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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think many women don't like their partner using porn

161 replies

itsnotnormalisit · 05/06/2021 20:06

I don't like the thought of my DP using porn... he thinks most women don't mind and can't understand why women would have an issue with it and that IABU

OP posts:
Growuppeople · 05/06/2021 21:11

No, I don’t understand why ‘women’ are bothered plenty of women watch it too. Sometimes you just want too enjoy your own time, o and I’m a women!

CoalCraft · 05/06/2021 21:12

I don't mind at all. He doesn't mind me watching porn either.

What's so attractive about seeing private parts close-up etc?
Well, speaking personally, it makes masturbation more enjoyable 🤷 I imagine it's the same for everyone who uses porn, make or female.

oprahwindfuryy · 05/06/2021 21:14

I am on the fence slightly, confusingly. The hard core, degrading, humiliating violent stuff is awful. If I walked in and saw that I think I would never find him attractive again

Stevearnottsbeard · 05/06/2021 21:18

I felt uncomfortable at first about my husband watching it alone as I thought it meant I wasn't satisfying him but we made a deal, we watch it together now and it's great!

FictionalCharacter · 05/06/2021 21:19

@Workinghardeveryday If it was just “women’s naked bodies” I’d agree, but we’re talking about porn not erotica. A very, very high proportion of porn these days involves women being hit, choked, pissed on and very forcefully penetrated in all orifices, often by several men at once. Sometimes the women are crying and begging them to stop. “Painal” is a common search term. You don’t even want to know some of the others. That’s why I detest it.

Any women who thinks porn is just people having sex needs to wake up.

Chunkymenrock · 05/06/2021 21:20

I find it seedy and absolutely vile.

aibubaby · 05/06/2021 21:27

I'd be being hypocritical if I disliked it, as I watch porn. So no, I don't care.

priya3 · 05/06/2021 21:35

I think it depends what they’re actually looking at, to be honest. Some of it (well as lot) is very disturbing. When I found out my husband was watching porn, I was very upset because I went on the (free) sites he was watching myself to have a look. So much is about rape and humiliation of women and as a survivor of sexual abuse, I found some of it very triggering and ended up in therapy.

However, I now realise I just have to accept that he watches it and I think all
men do to some extent. You can’t control where men’s minds want to go, even though I think porn is very damaging on a societal level. He claims he watches only girl on girl / supposed lesbian orgy type stuff Hmm. I’ve watched it with him a fair number of times, at his request. I’m not bothered at all about him looking at other women’s bodies as I think this is natural for all men and fortunately, I’m not insecure about my own body. I think men are more visually-stimulated than women and if they just need imagery to masturbate, then I’m fine with that. If he wasn’t watching porn, what would he be thinking about? Although it seems to me that all porn is about degrading women, would not be fine if he was watching anything violent or particularly degrading, or if it affected our sex life or his attitude towards me.

There is, of course, the wider issue that you can never know how many of the women in porn have been abused or trafficked at some point. Men choose not to think about this in any depth because it doesn’t suit them to do so.

What seems most bizarre to me, is that such sites would not be tolerated for any other demographic group. The captions for these sites and the content to many videos is about dehumanising women - replace that with a similar access to racist, homophobic or religious hatred and the sites would be banned in two-seconds flat. Yet because it’s only women, apparently it’s ok.

waterlego · 05/06/2021 21:36

Women don't need soap operas - would you think it's a "sheer lack of respect" for a woman to watch it if their husband doesn't like it?

I can’t really see any ethical issues with soap operas. Maybe that’s the difference 😆

waterlego · 05/06/2021 21:38

@priya3 It’s a real shame that you think porn is degrading to women and that it has caused you mental anguish in the past and yet you think you just ‘have to’ accept your partner’s use of it, even watching it with him Sad

Echobelly · 05/06/2021 21:42

I couldn't speak for most women, but I'd imagine most don't.

DH uses it sometimes. I dislike the actual thing, like @TrickorTreacle I just find it ugly and rather gross and don't see how close ups of wet, wobbling genitals is a turn on (which is what most mainstream porn seems to be) and not a fan of the industry, but I'm OK with him using it in terms of our relationship. He's not comparing me to it and he is attracted to me and loves my body and finds it sexy etc, and he's not expecting to do the stuff you see in porn to me (unless I want to!). I'm not a 'cool wife' who's tolerating because she doesn't want to seem uptight, I just really don't see what it has to do with our relationship given it doesn't impinge upon it at all. I imagine it could well become an issue when used more heavily or if a man starts demanding/expecting stuff from/with his partner because of it.

VestaTilley · 05/06/2021 21:43

It’s disgusting, misogynistic and exploitative. I hate it and I couldn’t be with a man who viewed it.

Get a new DH.

princesslarmadrama · 05/06/2021 21:46

Doesn't bother me. Watch it on my own and even with my partner.

Survivingmy3yearold · 05/06/2021 21:52

I wouldn't mind DP watching it. He says he doesn't and I'm inclined to believe him. He's very open if he's had some "me time" but he generally does it in the shower and it's quite rare. I watch it myself from time to time, although with 2 young DDs opportunities for that sort of thing don't present themselves often.

ColaOlaLa · 05/06/2021 21:53

I don’t care tbh

Lonel · 05/06/2021 21:59

If you think men don’t fantasise over other women when they masturbate, you are mistaken
But that's not about porn is it? Nobody's saying that a man can't think of other women!
I just really don't see what it has to do with our relationship given it doesn't impinge upon it at all
I really don't get this. Do you really not care what your husband does? What if he was watching snuff videos or animal torture? Would that be just fine too? What's the difference? Why don't women count? I need to respect my husband and I couldn't stat with someone who got his sexual kicks from the exploitation and humiliation of women.
What seems most bizarre to me, is that such sites would not be tolerated for any other demographic group.
Exactly.

frankenpoodle · 05/06/2021 22:00

Yes, I would mind. I think it's gross, unhealthy, and unnecessary. I've never understood why using one's imagination isn't enough, but maybe not everyone has the same capacity for rendering a fantasy in the mind's eye.

itsnotnormalisit · 05/06/2021 22:00

@priya3 The captions for these sites and the content to many videos is about dehumanising women - replace that with a similar access to racist, homophobic or religious hatred and the sites would be banned in two-seconds flat. Yet because it’s only women, apparently it’s ok.

That's a really good point. The hatred for women that runs openly through our society is highly disturbing... you only need to look back at the thread on here about the worst things that have happened to people... the stories from women about what they've had to put up with, mainly from the hands of men, is abhorrent

OP posts:
Lonel · 05/06/2021 22:02

I'm assuming my DP watches some porn, I don't wanna know. Don't ask, don't tell.
Wow. Sounds like a great basis for a relationship.
I'd be very upset if he was watching any kind of cam girls though as id feel very sorry for the women
But not for the women in porn?? What's the difference?

Lonel · 05/06/2021 22:04

I've never understood why using one's imagination isn't enough
Widespread porn has only been around for the last couple of decades and yet a lot of people including women seem to think men can't be expected to do without it. They definitely can and we would all be better off without it!

RoseRedRoseBlue · 05/06/2021 22:06

@Lonel

If you think men don’t fantasise over other women when they masturbate, you are mistaken But that's not about porn is it? Nobody's saying that a man can't think of other women! I just really don't see what it has to do with our relationship given it doesn't impinge upon it at all I really don't get this. Do you really not care what your husband does? What if he was watching snuff videos or animal torture? Would that be just fine too? What's the difference? Why don't women count? I need to respect my husband and I couldn't stat with someone who got his sexual kicks from the exploitation and humiliation of women. What seems most bizarre to me, is that such sites would not be tolerated for any other demographic group. Exactly.
Actually, thats exactly what the post I was responding too was saying!
MsTSwift · 05/06/2021 22:31

I find it really odd that society in general mainly “woke” youth are tremendously right on but porn as priya rightly says using offensive and degrading language to women is acceptable? Why? If there were legions of websites using similar offensive language and acts against any other group there would be an outcry. Cricketers are shamed for mildly racist language in tweets from years ago. I have never understood why porn is different and not subject to the rules that apply everywhere else...

NigellaSeed · 05/06/2021 22:35

@Lonel

I'm assuming my DP watches some porn, I don't wanna know. Don't ask, don't tell. Wow. Sounds like a great basis for a relationship. I'd be very upset if he was watching any kind of cam girls though as id feel very sorry for the women But not for the women in porn?? What's the difference?
I don't think me needing or not needing to know about what he does when he masturbates in private is the "basis" of our relationship. What a weird foundation to build our lives on
NigellaSeed · 05/06/2021 22:37

Me feeling bad for cam girls and not porn stars - I think that's probably because I've never watched porn and am extremely naive and reading some of the pp I am realising that it's also very exploitative.

oioisaveloy108 · 05/06/2021 22:37

Couldn't care less that DH watches it.
I watch it also.
Don't know any friends who don't watch it.