In the PORN-TYPES project, we examine deeply ingrained stereotypes in online pornography, from the ‘MILF’ to the ‘BBC.’ But why does this matter? How do these stereotypes impact our consumption of pornography and our broader sexual proclivities?
Before the start of the research project, principal investigator Dr. Samira van Bohemen explained her motivations for pursuing this study in an article on socialevraagstukken.nl. You can find the original Dutch article here or continue reading an English version below.
Peer feedback on my proposal to study the pleasure people derive from watching stereotypes in online pornography revealed a divide among researchers. While some colleagues were enthusiastic, an anonymous reviewer dismissed my proposal as irrelevant, arguing that the stereotypes prevalent on porn sites are unrelated to why people watch porn and the pleasure they derive from it.
This view is both remarkable and unlikely, as it contradicts data on both production and consumption. The online pornography industry is dominated by large companies that attract hundreds of millions of visitors daily and earn billions each year. These companies analyze in detail what people want to see and adjust their content accordingly. One of the biggest players in the field, Pornhub.com, offers annual overviews of search terms that undermine the idea that stereotypes are maintained merely by chance or habit.
“Popular search terms, like MILF, Asian and ebony, refer to social categories that research has shown are often depicted stereotypically”
A quick glance at their latest 2023 data shows that both categorical and physical stereotypes feature prominently among the top 20 most popular search terms, such as ‘MILF,’ ‘stepmother,’ ‘BBC,’ ‘big butt,’ and ‘big tits.’ Other popular search terms, like ‘Asian’ and ‘ebony,’ refer to social categories that research has shown are often depicted stereotypically.
This raises the question: where do these stereotypes come from, and how are they intertwined with sexual arousal? The sexual scripting theory of Gagnon & Simon offers insight. Developed in the 1970s, this theory provided a sociological alternative to the psychobiological model of human sexuality created by Alfred Kinsey and colleagues. Gagnon & Simon criticized this model for linking sexual arousal and pleasure too narrowly to strictly physical processes.
Their theory posits that human sexuality follows ideas within a particular culture or social context about what is ‘normal,’ ‘sexy,’ or ‘arousing.’ These ideas also exist about specific groups, leading us to classify certain group characteristics as ‘normal,’ ‘sexy,’ or ‘arousing.’ People are socialized into these ideas, making them second nature and part of personal sexual preferences.
“Nothing disrupts sexual pleasure more than having to think too much during sex”
The functionality of stereotypes in online porn lies in their contribution to quickly achieving sexual pleasure by offering viewers a recognizable storyline. Nothing disrupts sexual pleasure more than having to think too much during sex. Stereotypes largely remove this thought process. Especially when the presented stereotype matches an internalized sexual script, it will facilitate sexual pleasure. Stereotypes can also simplify and standardize sexual fantasies to appeal to a broad audience, which is, of course, a goal of pornographic websites.
The stereotypical sexual scripts found in porn partially stem from a history of inequality and discrimination. Gender roles of the sexually dominant man and submissive woman are rooted in gender inequality, while the exaggeration of anatomical features of certain ethnic groups originates in the neocolonial past. The fact that people seek this out to achieve orgasm means these forms of social injustice become deeply ingrained in our bodies, making them difficult to break.
“Deriving pleasure from porn can sometimes also be linked to questioning stereotypes, offering an opening for social criticism”
Yet, at the same time, there is porn that mocks these stereotypes and offers an opening for social criticism. Watching porn and deriving pleasure from it can thus also be linked to questioning stereotypes. But it is still unknown to what extent this happens, by whom and in what contexts.
Looking at this phenomenon, we should consider that, because sexual scripts are learned through socialization, not everyone will find the same stereotypes equally appealing or objectionable. The diversity in social contexts and positions individuals occupy influences the attractiveness of these stereotypes. For example, if you were raised in a context where female chastity was highly valued, you are more likely to recognize and appreciate the stereotype of the ‘submissive’ or ‘serving’ woman. This will differ for someone who grew up with different ideas about gender and sexuality.
Studying stereotypes in online pornography is thus interesting for sociologists, as this variety in perception can provide insights into how broader social contexts influence sexuality.
Thanks to the work of cultural sociologist Giselinde Kuipers, we know that people with different social backgrounds embrace different beauty ideals. Other researchers, following in Bourdieu’s footsteps, have convincingly shown that class background leads to taste differences. This idea also applies to sexuality. With this in mind, stereotypes in porn become a lens through which the complex phenomenon of the social side of sexuality can be partially examined.
“The consumption of stereotypes in online pornography shows that even in individual and private settings, sexuality is imbued with the social”
The importance of studying stereotypes in online pornography thus extends beyond understanding individual pleasure. The fact that people often watch porn individually and in private makes it a strong case for elucidating the broader social organization of sexual pleasure and attraction. Even in this context, human sexuality is imbued with the social. Studying this has the potential to shed fascinating light on the complex dynamics between sexuality, culture, and social influences.
Are you Dutch-speaking and want to learn more about this research? Dr. Samira van Bohemen explained the reasons behind the research further as guest on the podcast De Sociologie Show. The podcast is an initiative of the Journal of Social Issues (Sociale Vraagstukken) and the Dutch Sociological Association (NSV).
Podcast ‘Your sexual fantasies, we know what they look like’ (Dutch) From threesomes to sex with aliens — sexual fantasies are the perfect way to
Podcast ‘Stereotypes in Pornography’ (Dutch) Are you Dutch-speaking and want to learn more about this research? Dr. Samira van Bohemen explained the reasons behind the
The Tension Between Feminist Ideals and Erotic Fantasies Every day, hundreds of millions of people watch pornography, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Yet porn
