Aggression in Pornography Myths and Realities

Aggression in Pornography focusses on the issue of violence in mainstream pornography and examines what we know, what we think we know, and what are some surprising research findings and insights about the place of violence within pornography today. The authors first review the modern pornography industry, theoretical claims about pornography as violence, and the ways in which aggression has been defined and measured in previous research. Next, they review the findings of empirical research on violent content in pornographic materials and the potential effects of such content on audiences . The main part of the book relies on systematically collected empirical data, as the authors analyze the content of hundreds of pornographic videos as well as more than a hundred interviews with men and women who regularly watch pornography. These analyses provide surprising insights regarding the prevalence of and trends in violent content within mainstream pornography, the popularity of violent and non-violent content among viewers, and variations in aggression by race and sexual orientation. As such, Aggression in Pornography will be of interest to students and researchers in sociology, gender and sexuality studies, and media and film studies, as well as to wider audiences who are interested in today’s pornography industry and to policymakers looking to devise empirically driven policies regarding this industry and its potential effects.

1. Introduction2. he modern pornography industry: Overview and recent trends3. Research methodology and definitions4. The effects of pornography on consumers5. Myths about the prevalence of aggression6. Myths about the popularity of aggression7. Sexual orientation myths: Is aggression less common in same-sex pornography?8.Race myths: Do racial minority women suffer higher rates of aggression?9. Conclusion: An Empirically-based Account of Aggression in Pornography

Eran Shor is a Professor in the Department of Sociology, McGill University, and a William Dawson Chair. In his work, he examines social conflict and violence, focusing on terrorism, ethnic conflicts, and states’ repressive policies, as well as on family and sexual violence. Kimberly Seida is a PhD candidate in Sociology at McGill University. Her dissertation research explores sexual minority women’s experiences, focusing on the individual, intersectional, and community-level factors shaping their health and wellbeing.