Comments on: Porn For Women – The Backlash

By: The Female Gaze Does Not Exist?

The Female Gaze Does Not Exist? — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:55:18 +0000

[...] are) can have the effect of denying straight women their own space in the pornosphere. As I said in this post two and a half years ago, these phrases are about creating a space in an overwhelmingly [...]

By: msnaughty

msnaughty — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:31:33 +0000

It’s interesting how the phrase is often thought to be somehow proscriptive but I don’t see it that way. Of course a man can enjoy porn that is ostensibly intended for a female audience and can prefer it if he likes. And yes, it doesn’t matter who makes it.

As I mentioned in the original post, as porn moves away from the cliched, sexist straightjacket it has come to inhabit, we’ll be talking less about “porn for women” and more about “good porn” versus “bad porn.”

Even though things have definitely improved since I first wrote this post two years ago, I still think the phrase is useful as a marker. Because the majority of porn is still aimed at men, gay or straight. And because sex is ultimately a gendered experience (and I include GBLT and genderqueer in that), I think you’ll always get porn that reflects that particular experience or that speaks to that particular type of person. In that context, “porn for women” is pretty broad but I would still use it.

By: Nobilis Reed

Nobilis Reed — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:55:21 +0000

Is a man allowed to enjoy porn that was made “for women”?

Is a man allowed to prefer it?

Is a man allowed to make it?

Just asking questions here… because in the written erotica world, sometimes the answers are “absolutely”, “of course”, and “no”.

By: Alison Lee

Alison Lee — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:41:27 +0000

I couldn’t agree more! While I definitely think there are problems with the term “porn for women” I would much rather go out and change perceptions of what that means than do away with it completely. I think it’s a useful term that gets people thinking about what some of the differences can be between the more mainstream, male-focused industry, and people who are making porn directed at a female audience. Someday we’ll just call it “good porn”!