In the previous article on pornography, we explore what porn is and how it affects men. In this second part, we explore how it affects women. In the next article, we shall see how pornography affects teenagers.

Reduced sexual and relationship satisfaction:

Even though Porn raises one’s sexual desires, it leaves one not satisfied in the sexual activities that they engage in and even if they are married or in a sexual relationship, they will still prefer to masturbate after sex in order for them to climax. This applies to women too. Women who watch porn experience sexual boredom which results in one feeling dissatisfied with their partner and resulting in relationship problems.

Acceptance of rape falsehoods:

One of the worst impacts of porn for both men and women is the increased acceptance that women enjoy or should enjoy being raped. Some women even fantasize being raped. This is especially so if women were exposed to pornography when they were children. Increased porn consumption leads to increased acceptance of rape falsehoods and therefore, less sympathy for rape victims and greater assumption that they either deserved it or even enjoyed it.

Sexual victimization of women and domestic violence:

Porn is a contributor to domestic violence. Women who have partners who consume porn have a very high chance of being assaulted by the partner. This is made worse if the husband or partner consumes alcohol. Moreover, women whose partners use porn have a higher chance of being recorded during sex without their consent for their partner to use that material to masturbate or to blackmail them in the future.

Negative Body image:

Just like men, women who watch pornography tend to have their body image negatively affected. This could be a result of comparing themselves with the porn actors who often look young and well-toned. This is made worse if their partners watch porn too. Such partners tend to openly or indirectly criticize their bodies which results in such women feeling worse. This criticism is often accompanied by those men not wanting to have actual sex with them which makes the situation worse. Such women tend to feel rejected and despised.

Pressure to perform pornographic acts:

Women whose partners watch porn tend to put them under pressure to perform whatever they watched. From harmful and uncomfortable sexual positions to anal sex, many women find themselves in a tough position either to agree to it, resulting in discomfort and pretended enjoyment or they disagree and have relationship issues. As mentioned prior, men who watch may decide to pursue sex with other partners due to the heightened sexual urges and the desire to get someone willing to do sexual acts that they saw on porn. This often puts women at risk of STI in addition to the pain of infidelity.

Marital rape:

Men who regularly use porn and also go to strip clubs were found by studies to have higher levels of engagement in marital rape, general sexual abuse by forcing their wives to do sexual activities when they are not ready even if those activities don’t include sexual intercourse or even stalk their wives under the suspicion of cheating on them.

Studies Cited:

Albright, Julie, M. (2008). Sex in America Online: An Exploration of Sex, Marital Status, and Sexual Identity in Internet Sex Seeking and Its Impacts, Journal of Sex Research, 45, 175–186.

Corne, S., Briere, J., & Esses, M. L. (1992). Women’s Attitudes and Fantasies about Rape as a Function of Early Exposure to Pornography, Journal of Interpersonal Violence 7(4), 454–461.

DeKeseredy, S. W., & Hall-Sanchez, A. (2016). Adult Pornography and Violence against Women in the Heartland: Results from a Rural Southeast Ohio Study, Violence against Women, 1–20.

El-Rahman A., Sanad E. M., & Bayomy H. H. (2016). Effect of Soft-Core Pornography on Female Sexuality, Human Andrology 6(2), 60–64.

Shope, J. (2004). When Words Are Not Enough: The Search for the Effect of Pornography on Abused Women, Violence Against Women 10(1), 56–72.

Simmons, C., Lehmann, P. & Collier-Tenison S. (2008). Linking Male Use of the Sex Industry to Controlling Behaviors in Violent Relationships: An Exploratory Analysis, Violence Against Women 14(4), 406–417.

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