New research reveals women are consuming a greater volume and variety of pornography than ever before thanks to the success of the 50 Shades of Grey franchise. The research from the University of Waterloo is exploring the porn habits of women who now make up the fastest growing demographic of online porn consumers. It opened the door for many women who realize that they like this kind of material and who have begun to search out similar content online.
Parry conducted in-depth interviews with 28 women ranging in age about their pornography consumption patterns, sexual desires, and impacts on sexual practices. Consistent with other recent reports, Parry found that women are watching more online porn than ever before. The research also found that women enjoy watching and proactively search for same-sex pornography. According to the researchers, some women were clear that regardless of their sexual identity, they enjoyed consuming sexually explicit material that only featured women.
However, women are now producing, consuming and discussing sexually explicit materials with their own sexual desires in mind. In April Parry will facilitate a workshop with producers and stars at the Feminist Porn Awards hosted by Good For Her in Toronto to further probe the links between feminism and sexually explicit material.
Parry expects her research team to begin publishing findings from the study in the coming months. Interdisciplinary researchers at the Games Institute leverage immersive technologies to power a social justice project. Contact media relations to learn more about this or other stories. The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples.
Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.
