Porn viewers more likely to see women as equals than non-viewers

[Theodarzna]

Rest ye' o great and noble paladins defending womankind from the wicked depredations of the dirty masturbators! For it is revealed that far from the sexist beastly monsters its statistically at least correlated with seeing women as equals.

People who watch pornography hold views of women as more equal to men than people who do not watch pornography, and are no less likely to describe themselves as feminists, according the results of a study published in the Journal of Sex Research.

The role of pornography in shaping societal attitudes towards women has been a topic of longstanding debate. Some commentators argue that pornography is inherently demeaning to women, and that viewing it causes men to develop more hostile gender attitudes and causes women to internalize negative gender stereotypes. Others contend that pornography empowers women, and that viewing it promotes more equal gender attitudes among both men and women.

A study led by Taylor Kohut, of Western University, addressed this controversy using data from more than 28,000 people who participated in the General Social Survey, an annual study of attitudes in the US population, between 1975 and 2011. The survey asked participants if they had watched an X-rated movie in the last year. It also included several questions regarding their attitudes towards women.

Source Article
Academic Paper

My initial reaction is that this sort of confirms what I've known, but I will add that it might be difficult to find any legitimate control group. Porn is ubiquitous and inescapable, but they appear to have found that the very least looking at porn, and likely then erotica, eros-cosplay, ecchi, hentai, or yes *gasp* sexy video game women, will likely not create a bunch of horrible sexist PUA beasts from the rape dimension.

[melodramocracy]

I find this a bit weird, seeing how much porn out there leans towards degradation / objectification on some level or another. *shrug*

[Mrbleedinggums]

Ugh, feminists?Some of us are humanists (that is, we actually care about both female AND male issues), thank you very much. I'd rather not be part of a wave filled with misandry. Other than that, I agree with the overall study. Look at all the groups that hate the idea of women in power and you'll see a stern moral idea that abstinence, devaluing of sexual pleasure for their partner, and demonizing many forms of fornication as a common factor.

[Kaleredar]

The study is flawed.


No men don't watch porn.

[Underverse]

This has nothing to do with watching porn and everything to do with religion. The people who are watching porn are more liberal and thus have less traditional family values. This paper purports to deny the suggested causal relation between watching porn and viewing women as objects, but it does not sufficiently control for confounding variables (as with most survey based social science papers...). However, all the authors of this paper have demonstrated is that watching porn is correlated with more liberal family values. I think that would be an obvious observation.

[Mrbleedinggums]

I find this a bit weird, seeing how much porn out there leans towards degradation / objectification on some level or another. *shrug*

It's a paradox of sorts. By allowing people to quench their primal desire you thus deter them from feeling the need to act on those urges. If you're pissed off and you want to bash your coworker's head in, you can just play CoD or a MOBA or something else and rage there to quell your anger. Also, sayings like "lady in the street, freak in the sheets" comes to mind. That is, that what you do in the bed doesn't always correlate to how you act in public (Observer effect). Also, from my personal anecdotal evidence and from what I've seen as of far, quite a few assertive women are rather submissive (enjoying things like being spanked, choked, and forced upon) in bed.

- - - Updated - - -

This has nothing to do with watching porn and everything to do with religion. The people who are watching porn are more liberal and thus have less traditional family values. This paper purports to deny the suggested causal relation between watching porn and viewing women as objects, but it does not sufficiently control for confounding variables (as with most survey based social science papers...). However, all the authors of this paper have demonstrated is that watching porn is correlated with more liberal family values. I think that would be an obvious observation.

It's a correlation no doubt, but it does have some merit. It's just looking at the trees instead of the actual forest.

- - - Updated - - -

Most of what I've read in the past has suggested porn doesn't create bad attitudes, just exacerbates them, so a study measuring whether or not bad attitudes exist not coming up with anything wouldn't be terribly surprising.

In some cases, sure. Just like how repressing attitudes simply progresses and intensifies it when they finally do burst and (insert horrendous act here). Maybe if they let Catholic priests marry, for instance, they wouldn't feel the need to do what they do best.

[Underverse]

It's a correlation no doubt, but it does have some merit. It's just looking at the trees instead of the actual forest.

I mean, you can't acknowledge that it's just a correlation and then say it has causative merit (if that's what you're saying) without additional data. This correlation literally tells us nothing; like I said, it could well be that conservative people don't watch porn as much and are thus skewing the data.

[Deleted]

Not that I disagree or doubt the study, but how large is their sample size of men that don't view porn?

[Cthulhu 2020]

I expect a whole lot of people in here to not understand what "more likely" means.

[Theodarzna]

I find this a bit weird, seeing how much porn out there leans towards degradation / objectification on some level or another. *shrug*

I'd coin the term the "Japan Paradox." a country with widely available erotica, porn, even very strange and out there including rape porn and yet a rape rate so low its almost supernatural.

[Rixis]

I'd coin the term the "Japan Paradox." a country with widely available erotica, porn, even very strange and out there including rape porn and yet a rape rate so low its almost supernatural.

If their porn has taught me anything, it's that the woman learns to enjoy it after about 20 minutes.

/kidding

[Theodarzna]

The study is flawed.


No men don't watch porn.

That is actually my one problem with it, is how could they find a control group other than the Amish or incredibly fundamentalist Muslims or Orthodox Jews with zero use of internet and make sure they aren't actually using the internet?

[Underverse]

If their porn has taught me anything, it's that the woman learns to enjoy it after about 20 minutes.

/kidding

Wow...this is...lol

[Mrbleedinggums]

I mean, you can't acknowledge that it's just a correlation and then say it has causative merit (if that's what you're saying) without additional data. This correlation literally tells us nothing; like I said, it could well be that conservative people don't watch porn as much and are thus skewing the data.

Hmm I should probably re-say my intended statement or at least try to explain. I apologize in advance, I use rather unconventional means to try to explain my thoughts because I can't seem to explain like most people.

It's a correlation, so thus the point is moot. However, the underlying point, although it has no direct link (that is porn = equality), it is linked with what is actually the reason for the result. (that is, actually being a decent human being/liberal = equality). Hence why I was saying they're seeing the forest for the trees. If that is true that they're not accounting for what you stated, then they're looking at a small part of the entire scope and saying that it's because of that. (e.g: Everyone votes, a president is voted in. Instead of pointing out that it was because of everyone that voted, they're saying it's because a particular individual voted that the president won. They're technically right, but from an academic standpoint they'd be morally wrong)

Who knows, maybe they did take that into account? I can't necessarily speak for them. All I know is, yay for porn!

[Kouki]

oh noes my preconceived notions from my gender studies class say men are rapists and video games make them rape more is wrong.

[Underverse]

That is actually my one problem with it, is how could they find a control group other than the Amish or incredibly fundamentalist Muslims or Orthodox Jews with zero use of internet and make sure they aren't actually using the internet?

I think you're projecting a majority belief onto the entire population unjustly. I'm male, and I don't watch porn because I feel like it cheapens my real relationships.

[Mrbleedinggums]

If their porn has taught me anything, it's that the woman learns to enjoy it after about 20 minutes.

/kidding

Almost every woman has been a toaster strudel at least once in their life?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WaCq_acXZd...er-strudel.jpg

- - - Updated - - -

oh noes my preconceived notions from my gender studies class say men are rapists and video games make them rape more is wrong.

10/10. I still don't get the idea with that degree.

- - - Updated - - -

I think you're projecting a majority belief onto the entire population unjustly. I'm male, and I don't watch porn because I feel like it cheapens my real relationships.

More power to you. Just like how some people prefer to drink or not to drink in relationships because of their personal reasons, I'm sure we can respect those that choose to watch or even share porn with their partners as well as those that prefer to abstain from such acts because of reasons from either side.

[Underverse]

More power to you. Just like how some people prefer to drink or not to drink in relationships because of their personal reasons, I'm sure we can respect those that choose to watch or even share porn with their partners as well as those that prefer to abstain from such acts because of reasons from either side.

Absolutely - my point is just that some people don't watch porn, and I'm tempted to roll my eyes after 3 posts of 'where did they find men who don't watch porn?' as if it's a completely universal cultural phenomenon.

[frogger237]

I find this a bit weird, seeing how much porn out there leans towards degradation / objectification on some level or another. *shrug*

There was also a study that seemed to indicate those who played violent videogames became more empathetic than those who didn't. I think they had people play the airport shootout scene from Call of Duty. So it might be a guilt like thing or maybe something like releasing some of your pent up emotions doesn't let it build up.

[Mrbleedinggums]

Absolutely - my point is just that some people don't watch porn, and I'm tempted to roll my eyes after 3 posts of 'where did they find men who don't watch porn?' as if it's a completely universal cultural phenomenon.

It's a common stigma that men face. "Oh you don't find someone attractive? You must be gay or a eunuch."