By Vaila Bhaumick

“I don’t watch porn because it’s too male-orientated” is a common reply I received, after asking female friends about their porn consumption. ‘Is this a misconception?’ I started wondering.

Are some women just not interested in porn purely because of its male bias, or is it because we haven’t looked hard enough for porn we like? Or even asked ourselves deep down whether it’s something we want?

These questions are not easy to answer, because we all have different views of sexuality, but I do know one thing: despite this belief, feminist porn is out there. 

Porn: A Product Of Patriarchy

It’s no secret that mainstream porn is all about men. It has come up against harsh criticism, not only for its effect on malleable, adolescent male minds and how it shapes their views on women, but also for its often inexcusable, violent nature. “Pornography is the perfect propaganda piece for patriarchy. In nothing else is their hatred of us quite as clear.” states Gail Dines, author of Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality.

It is a hot topic in psychological debates. One study by the American Psychological Association revealed that the average age of a boy’s first porn exposure was thirteen, and the youngest, five, yes you read that right, five! The same study also found that the younger the boy is at first exposure, the more likely he is to want power over women. 

It’s no surprise that my girlfriends, and no doubt many women, don’t go near it then. But hurrah! The porn world is multifaceted and expanding. Let’s glide into the world of feminist porn.

Feminist vs Female-Friendly vs Ethical Porn

Women are an untapped market in the porn industry, and money can be a big motivator. However, I like to think that some of this porn is driven by female desire, and finally trying to capture what really turns women on. 

Before diving into some suggestions, I think it’s important to address what is meant by feminist porn, and how it differs from female-friendly and ethical porn, or where the overlaps are. 

When describing female-friendly porn, the words that spring to mind are ‘soft’ and ‘romantic’. It generally adheres to gender stereotypes, is predominantly aimed at heterosexual, white females or couples, and is safe and sensual, minus a few kinky additions––since 50 Shades of Grey became a thing.

Ethical porn is on the rise, and the main concerns here are fair wages and safe working practices. Think Fair Trade for porn workers. Producers and performers have a more open dialogue regarding who they have sex with and how, and what safety precautions they need. 

Finally, comes feminist porn. Aiming to be inclusive, naturally, it includes the principles of female-friendly and ethical porn, but also casts its net wider in viewership, towards trans folk and men. It’s all about expanding what sexual pleasure means, pushing away from stereotypes—showing many diverse gender expressions, body types, and manifestations of sexual acts and desires. The key is that it is very human-centric, portraying the people engaging in sexual acts as the ones who have the power over it, and off-camera, they do.

Where To Find Feminist Porn

Now that you’re convinced porn isn’t all about men and want to get straight online to get yourself some, where do you start? 

Maybe try Erika Lust, a trailblazer in feminist porn. Lust began her quest in 2004, fed up and “tired of chauvinistic and tacky mainstream porn”, and she has turned heads. Lust Cinema, her online viewing platform, has mostly female-directed films, and XConfessions is a crowdsourced project that encapsulates people’s real-life sexual fantasies in short films.

Bright Desire claims to be a “celebration of sex”, showcasing intimacy, laughter, connection and real pleasure. Looking for queer porn with ethics? Look no further than the CrashPad Series, an award-winning filmmaker, casting ‘real-life’ couples, and putting them in the driving seat for sexual scenarios. 

If you’re into BDSM, Jacky St James explores various themes and aims to encourage women to embrace their sexuality.

Fancy a bit of art and literature intertwined with porn? Literotica and A Four-Chambered Heart ought to light up your libido. While we’re talking about creative pursuits, if you want to get those juices flowing, and make (& share) your own videos, MakeLoveNotPorn is for you. Socialising sex, and starting a conversation about its realities is paramount for them—“Pro-sex. Pro-porn. Pro-knowing the difference” is their tag line. 

There you have it—feminist porn is a thing after all. Who knew? I would utter a word of caution though; although I’ve made some suggestions here, please do your own research before embarking on your new-found hobby, and talk to your friends and partner. Sexual desires are highly personal, and each of us knows or should spend some time getting to know our own boundaries. 

Remember, if you are paying for porn, it usually signals that performers are being paid. If feminism and ethics are important values for you, do your homework, pay your fees, and slide into the world of feminist porn.