Myth 1: Only pervs enjoy porn Not necessarily. There are a lot of ‘normal’ people who find porn desirable. It helps them get aroused, masturbate and eventually enjoy an orgasm by themselves. And we already know masturbation is one of safest ways to enjoy sex. In principle, there’s nothing wrong with watching porn, as long as you make the distinction between porn and real life sex. More about this in the following myths.
Myth 2: Women don’t watch porn Who says girls don't watch porn? Although not a majority, women do watch porn and guess what, they enjoy it too. But women might not liking watching the same kind of porn that men do. There is a growing market for female-friendly porn or porna out there. However, most of the porn market out there is flooded with male-friendly porn.
Myth 3: Porn actors’ bodies reflect reality You’ll notice that female porn actors usually have very big breasts and the men have huge penises. Relax! Don’t be intimidated because this doesn’t represent reality. Women’s humongous boobs are almost always a result of cosmetic surgeries. And the average erect penis is around 4-5 inches, so there aren’t so many men out there who can flaunt an 8-inch organ!
Myth 4: Real life orgasms are like those in porn films You will notice that in porn films, when women have orgasms, they wail and scream like the earth beneath them just shattered. But if your partner doesn’t react that way when they have an orgasm, don’t worry. When it comes to orgasms, to each his own! How men and women react during orgasms is a purely personal choice. While some play down their emotions, others take pride in exhibiting how they feel.
You’d have also noticed male actors keep going for hours before they orgasm, but that isn’t the case in real life. Always remember, that porn films are shot in front of a camera and a crew with lights and sound and what-not. Men’s long-lasting erections are part of playing the role.
Myth 5: Since porn actors don’t use condoms, you don’t need to either If you follow that cue, you’re likely to expose yourself to sexually transmitted diseases. Using condoms is the best way to safeguard yourself from contracting STDs. And what more, they also help prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Myth 6: Everyone enjoys playing out porn fantasies Porn can be full of dirty talk, men calling women all kinds of derogatory names and women responding lustfully to it. Also, porn plays out many fantasies, but not everyone in real life enjoys being handcuffed to the bed or spanked with a whip. If you are thinking of re-enacting porn scenes in real life, be sure your partner likes it too. Remember to make love, not porn.
Myth 7: Porn isn’t disrespectful towards women Porn isn’t all that harmless. Most porn films are degrading towards women. They portray violence against women. They might make you believe wrongly that a woman never says ‘no’ to sex and is always ready to pleasure the man. Also, you shouldn’t believe that women in porn films always enjoy what they do.
Myth 8: You cannot be addicted to porn Porn can be addictive. It could affect your life so much so that you might not be able to continue doing regular everyday activities. Not only that, it could even affect your real sex life if you start enjoying porn more than the intimacy you share with your partner. Moreover, you could indulge in risky behaviour as a result of the messages that porn sends out.
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Gayatri Parameswaran is a multi-award winning writer, director and producer of immersive media works. She was born and raised in India and is currently based in Berlin, where she co-founded NowHere Media - a storytelling studio that views contemporary issues through a critical lens. She also edited the Love Matters website in its initial years. Check out more about her here.