Interesting Stories and Insights about Ethical Porn
Pornography. It’s a polarizing topic that evokes a wide range of emotions — love, disdain, and everything in between. Regardless of individual opinions, one thing is clear: almost everyone has encountered it. The internet has vastly expanded access to a plethora of pornographic content, making it a staple in many people’s lives. With this in mind, we conducted a survey within our community to gauge their thoughts on porn.
Our survey revealed that the most prominent concern among respondents was the ethical treatment of porn performers, with a staggering 70.40% expressing worries about this issue. While it’s commendable that many are mindful of labor rights and the treatment of workers, the reality of sex work in the porn industry is more nuanced than it might initially appear.
“There’s this moral panic around porn right now, where people irrationally fear its supposed evil,” explains Allie Oops, a queer porn director, producer, and performer. “This panic is not grounded in reality. It’s a societal fear projected onto porn.”
The perception of porn as inherently “evil” spans diverse groups, from ardent feminists to staunch conservatives. For conservatives, this belief often stems from religious morals deeming sex and porn as fundamentally wrong. Conversely, some feminists express concerns over the welfare of performers, though this concern can sometimes seem patronizing.
(This survey was distributed to our community, comprising 324 respondents, predominantly straight women aged 18 to 34. Given that our most popular product is designed for heterosexual couples, this demographic breakdown was expected. However, it’s crucial to note that these insights are not representative of the global view on porn, but rather reflect the opinions of a specific community.)
“I want to see more porn that I feel is ethical. Also, more porn catered to women!”
“We need more discussions on ethics, both for porn workers and the general public affected by unrealistic porn portrayals (women, POC, LGBTQ+, etc.)”
The terms “ethical” and “feminist” porn are frequently discussed but often vaguely defined. Many believe that the content of the porn itself determines its ethicality, but Allie argues this is a misconception.
“You can’t judge a porn’s ethicality by what’s on screen,” Allie states. “Ethical porn isn’t a genre but a set of labor rights and practices that can apply to all types of porn, whether indie, feminist, mainstream, or otherwise. It’s about work standards.”
“I hope that sex workers in porn are protected and safe.”
“I hope performers can freely choose scenes they enthusiastically consent to, with partners they are comfortable with.”
Traditionally, those interested in ethical porn were advised to follow specific directors known for their ethical stance. But is this approach truly effective?
“Feminist porn often creates a binary, claiming ‘we’re ethical, they’re not,’” Allie says. “This divisive stance perpetuates the narrative of unethical mainstream porn. Instead, ethical practices should apply across the industry.”
Rather than following directors, Allie suggests following the performers themselves. Social media allows performers to communicate directly with their audience, providing insight into their working conditions.
“The performer is the most marginalized person on set,” Allie emphasizes. “To know if the porn you’re watching is ethical, follow the performer. They often speak out about their work conditions, despite the curated nature of social media.”
“I’d like to see porn that isn’t default heteronormative. Even queer porn often has a heteronormative lens for better sales.”
“We need more diversity! More queer femme porn, more compensation for workers, less stigma, and more representation of disabled or unconventional bodies!”
Despite concerns over performer treatment, 84.26% of respondents admitted to consuming porn on free video sites, or “tube” sites, where much content is stolen, depriving creators of their earnings.
So, if tube sites are off-limits, where should conscientious viewers obtain their porn? The answer is straightforward: directly from the performers.
“Buying porn directly from the performer is the best way to ensure an ethical experience,” Allie advises. “Many sites allow you to purchase directly from performers, ensuring they get paid for their work.”
Supporting performers financially enables the creation of diverse, representative porn that many respondents desire. This type of porn is costly to produce and challenging to sell due to low demand.
“I made no money on my trans porn,” Allie shares. “But a simple POV blowjob scene earned me $5k.”
If you appreciate diverse, inclusive porn, support its creators financially. Pay for their work to sustain the content you enjoy.
“Remember, porn exists within a capitalist framework, just like any business,” Allie notes. “Most queer porn isn’t highly profitable, and performers are trying to survive in this system.”
Allie hopes for a future where queer and trans porn can thrive financially. In the meantime, she urges supporters to take action.
“If you find creators making the porn you love, support them financially,” Allie urges. “Give them your money.”
By directly supporting performers, viewers can foster a more ethical and diverse porn industry.
