The stigma surrounding porn is nothing new. 

And while it’s easy for proponents to dismiss critics as sex-phobic squares or zealots, there are valid concerns about the ways traditional, male-centric porn might harm us at both individual and societal levels. Even the growing population of sexually enlightened folks has qualms about what people watch.

Completely eliminating porn isn’t realistic. In the place of exploitative clickbait videos, ethical porn is on the rise — and unlike traditional porn, the benefits go far beyond in-the-moment pleasure.

Why is mainstream porn problematic?

To fully understand the potential ethical porn has to transform the industry and the people associated with it, it’s crucial to first understand how bad porn is when it’s made without safety and fairness in mind.

• Psychological effects: Traditional porn can lead to interpersonal guilt and emotional disregulation and can lessen well-being for all genders. And excessive consumption may also lead to a compulsive need for porn that veers into addiction, interfering with consumers’ daily lives and overall mental health.

• Relationship issues: It’s not just a question of what porn does to you — it’s what it does to the other people in your life. When viewers develop a skewed view of what sex actually looks like, dissatisfaction in real-world relationships is all but inevitable. Unrealistic expectations can eventually decrease sexual satisfaction or intimacy with your partner.

• Discrimination and exploitation: Discriminatory and exploitative practices are historically common in the porn industry, whether that’s race-based, gender-based, or anything in between. When you watch mainstream porn that isn’t vetted, you might never know if there was inequity, harassment, or abuse on that set.

• Normalization of violence: Violent or aggressive pornographic content may normalize or even trigger a desire for violence in viewers. Consensual kinks of this nature are totally normal, but porn has the potential to teach practices that lack respect, understanding, and proper care.

• Objectification of women: In many cases, the traditional, male-centric porn industry historically objectifies women, contributing to harmful social views and standards relating to women's roles and appearances. And when porn caters to male eyes, people of other genders might not see themselves accurately represented.

Porn doesn’t have to be this way, but these problems need systemic change to truly go away. That’s the role ethical porn plays: ensuring this industry (and the content it produces) eventually brings more good to the world than harm.

Ethical porn in a nutshell

The name “ethical pornography” should give you some clues into how this branch of porn differentiates itself from its mainstream cousin. It’s all about following a set of ethical principles for both production and consumption, upending the outdated and exploitative porn industry to bring forth a healthy and decidedly more intimate experience. 

Ethical porn is real porn, but it highlights consent, pleasure, and the representation of varied body types and abilities. Instead of catering exclusively to the male gaze, erotica and adult films that fall under the ethical porn umbrella make female pleasure a priority. In other words, women want to watch porn too, and that’s a fact mainstream porn often neglects.

This type of porn also prioritizes fair wages for everyone involved, from performers to producers. And performers receive fair treatment regardless of gender, sexuality, body size, skin color, or nationality. 

To qualify as ethical porn, every step of the production process has to follow regional laws, respect performers’ rights, and offer good working conditions for everyone involved. When you press play on an ethical video, you know you’re supporting people and producers who care.

The benefits of ethical porn for women

While ethical porn isn’t just for women, it’s often called “feminist porn” because it addresses the abuse, inequity, and inequality that run rampant on traditional porn sets — issues most likely to harm female sex workers. 

But this so-called women’s porn isn’t just good for performers. Ethical porn is a healthy (and fun!) option for consumers of all genders. Here are some of the key benefits.

1. Leads to increased sexual satisfaction

Ethical porn places the genuine pleasure of every participant at its center, showcasing a wide range of sexual preferences and experiences. And with a wider range of stories and performers, it can inform and enhance your understanding of your own desires and boundaries.

2. Promotes authentic sexual pleasure

In contrast to the often-fake depiction of female pleasure in traditional porn, ethical porn is all about displaying authentic, consensual sexual activities. Watching real orgasms is more enjoyable for female viewers, and it also helps educate male viewers, showing them what genuine pleasure looks like and what they can do to make it happen.

3. Appeals to all kinds of viewers

People of every gender and sexuality have diverse tastes and preferences. Ethical porn caters to a broader audience by presenting a wide variety of scenes and scenarios, offering an avenue for viewers to safely explore and express their sexuality without fear of judgment or stigma.

4. Promotes inclusion, diversity, and body positivity

Ethical porn breaks away from the conventional body standards and scenarios prevalent in mainstream adult content. It showcases the beauty of all body types, races, and sexual orientations, allowing everyone to see representations that resonate with their own identities and experiences.

5. Promotes a healthy sex life

Engagement with ethical porn can show you how to start real-life dialogue about personal desires, boundaries, and safe sex. Consuming this type of content, either alone or with a partner, helps you gain a deeper understanding of sexual inclinations and communicate needs more effectively in relationships.

The many types of ethical porn

The formats ethical porn exists in are as varied as the types of people and situations it portrays. Choose the most appealing medium that suits the context you’re consuming it in, whether you’re doing the dishes or prepping for a long night to yourself. And don’t be afraid to mix and match!

Audio erotica

When you think of porn, video-based content probably comes to mind. But when it comes to turning you on, audio erotica can be just as effective — sometimes even more so. This type of porn uses erotic sounds to inspire sexual arousal. Think of it like an R-rated podcast with sex at the center.

If you find sound stimulating, you’re far from alone. There’s an entire subset of ethical porn dedicated to serving auralists, or people with a sound kink or fetish. You might enjoy spicy audio stories, guided masturbation, or a variety of other erotic sounds, many of which include TV-worthy drama and entertaining plots. Intrigued? Try Quinn!

Erotic lit 

Sometimes, visual porn doesn’t come close to topping the images you can conjure up in your mind, especially if you’re thinking of a specific scenario. If you like using your imagination, audio erotica is a great option. But so is erotic literature, which uses creative prose to stimulate the senses.

If this medium interests you, don’t forget to include the word “erotic” when searching for content. The bedroom scenes in romance novels can get pretty steamy, but in erotic lit, sex is the main attraction. 

Ethical porn videos 

All ethical porn movies and clips are produced with an emphasis on safety, respect, and fair pay. This medium includes everything from amateur porn — low-budget videos from solo performers or small teams that aren’t affiliated with production companies — to large-scale movies with big-name performers.

One popular genre within ethical porn is queer porn, which offers the sex-positive LGBTQ+ representation that mainstream porn often ignores. But one important thing to note is that ethical queer porn isn’t exploitative. Whether the performers are lesbian, bisexual, trans, gay, or any other sexuality or gender identity, producers treat their bodies and experiences with respect — instead of using them in the ways traditional porn often does. 

Start exploring with Quinn

Whether you’re new to porn or dissatisfied with what the mainstream market has to offer, ethical porn is a great way to explore content that enhances your sex life without harming yourself or others. 

We created Quinn, the women-run audio erotica app, to bring inclusivity and diversity to the world of erotic sound — and to provide the type of authentic, imagination-inspiring content that women crave.

To access thousands of audio stories and guided sessions, download the Quinn app for iOS or Android.