There are definitely problems outside of the professional porn industry of films being shown without consent, people being taken advantage of, coerced, etc. Those films should definitely not be shown or viewed. They are a problematic part of our society. However, concerning stuff from the industry, I have read interviews from women in the porn industry, and they have said that they are treated respectfully and have given consent. Some of them have commented that it's common to put together lists of things that they're comfortable with and things that they're not comfortable with. One woman even mentioned in an interview that she requires the men she'll be doing films with to give them the contact information for three women he's done films with before, as references. The stuff that goes on behind the scenes isn't the big issue I have. It's what we regularly see in the scenes that I have a big problem with.
The common scenario that I see, which is recurrent throughout a few of the examples I'll be giving, is that the woman in the film is resistant at first. It's implied that she gets into it and has a great time, but these films typically start with her resisting. Even after some of her clothes are removed, she's resistant. Sometimes, even after penetration, she's still not fully on board. There are several other films where she's coerced or blackmailed into having sex. There are other films where it's a woman doing that same stuff to a man or a boy, but that doesn't make it any better. Sexual misconduct is sexual misconduct regardless of who is perpetrating the act on who. Also, it might not be a scenario of someone screaming "no," but "no" still means "no" regardless of tone of voice. Also, anything other than "yes" is a form of "no."
One common scenario is where a man walks in on a woman sleeping. He starts touching her or penetrating her while she's asleep. Some people have pointed out that the problem isn't consent as much as it is context. There are couples that have possibly discussed the idea of one of them starting to penetrate their partner while they're sleeping. However, that context is not shown in these films. There have also been films where she wakes up, she's not into it, but he keeps going and ignores her when she says "no."
Another scenario that I have frequently seen has been a dad seducing his teenage daughter. Incest? That is definitely gross. However, there are two even bigger problems here. The big one is that although both actors are over the age of 18, it's implied that the teenage daughter is not, and that she's sleeping with someone more than twice her age. If she were over the age of 21 or so, the age difference wouldn't be a problem, but the implication is that she's still a legal minor. In addition to that is the already addressed problem. Some of these films have her being resistant at first.
Then there is the scenario of a teacher or coach seducing a student or athlete. There was a similar scenario I encountered where a police officer is about to arrest a young woman, but he offers to let her go if she sleeps with him. This film shows her saying "yes" out of fear and desperation. Sometimes, the implication is that they are college age, therefore a legal adult. However, this is still a depiction of an unfair power dynamic, and a misuse of power where the other person says "yes" out of fear of hurt from saying "no."
Even in consensual situations cheating and incest are quite common. Sometimes, it's just someone sleeping with a stepparent or a stepchild. However, that does still leave a bad taste in peoples' mouths. Why can't the story be a next door neighbor or a friend?
Another common scenario that isn't quite as bad, but is still on the frustrating end, is when someone shouts at a woman or asks a random woman on the street for sex. Maybe there is a bit of conversing. However, it's still something on the unrealistic end.
I get it. Pornography is fantasy. It's not meant to depict reality. However, our society's sex education is next to non-existent, and what we see on screen does teach and inspire our behavior in reality. People have commented on the importance of making sure that pornography is ethically sourced. However, that's only a part of it. It should also take social responsibility in how it depicts sexuality.
The people who make these films have a right to depict the scenarios they want. They have a right to free artistic expression. However, when we're trying to combat sexual abuse, continuous depiction of these sort of problematic scenarios potentially leads to more problems. Sexual ethics is not only important in what is done behind the scenes. It also is important with the scenes. However, here's separate alternative from no longer making such films.
One film that did depict one of the problematic scenarios mentioned above, that I was glad about, included a disclaimer at the beginning from the performers in the film. The two of them said at the beginning that this was a fictional situation. If these "storylines" are to continue, why not have that sort of disclaimer?
Another positive example I saw came from a hardcore BDSM film. The woman had the man tied up, and she whipped him and made some pretty belittling comments towards him. In BDSM, there are these types of roleplay. Something that is heavily agreed on in the BDSM community is that aftercare is important. This film did a bit of that, showing the woman and the man sitting next to each other afterwards, and the man talks about how good a time he had.
Many of the above mentioned films include a written disclaimer at the beginning, but whose going to read that? Having the people in the film say "this is roleplay" at the beginning should be the normal way. Aftercare might not be as necessary, but that might be a good thing to normalize too, especially with intense roleplay scenarios.
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