Mainstream porn focuses typically solely on profit. But what happens, if we create porn that takes the performers’ boundaries into account? What if the porn we watch was authentic, realistic and diverse? Here’s why all porn should be ethical porn, what the term actually means and how we know if the porn we watch is fair porn.
A lot of the shame around watching porn comes from not really knowing about the ethics of the treatment of many porn workers: whether the porn we consume is produced and uploaded legally, whether the performers are being paid and whether the sexual practices are consensual and their boundaries are respected.
What does ethical porn actually mean?
Besides the moral shame we project onto porn consumption, more and more people are concerned about the ethical aspects of the porn they watch or the porn their children might discover. Thanks to the internet, we have access to anything we have ever dreamed of, we can find like minded people, we get to explore our interests and deep desires. Simultaneously we do not have a transparent structure of how porn is produced and distributed. Revenge porn, rape and child molestation for example should not be shown on any porn website. All of those are non-consensual videos and illegal, yet they are not being removed. In 2019 Pornhub was informed about illegal videos of a 15-year-old, who was a victim of sex trafficking. It took 6 months for Pornhub to take down the videos. Unfortunately, this is not an exception. But just like the origin and manufacturing of our food is becoming increasingly important, so is the origin and production of our porn.
The main focus of mainstream porn was or is typically the profit. The porn industry would thrive from the performers’ work, though the performers put themselves at risk for shoots that wouldn’t prioritize their safety. Ethical porn is – among other things – created by respecting, prioritizing and focusing on the performer’s rights in producing content. Fortunately, there is a rising number of production companies and porn-sites, that value and focus on fair trade porn. At CHEEX we work with producers and production companies like Fever Films, Hardwerk, Thousand Faces and Meow Meow, just to name a few.
Another aspect of ethical porn is the realistic and authentic depiction of sex. Mainstream porn is a lot, but it is not realistic. The men are mostly torsos and penises and the women are cut and shaped into “perfect”, interchangeable dolls. Mainstream porn could easily be replaced by CGI soon. In ethical or fair porn it isn’t about the male or female gaze, as The Guardian describes it, it is about the human versus robot gaze.
"All labor under capitalism is vulnerable to exploitation, but we can do our best to be ethical consumers."
In the porn industry it is often difficult to know exactly whether everything is going as communicated by the production company. As a result, at CHEEX we ensure directly with performers as well as production companies that no forms of discrimnation are reproduced, performers are 18+ and only do what they have actively given consent to, and a transparent and direct financial compensation is assured.
Ethical porn means porn that tries to incorporate better production conditions. It means that any sexual practices are consensual, that performers have time to physically and emotionally prepare before filming, and that the producers and writers on set are intentional and content driven. Fair or ethical porn means to show authentic depictions of sex that feel truly relatable to a diverse audience, to implement strict regulations around standardized, fair pay for actors, health care, and scripts that take the actors’ boundaries into account.
Without question, ethical porn should apply to all porn and all aspects of the industry.
Because it can be difficult to pinpoint the actual rules for ethical porn production, here is our list of criteria for the porn we show on CHEEX:
- Only performers above the age of 18 are involved
- Performers only do what they have actively given consent to
- Fair Pay with contracts
- Representation of various genders, preferences and people
- No reproduction of stereotypes or forms of discrimination
- Variety of sex practices, showing them in the most authentic way possible
This is also why you should start paying for your porn. If you want to know where your porn comes from, if you want high-quality porn, if you want to know the performers consented to making this video, if you crave diversity: Check your favourite porn website’s policies and pay for your porn! Most contents on non-paying porn sites are stolen, so the performers don’t get any money. You can also start following your treasured performers on social media, they will definitely let you know where you can find the good stuff.
One last disclaimer: Fair and ethically produced porn does not mean you won’t find submissive, aggressive, kinky, dark and dirty films in that world.
“People can have healthy, consensual, aggressive sex, it just shouldn’t be that we only see abusive porn, or only seeing women being submissive, or only seeing the person with a penis ejaculating — it’s the variety.“ Lola Jean (sex educator & coach)
If you know you can feel good about the porn you watch, you may also feel more validated and empowered around your own sexual expression and experiences. Enjoy!