Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-p2v8j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-09T11:39:26.925Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

23 - Young People, Pornography, and Gendered Sexual Practices

from Media

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2018

By
Maddy Coy  and
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Edited by
Sharon Lamb  and
Jen Gilbert
Sharon Lamb
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Jen Gilbert
Affiliation:
York University, Toronto
Get access

Summary

This chapter investigates gendered dynamics and sexual norms, with particular attention to how young peoples' consumption of sexualized popular culture and use of porn might be linked to their ideas about, and experiences of, sexual expectations and sexual coercion. The authors use the concept of "sexualized sexism" to draw attention to the fact that "sexualization" usually refers to a "(hetero)sexualization of women's and girl's bodies." They analyze survey data and reviews of existing literature to reveal gender differences in how and why young people access porn. They identify a dominant theme in young peoples' stories about porn: young people describe being influenced by gendered hierarchies in porn, in which men sexually objectify women. To address this issue, they call for sexuality education that addresses consent, privilege, and the social structures that shape young peoples' thinking about sex.
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Sexual Development
Childhood and Adolescence
 , pp. 462 - 482
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2018

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychological Association (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualisation of Girls. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Australian Senate Committee (2008). Sexualisation of Children in the Contemporary Media. Canberra: Parliament House.Google Scholar
Baker, J. (2008). The Ideology of Choice: Overstating Progress and Hiding Injustice in the Lives of Young Women: Findings from a Study in North Queensland, Australia. Women’s Studies International Forum, 31, 53–64.Google Scholar
Bailey, R. (2011). Letting Children be Children – Report of an Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood. London: Department of Education.Google Scholar
Barter, C., McCarry, M., Berridge, D, & Evans, K. (2009). Partner Exploitation and Violence in Teenage Intimate Relationships. London: NSPCC.Google Scholar
Bay-Cheng, L. (2015). The Agency Line: A Neoliberal Metric for Appraising Young Women’s Sexuality, Sex Roles, 73(7–8), 279–291.Google Scholar
Bridges, A., (2010) Methodological Considerations in Mapping Pornography Content. In Boyle, K. (Ed.), Everyday Pornography. (34–49). London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Bridges, A., Sun, C. F., Ezzell, M., & Johnson, J. A. (2016). Sexual Scripts and the Sexual Behavior of Men and Women Who Use Pornography, Sexualization, Media and Society. doi:10.1177/2374623816668275.Google Scholar
Brown, J. D. & L’Engle, K. (2009). X-rated Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Associated with U.S. Early Adolescents’ Exposure to Sexually Explicit Media. Communication Research, 36(1), 129, 151.Google Scholar
Commonwealth of Australia (2016). Harm Being Done to Australian Children through Access to Pornography on the Internet. Canberra: Environment and Communications References Committee.Google Scholar
Connell, R. W. (2009). Gender, 2nd edn. Cambridge: Polity Press.Google Scholar
Coy, M. (2009). Milkshakes, Lady Lumps and Growing Up to Want Boobies: How the Sexualisation of Popular Culture Limits Girls’ Horizons. Child Abuse Review, 18(6), 372–383.Google Scholar
Coy, M. (2013). Children, Childhood and Sexualised Popular Culture. In Wild, J. (Ed.), Exploiting Childhood. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Coy, M. (2014). ‘Pornographic Performances’: A Review of Research on Sexualisation and Racism in Music Videos London: End Violence Against Women.Google Scholar
Coy, M. & Garner, M (2010). Glamour Modelling and the Marketing of Self-Sexualisation: Critical Reflections International Journal of Cultural Studies, 13(6), 657–675.Google Scholar
Coy, M. & Garner, M (2012). Definitions, Discourses and Dilemmas: Policy and Academic Engagement with the Sexualisation of Popular Culture Gender & Education, 24(3), 285–301.Google Scholar
Coy, M., Kelly, L., Elvines, F., Garner, M., & Kanyeredzi, A. (2013). Sex without Consent, I Suppose That Is Rape: How Young People in England Understand Sexual Consent. London: Office of the Children’s Commissioner.Google Scholar
Coy, M., Lovett, J., & Kelly, L. (2008). Realising Rights, Fulfilling Obligations: A Template Integrated Strategy on Violence against Women for the UK. London: EVAW.Google Scholar
Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Colour. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241–1299.Google Scholar
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (2016). Child Safety Online: Age Verification for Pornography Consultation Response. London: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/534965/20160705_AVConsultationResponseFINAL__2_.pdf.Google Scholar
Department for Education (2017). Schools to teach 21st century relationships and sex education. Press release www.gov.uk/government/news/schools-to-teach-21st-century-relationships-and-sex-education.Google Scholar
End Violence Against Women (2011). A Different World Is Possible: A Call for Long-Term and Targeted Action to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls. London: End Violence Against Women.Google Scholar
End Violence Against Women(2017). Government announces compulsory relationships & sex education in all schools. www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/451–2/.Google Scholar
Escoffier, J. (2007). Scripting the Sex: Fantasy, Narrative and Sexual Scripts in Pornographic Films. In Kimmel, M (Ed.), The Sexual Self: The Construction of Sexual Scripts (61–79). Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press.Google Scholar
Flood, M. (2009). The Harms of Pornography Exposure among Children and Young People. Child Abuse Review, 18(6), 384–400.Google Scholar
Flood, M. (2016). Submission to the Inquiry into the harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the internet. www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=1966f277-6267–4398-a8a6-7be9f97358a8&subId=410413.Google Scholar
Frith, H. (2009). Sexual Scripts, Sexual Refusals and Rape. In Horvath, M. A. H. & Brown, J. (Eds.), Rape: Challenging Contemporary Thinking (99–122). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.Google Scholar
Gagnon, J. H. & Simon, W. (1974). Sexual Conduct: The Social Sources of Human Sexuality. Chicago: Aldine Press.Google Scholar
Garner, M. (2012). The Missing Link: The Sexualisation of Culture and Men, Gender and Education, 24(3), 325–331.Google Scholar
Garner, M. (2016). Conflicts, Contradictions and Commitments: Men Speak about Sexualisation of Culture. (PhD thesis). London: London Metropolitan University.Google Scholar
Gavey, N. (2005). Just Sex? The Cultural Scaffolding of Rape. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Gavey, N. (2012). Beyond “Empowerment”? Sexuality in a Sexist World, Sex Roles, 66(11–12), 718–724.Google Scholar
Gill, R. (2007). Postfeminist Media Culture: Elements of a Sensibility, European Journal of Cultural Studies 10(2), 147–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gill, R. (2011). Sexism Reloaded, or, It’s Time to Get Angry Again! Feminist Media Studies 11(1), 61–71.Google Scholar
Gill, R. (2012). Media, Empowerment and the “Sexualization of Culture” Debates, Sex Roles, 66(11–12), 736–745.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Girlguiding (2016). Girls’ Attitudes Survey. London: Girlguiding UK.Google Scholar
Hald, G. M., Malamuth, N. M., & Yuen, C. (2010). Pornography and Attitudes Supporting Violence against Women, Aggressive Behavior, 36, 14–20.Google Scholar
Hill Collins, P. (1990). Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Hilton, G. L. S. (2007). Listening to the Boys Again: An Exploration of What Boys Want to Learn in Sex Education Classes and How They Want to Be Taught. Sex Education, 7, 161–174.Google Scholar
hooks, b. (2004). We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Holland, J., Ramazanolgu, C., & Thomson, R. (1998). The Male in the Head: Young People, Heterosexuality and Power. London: The Tufnell Press.Google Scholar
Horvath, M. A. H., Alys, K., Massey, K., Pina, A., Scally, M., & Adler, J. R. (2013). ‘Basically, Porn Is Everywhere … ’: A Rapid Evidence Assessment on the Effects that Access and Exposure to Pornography Has on Children and Young People. London: Office for the Children’s Commissioner.Google Scholar
Horvath, M. A. H. & Coy, M. (2014). Young People and Online Pornography Survey Findings. Unpublished internal report for BBC3 Programme ‘Porn: What’s the harm?’ London: Middlesex University and London Metropolitan University.Google Scholar
Hyde, A., Drennan, J., Howlett, E., & Brady, D. (2008). Heterosexual Experiences of Secondary School Pupils in Ireland: Sexual Coercion in Context. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 10(5), 479–493.Google Scholar
Jackson, S. (1999). Heterosexuality in Question. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Jackson, S. M. & Cram, F. (2003). Disrupting the Sexual Double Standard: Young Women’s Talk about Heterosexuality. British Journal of Social Psychology, 42(1), 113–127.Google Scholar
Jeffner, S. (2000). Different Space for Action: The Everyday Meaning of Young People’s Perception of Rape, Paper at ESS Faculty Seminar, University of North London, May 2000.Google Scholar
Kelly, L. (1988). Surviving Sexual Violence. Cambridge: Polity Press.Google Scholar
Kelly, L. (2007). A Conducive Context: Trafficking of Persons in Central Asia. In Lee, M. (Ed.), Human Trafficking (73–91). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.Google Scholar
Kendall, C. N. (2004). Educating Gay Male Youth: Since When Is Pornography a Path towards Self Respect? Journal of Homosexuality, 47, 83–128.Google Scholar
Kubicek, K., Beyer, W. J., Weiss, G., Iverson, E. & Kipke, M. D. (2010). In the Dark: Young Men’s Stories of Sexual Initiation in the Absence of Relevant Sexual Health Information. Health Education & Behavior, 37, 243–263.Google Scholar
Lamb, S. & Peterson, Z. (2012). Adolescent Girls’ Sexual Empowerment: Two Feminists Explore the Concept. Sex Roles, 66(11–12), 703–712.Google Scholar
Lamb, S. (2015). Revisiting Choice and Victimization: A Commentary on Bay-Cheng’s Agency Matrix. Sex Roles, 73(7–8), 292–297Google Scholar
Larasi, I. (2013, November 10). Why must we accept the casual racism in pop videos? The Observer. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/10/black-women-music-industry-sex.Google Scholar
Livingstone, S. & Smith, P. (2014). Annual Research Review: Harms Experienced by Child Users of Online and Mobile Technologies: The Nature, Prevalence and Management of Sexual and Aggressive Risks in the Digital Age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55(6), 635–654.Google Scholar
Malamuth, N. M., Hald, G. M., & Koss, M. (2012). Pornography, Individual Differences in Risk and Men’s Acceptance of Violence against Women in a Representative Sample. Sex Roles, 66, 427–439.Google Scholar
Marston, C. & Lewis, R. (2014). Anal Heterosex among Young People and Implications for Health Promotion: A Qualitative Study in the UK. BMJ Open, 4, e004996.Google Scholar
Martellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2017). “I Wasn’t Sure It Was Normal to Watch it … ”A Quantitative and Qualitative Examination of the Impact of Online Pornography on the Values, Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviours of Children and Young People. London: Middlesex University, NSPCC, OCC. (Revised version, May 2017).Google Scholar
McRobbie, A. (2009). The Aftermath of Feminism: Gender, Culture and Social Change. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Melrose, M. (2013). Twenty-First Century Party People: Young People and Sexual Exploitation in the New Millennium. Child Abuse Review, 22(3), 155–168.Google Scholar
Muehlenhard, C. L., Humphreys, T. P., Jozkowski, K. N., & Peterson, Z. D. (2016). The Complexities of Sexual Consent among College Students: A Conceptual and Empirical Review, Journal of Sex Research, 53(4–5), 457–487.Google Scholar
Nash, V., Adler, J. R., Horvath, M. A.H., et al. (2015). Identifying the Routes by which Children View Pornography Online: Implications for Future Policy-Makers Seeking to Limit Viewing. London: Department of Media, Culture and Sport.Google Scholar
Papadopoulos, L. (2010). Sexualisation of Young People Review. London: Home Office.Google Scholar
Peter, J. & Valkenburg, P. (2016). Adolescents and Pornography: A Review of 20 Years of Research. Journal of Sex Research, 53(4–5), 509–531.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Renold, E. (2013). Boys and Girls Speak Out: A Qualitative Study of Children’s Gender and Sexual Cultures. Cardiff: Cardiff University.Google Scholar
Renold, E. & Ringrose, J. (2011). Schizoid Subjectivities? Re-Theorizing Teen Girls’ Sexual Cultures in an Era of ‘Sexualization’, Journal of Sociology 47(4), 389–409.Google Scholar
Rose, T. (2008). The Hip Hop Wars: What We Talk about When We Talk about Hip Hop-and Why It Matters. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Rothman, E. F., Kaczmarsky, C., Burke, N., Jansen, E., & Baughman, A. (2015). “Without Porn … I Wouldn’t Know Half the Things I Know Now”: A Qualitative Study of Pornography Use among a Sample of Urban, Low-Income, Black and Hispanic Youth. Journal of Sex Research, 52(7), 736–746.Google Scholar
Stanley, N., Barter, C., Wood, M., et al. (2016). Pornography, Sexual Coercion and Abuse and Sexting in Young People’s Intimate Relationships: A European Study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. doi:10.1177/0886260516633204.Google Scholar
Sun, C., Bridges, A., Johnson, J. A., & Ezzell, M. (2016). Pornography and the Male Sexual Script: An Analysis of Consumption and Sexual Relations. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(4), 983–994.Google Scholar
Tolman, D., Anderson, S. M., & Belmonte, K. (2015). Mobilizing Metaphor: Considering Complexities, Contradictions, and Contexts in Adolescent Girls’ and Young Women’s Sexual Agency. Sex Roles, 73(7–8), 298–310.Google Scholar
Tyler, M. (2011). Selling Sex Short: The Pornographic and Sexological Construction of Women’s Sexuality in the West. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars PressGoogle Scholar
Tyler, M. & Quek, K. (2016). Conceptualizing Pornographication: A Lack of Clarity and Problems for Feminist Analysis. Sexualization, Media and Society. doi:10.1177/2374623816643281.Google Scholar
Vagi, K., Olsen, E. O. M., Basile, K., & Vivolo-Kantor, A. (2015). Teen Dating Violence (Physical and Sexual) among US High School Students: Findings from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. JAMA Pediatrics, 169(5), 474–482.Google Scholar
Vera-Gray, F. (2017) www.womenonporn.org/.Google Scholar
Wiederman, M. W. (2015). Sexual Script Theory: Past, Present, and Future. In DeLamater, J. & Plante, R. F. (Eds.), Handbook of the Sociology of Sexualities, Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2007). Unwanted and Wanted Exposure to Online Pornography in a National Sample of Youth Internet Users Pediatrics 119(2), 247–257.Google Scholar
Women and Equalities Committee (2016). Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence in Schools. London: House of Commons.Google Scholar
Wright, P. J., Tokunaga, R. S., & Kraus, A. (2016). A Meta-Analysis of Pornography Consumption and Actual Acts of Sexual Aggression in General Population Studies. Journal of Communication, 66(1), 183–205.Google Scholar
Ybarra, M., Mitchell, K. J., Hamburger, M., Diener-West, M., & Leaf, P. J. (2011). X-Rated Material and Perpetration of Sexually Aggressive Behavior among Children and Adolescents: Is There a Link? Aggressive Behavior 37, 1–18.Google Scholar
Zero Tolerance (2014). “He’s the Stud and She’s the Slut” Young People’s Attitudes to Pornography, Sex and Relationships. Edinburgh: Zero Tolerance.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×