Sex Myths in Porn

With this upcoming week and last week being so hectic and stressful, I began thinking about my next blog topic early on and had a hard time (at first) deciding what I wanted to talk about. But, after having had a discussion about pornography in my philosophy class I instantly thought, research paper! Unfortunately, I had already picked my research topic and also figured that researching porn might be somewhat inappropriate, being that our primary source is that of whatever video, television series, or magazine it is that we are researching! However, upon thinking about pornography further, I realized that Dr. Galician’s sex myths are definitely present in porn videos. Now, I don’t want you all to look at me as a pervert, but I have seen some porn and from that I have gathered that specifically, myths 4, 5, and 6 are often accounted for.
Myth 4 states: If your partner is truly meant for you, sex is easy and wonderful. Now we all are smart enough to recognize that most porn stars probably aren’t actually in a relationship with their co-stars. But, often times, in their films they sure make it look as though they are partners and in a relationships with each other. Nevertheless, the actors in these films, certainly forward the myth that sex is easy and wonderful (and if its not, something’s wrong). Because many porn videos are scripted, this definitely adds to the notion that the actors know exactly what they are doing and could perform no wrong on or with the other star. This falsely shows normal, everyday people that sex should be easy and that everyone should know what they are doing perfectly while engaging in sexual acts.
The next myth: To attract and keep a man, a woman should look like a model or a centerfold, is obviously perpetuated by pornographic films. Every woman featured in professional porn videos is gorgeous, thin, tan, big – boobed, has blonde hair, etc. These women are not normal/ typical looking women. Many of them have enhanced and exaggerated features. This could give women the idea that not only do they need to be centerfolds, but they also need to be porn stars to attract a man’s attention!
Finally, myth 5 is also present: The man should NOT be shorter, weaker, younger, poorer, or less successful than the woman. Most of the men that I have seen in porn videos are definitely stronger and taller than the women. They also tend to be very good looking and successful. This easily perpetuates the myth that men should be successful, in charge, and dominate the women.
These sex myths can potentially cause problems in a society where many people already view these myths (not as myths, but rather) as reality. They can damage a person’s confidence and overall being. The myth that sex should be easy and wonderful can simply ruin a good relationship that a man and a woman have, by making them think that they are obviously wrong for each other since they may not be performing sex “perfectly.” And again, both myths 5 and 6 are confidence damaging for both women and men!
Anyways, again I wish that I could use this topic as my research topic, but as I said earlier, it would be rather difficult and inappropriate to share results of a possible primary source (aka: a porn video). However, if this were not the case, it would be very easy to research secondary sources and put to use Dr. Galician’s myths 4, 5, and 6 without problems.