire launched the survey, as well as its umbrella project, The Porn Project. So many of us are doing it, so let's see what's actually happening.
1. We're Watching It For Us, And Not For Our Partners
There's a myth of women reluctantly watching porn because her partner is into it. Not true. Only 12 percent reported only watching porn with a partner. Everyone else who watched did so solo, or sometimes solo and sometimes with their partner.
2. It's Not Just Traditional Porn
The majority of people sought out internet porn, unsurprisingly. But 40 percent said they used erotic stories, and six percent said they used audio porn.
3. We're Watching It On Our Phones
WHY? Sixty-two percent reported watching porn on a smartphone, and I just don't get it. Aren't you using your hands for something else!? Call me old-fashioned, but I like a laptop or an iPad. I once had a nearly-broken iPad that only had porn and 30 Rock episodes still working. It was my happy place.
4. We're Conflicted
There were a lot of different reasons people felt ambivalent about porn. For those who were conflicted, 56 percent said they were concerned about how women in the industry are treated and the general perpetuation of negative stereotypes. Nineteen percent said they feel like they shouldn't "need it," and 35 percent didn't like the way men confused porn and real sex.
5. And Too Many Of Us Are Embarrassed
I found this upsetting. For people who were conflicted, 41 percent said that watching porn was something they didn't want anyone to know about, and 20 percent said it made them embarrassed and ashamed. With the huge percentage of women who love porn, it's really terrible that so many are embarrassed and ashamed of it.
We're taught it's a normal part of male sexual health, but that it makes women either dirty or nymphomaniacs. It's really effing crappy, but it's also ridiculous, considering how many of us are watching it. It's just as normal for us as it is for men, and if you have an issue with people watching porn, it should be equally applicable to everyone.
6. But We Don't Think It Has A Negative Effect On Our Sex Lives
Despite being embarrassed, most of us don't think it does any harm — 76 percent thought it had no negative effect on their dating or sex lives. For those who did think there was a negative effect, most said it was because their partner had certain expectations about their looks or sexual behaviors which they felt came from porn.
7. It's A Learning Tool
Fifty-one percent that porn had taught them about sex, while 29 percent said it made them feel sexy.
8. But Mostly ... It's A Quick Way To Orgasm
Although those benefits are great, and I certainly love pornography, let's be real: 73 percent said they watched porn because it was a quick way to orgasm. Amen, sisters.
Want more of Bustle's Sex and Relationships coverage? Watch people try to guess what these sex toys are for:
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