By Collette Callaway for Fleshbot. Originally published on February 26th, 2016.
Emma Watson and Gloria Steinem make for a formidable force when it comes to feminism. They’re two huge names who have dedicated a great deal of time and resources to promoting the equality of women, which is pretty fantastic. During a recent interview, though, I was a little disappointed to hear Emma Watson ask for a “feminist alternative to porn.” And not because I don’t think feminism should be a cornerstone of adult entertainment—considering it’s simply about equality of the sexes, I’d argue it should be a pillar of porn entirely.
Here’s the thing, though, Emma: There’s a lot of feminist porn out there. In fact, porn is not inherently un-feminist, and a great deal of it does empower women. I can only assume you mean “feminist alternatives to sexist porn” (which would be more than fair enough), as porn doesn’t need an alternative to promote female agency. Lucky for you (and me and everyone else), feminist porn is shot by feminist performers and viewed by feminist consumers everywhere everyday! Better yet, it’s incredibly accessible.
If it’s “erotica” you and Gloria are seeking, as you say in the interview, look to pornographers like Erika Lust, whose beautiful crowd-sourced films have been featured here and in mainstream film festivals all across the globe. For scenes that look like real-life sex you’d have in your real life, there’s Cindy Gallop’s “Make Love Not Porn,” which uses footage people take in their homes and allows for the sharing and empowerment between non-performers and professionals alike. But for “shared, mutual, pleasurable, empathetic sex,” you need look no further than your Google Chrome browser. Joanna Angel, Jacky St. James, and kink.com will give you a wide variety to get you started.
Head over to Fleshbot to check out the original article!
