What do people do with porn? qualitative research into the consumption, use and experience of pornography and other sexually explicit media

ATTWOOD, F. (2005). What do people do with porn? qualitative research into the consumption, use and experience of pornography and other sexually explicit media. Sexuality and culture, 9 (2), 65-86.

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Abstract

This article reviews qualitative research into the consumption of pornography and other sexually explicit media emerging from a range of subject areas. Taking a critique of quantitative methods and a focus on measuring sexual effects and attitudes as a starting point, it considers the proposition that qualitative work is more suited to an examination of the complex social, cultural and political constructions of sexuality. Examining studies into the way men, women and young people see, experience, and use explicit media texts, the article identifies the key findings that have emerged. Qualitative work shows that sexuality explicit media texts are experienced and understood in a variety of ways and evoke strong and often contradictory reactions, not all of which are represented in public debates about pornography. These texts function in a range of different ways, depending on context; as a source of knowledge, a resource for intimate practices, a site for identity construction, and an occasion for performing gender and sexuality. The article reviews these studies and their findings, identifying what they suggest about directions for future research, both in terms of developing methodology and refining approaches to sexuality and media consumption.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© Springer. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Cultural Communication and Computing Research Institute > Communication and Computing Research Centre
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-005-1008-7
Page Range:	65-86
Depositing User:	Ann Betterton
Date Deposited:	05 Dec 2007
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 14:33
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/30

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