Many women lament the discovery of pornography on their partner’s computer or in their DVD collection.
With the opening of another adult entertainment store in Port Allen, there’s now more porn to be found in the Baton Rouge area.
While there are downfalls in porn production, viewing pornography shouldn’t be the taboo and shameful practice it is today.
Porn isn’t a big, bad, brain-filling, relationship-killing monster like many media outlets and “traditional family” activists would have you believe.
Viewing or listening to pornography can be a healthy way to explore parts of your sexuality.
Unsure if you’d really like that fantasy you keep having while you dream? Finding related porn may give you a better idea if the preference is real or better left for your wet dreams.
Sometimes people may want to have sex alone. It’s enjoyable in a different way to occasionally get off alone — not to mention quicker and easier.
Frequently, one partner is horny but their counterpart is unavailable. Or everytime one person is in the mood, school, homework and other time-consuming obstacles may prevent people from having time for sex.
There is nothing wrong with self-loving or using porn to help your orgasm along.
In fact, as long as it isn’t interfering with any other part of your life, pornography is normal, healthy and should be encouraged, or at least not discouraged.
Are there people who take it too far? Yes.
But like alcohol, people who use it irresponsibly give bad reputations to responsible consumers.
There are people addicted to pornography, which can hurt or ruin relationships. There are men who don’t realize that mainstream porn isn’t realistic.
As a practicing registered nurse, I can tell you many egregious errors with the “medicine” practiced on “House,” “ER” or “Grey’s Anatomy.” Porn is no different.
If you think porn is realistic, you’ll find real life romantic relationships hindered by that belief. While porn may look real, you must remember it’s generally entertainment, not a sexual documentary.
Let me clear up some common misconceptions.
Most women aren’t naturally shaped like porn stars, I promise. I’m sure we’re all shocked to learn many famous porn stars have had some work done, right?
And no matter how skinny, many women can’t do the sexual positions portrayed in porn and find them pleasurable.
Spitting isn’t sexy to most women. Oral sex techniques displayed in most porn isn’t going to do much for many women.
Please don’t believe every woman finds pleasure with a guy that long or that thick.
On the same hand that women are objectified and made disproportionate in pornography, so are men.
Ever noticed how the men in porn have maybe three lines, and you rarely see their face, much less another body part besides their penis, after the “storyline” is set up? Men are used just like women in mainstream porn — to fill a hole, so to speak — with little other complexity to their interactions.
Mainstream porn uses both sexes for their bodies without showing the real complexities of sexual tension and exploration between two people. The reality is that to have sex with most people, you’re going to need more than a corny three-minute conversation.
Rarely will your first conversation lead immediately into sex so amazing it blows everyone’s mind.
Unrealistic expectations due to porn are problematic, but most people who watch it aren’t that naive. These problems with the production of mainstream porn don’t mean watching porn occasionally is going to cause a man to start believing everything he sees or a relationship to collapse.
Pornography can be an excellent way to explore your sexual fantasies and desires.
Don’t freak out if your partner uses porn once in a while. It can be a healthy outlet and help them find the confidence to try something new that just might surprise you.
Just because your partner still views porn doesn’t mean you’re unattractive or sex with you isn’t fulfilling.
It’s simply another healthy part of a normal sex life.
Kristi Carnahan is a 25-year-old anthropology senior from West Monroe. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_KCarnahan.
 
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Contact Kristi Carnahan at [email protected].