On-line porn viewed by women as reported in Daily Telegraph (7/8/14)

[paulinejay]

Earlier today I read an article in the Daily Telegraph which, iirc, suggested that according to some German research/study quite a surprisingly high percentage of women regularly viewed on-line porn.
Was that 17%? I forget the exact figure.

I think that the article went on to suggest that doing so led to more enjoyable and frequent sex; certainly that it helped improve sexual drive and sexual experimentation.

Now I am, I admit, one of those women who enjoy viewing on-line porn. But let me put that into context. I am in my mid 40's and currently un-attached after a couple of pretty disastrous relationships. However, I still have a sex drive, maybe slightly higher than the average (but who knows what that is exactly?) and whilst I have a large and eclectic group of friends, and fancy that I would have no problems finding a partner if I so choose, right now I just don't want to get involved in a long term relationship. And nor, to be frank, do I want to embark on/sleep around on one night stands.

So on-line porn provides an outlet for my sexual needs, albeit somewhat of a "virtual world" nature.
I'm lucky insofar as I have had a satisfying and varied sex life to date, one which includes a couple of experiences exploring my "bi-curious" side, so I can generally relate to what I see on-line.

However, I do not post this in the expectation of responses per se. I do so because I know I am not alone in my on-line activities. I share emails, swap web links and generally put the world to rights (as well as enjoying porn) with several other women of various ages and circumstances and who, like myself, find that this helps them in their own life in some way.

So my message to any of you out there who may be in a similar situation is not to feel guilty about it, as I initially did (and then some!), but simply enjoy it.

Of course, discretion is important, and especially the more so if there are children/youngster around. Luckily I am on my own, but acknowledge that I would have a very different set of practices were there kids in the house.

How lovely, a woman promoting porn

I watch porn, I have several friends who I swap good video links with.

Is it really a surprise women watch porn?

Welcome to MN Pauline.

It's interesting that you correlate a porn habit with healthy sex life, we read about the opposite so often on here.

Me too. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I have incredibly thick skin and never really did care what anyone else apart form DH and the kids think of me. Can watch it with DH or without and we have a frequent and varied sex life but he works long hard hours and his job often gets in the way. If the kids are in bed then it doesn't matter what we get up to - there's a lock on my door for a reason.

Some of my female friends openly admit to watching porn. I don't think its that unusual.

I get why women would want to use porn as an outlet but I just can't enjoy it knowing the morally bankrupt way it's made.

I do sometimes wonder if there is a more ethical form of porn out there?

I had a partner who wanted to watch it together but the pretty standard mainstream stuff he chose just annoyed me tbh (and this was vefore I considered the ethics behind it all). The women was obviously faking any real enjoyment and the clips always ended with the same BJ and money shot to the face which I found very disrespectful.

Anyway, meant to say that I read erotic stories in it's place. I thin it's natural for some women to feel the need for something for an outlet.

I agree that there's a need for an ethical "kite mark". The problem with porn which appears "homemade" by consenting adults is there's no guarantee that it's public with the agreement of all parties.

I thin it's natural for some women to feel the need for something for an outlet.

Whilst we are still on p1 can we just get straight that being anti-porn does not equate with being anti-sex?

I have an active sex life with my DP and also enjoy watching it with or without him ( more so without him ??) I don't think it's anything to hide or be embarrassed about.

I am not surprised that women enjoy it and don't have a moral problem with it -- I have some ethical qualms about the way its made but not with people watching it.

On a personal level, though it just leaves me totally cold. I find porn about as erotic as chiropody.

I have a problem with the way porn is made, the way men and women and sex is portrayed, the effect porn has on young people in particular and the people who watch porn therefore creating a demand.

Everything vivaciasaid.

I'm very uncomfortable about porn mainly because you have no idea what you are actually watching. How is it made, what are the 'actors' treated etc...

I have much less of an issue with erotica which imo can be just as good if you want to find 'a release' but you the chance to be able to find 'good' erotica where women are more that just a receptacle for a man's penis.

And YY vivacia anti-porn doesn't mean anti-sex.

I happen to like the way that sex is portrayed in porn. DH and I were young when we got together and used to have really loud, dirty, filthy sex. Then came marriage, mortgage and 4 kids so its not as easy to be throwing each other around kitchen worktops exchanging bodily fluids with two preteens and two toddlers telling you they are hungry or thirsty or looking for permission to go run their ferrets etc (unless my wonderful MiL takes them off our hands for a bit).

Having what I call 'grown up' sex whilst theres something far more exciting on can help relieve the sense of 'just going through the motions'.

I know an awful lot of women who watch porn. None of them watch mainstream het porn though. TBH I find het porn fairly distasteful most of the time. All very male gaze with the woman being well and truly used.

Yes I do, in my 40's single and yes it's better than having one night stands....I even prefer gay porn it's just less theatrical and I like watching men orgasm although I'm not keen on the kissing bits