Jonnys, rubbers, condoms: we’ve all blown them up and let them float around the room and we’ve all tried to pull them over our heads without breaking… but how many of us actually use them to wrap up our love muscles? The Ipsos MORI survey indicates that 49% of under-25 year olds in the UK don’t always use a condom with a new partner. Is it any wonder that two thirds of women and a half of all men diagnosed with an STI are within this age range?
Although it is clear that many people dismiss ‘safe sex’ campaigns as exaggerated preachings of the prude, some may be convinced to have a change of heart after recent revelations that an LA porn star has been tested as HIV positive. STIs are like Revels – there’s always one that you really don’t want to get, and I’m betting that HIV is number one on most people’s lists. Filming in California’s multi-billion dollar porn industry has come to a halt and performers are queuing up to be tested as panic sets in. The question has now been raised: should porn stars be made to wear condoms?
It appears to be a simple question with a simple answer. Porn actors should have the same rights to a safe working environment as anyone else. If only we lived in an ideal world.
Condom’s lack of appeal is pretty evident amongst those who are sexually active: they’re unsightly, they smell funny, they taste horrible and, for some, they reduce the feeling of pleasure so much that it makes a ‘good poke’ seem fairly pointless. If this is the case, why would anyone choose to indulge in a porn fantasy where condoms are involved? The adult film industry, which once saw profits of $14 billion, has suffered in recent years due to the availability of free and amateur porn across the internet; a switch to condoms is sure to cause further damage to business.
‘Bare-backing’ in adult films is also said to have implications for the general public, as some believe that porn influences the way that people have sex. Could this be a reason why so many people discard the use of condoms?
Mandatory condoms in porn are not the answer; an individual could quite easily find some ‘unwrapped’ footage in the vastness of the internet. However, removing ‘bare-backing’ from mainstream porn and turning it into some sort of ‘kink’ could be successful. A larger percentage of porn actors would be reducing risk in their working environment whilst influencing the public to practice safe sex themselves. Continuing to provide ‘bare-back’ porn and portraying it as ‘taboo’ would prevent the market from going underground, raise safe sex awareness and still attract business.
If you have ever bought a packet of cigarettes you will be aware of the health warning messages printed on the side of the packet along with graphic photographs demonstrating the affects of smoking. Surely the purchasing, downloading or viewing of condomless pornography should be issued with the same warning? Explicit photographs of the infections you could contract by not using condoms is likely to make individuals think twice before freeing willy. Adult sites would also do well to remind individuals that porn stars are vetted every 25-30 days and so are far safer than your average joe in the street.
Porn actors are in a risky line of work to begin with; one that is often dominated by drugs and monetary appeal. As with all jobs, there are hazards which porn stars are obviously willing to accept but making condom usage more mainstream and demonising ‘bare-backing’ could reduce risks to their own health as well as the health of others.
Willis, D. BBC News Entertainment & Arts 2010. 'LA porn industry in disarray over HIV scare' [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11561576 Accessed: 19/10/2010
Boskey, E. About.com 2010. 'Readers Respond: Should condom use be a requirement in pornographic films?' [Online] Available at: http://std.about.com/u/ua/stdsinthemedia/pornsafesex.htm Accessed: 19/10/2010
Health Protection Agency 2010. 'Sexually transmitted infections reach almost half a million' [Online] Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1281953109509 Accessed: 19/10/2010
Ling, L., Ghadishah, A. abc News 2009. 'Keeping it safe after the clothes come off' [Online] Available at: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/porn-industry-debates-mandatory-condom/story?id=8902451 Accessed: 19/10/2010
BBC News: Newsbeat 2008. 'Sex disease fears over teenagers' [Online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/health/newsid_7402000/7402661.stm Accessed: 19/10/2010
Although it is clear that many people dismiss ‘safe sex’ campaigns as exaggerated preachings of the prude, some may be convinced to have a change of heart after recent revelations that an LA porn star has been tested as HIV positive. STIs are like Revels – there’s always one that you really don’t want to get, and I’m betting that HIV is number one on most people’s lists. Filming in California’s multi-billion dollar porn industry has come to a halt and performers are queuing up to be tested as panic sets in. The question has now been raised: should porn stars be made to wear condoms?
It appears to be a simple question with a simple answer. Porn actors should have the same rights to a safe working environment as anyone else. If only we lived in an ideal world.
Condom’s lack of appeal is pretty evident amongst those who are sexually active: they’re unsightly, they smell funny, they taste horrible and, for some, they reduce the feeling of pleasure so much that it makes a ‘good poke’ seem fairly pointless. If this is the case, why would anyone choose to indulge in a porn fantasy where condoms are involved? The adult film industry, which once saw profits of $14 billion, has suffered in recent years due to the availability of free and amateur porn across the internet; a switch to condoms is sure to cause further damage to business.
‘Bare-backing’ in adult films is also said to have implications for the general public, as some believe that porn influences the way that people have sex. Could this be a reason why so many people discard the use of condoms?
Mandatory condoms in porn are not the answer; an individual could quite easily find some ‘unwrapped’ footage in the vastness of the internet. However, removing ‘bare-backing’ from mainstream porn and turning it into some sort of ‘kink’ could be successful. A larger percentage of porn actors would be reducing risk in their working environment whilst influencing the public to practice safe sex themselves. Continuing to provide ‘bare-back’ porn and portraying it as ‘taboo’ would prevent the market from going underground, raise safe sex awareness and still attract business.
If you have ever bought a packet of cigarettes you will be aware of the health warning messages printed on the side of the packet along with graphic photographs demonstrating the affects of smoking. Surely the purchasing, downloading or viewing of condomless pornography should be issued with the same warning? Explicit photographs of the infections you could contract by not using condoms is likely to make individuals think twice before freeing willy. Adult sites would also do well to remind individuals that porn stars are vetted every 25-30 days and so are far safer than your average joe in the street.
Porn actors are in a risky line of work to begin with; one that is often dominated by drugs and monetary appeal. As with all jobs, there are hazards which porn stars are obviously willing to accept but making condom usage more mainstream and demonising ‘bare-backing’ could reduce risks to their own health as well as the health of others.
Willis, D. BBC News Entertainment & Arts 2010. 'LA porn industry in disarray over HIV scare' [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11561576 Accessed: 19/10/2010
Boskey, E. About.com 2010. 'Readers Respond: Should condom use be a requirement in pornographic films?' [Online] Available at: http://std.about.com/u/ua/stdsinthemedia/pornsafesex.htm Accessed: 19/10/2010
Health Protection Agency 2010. 'Sexually transmitted infections reach almost half a million' [Online] Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1281953109509 Accessed: 19/10/2010
Ling, L., Ghadishah, A. abc News 2009. 'Keeping it safe after the clothes come off' [Online] Available at: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/porn-industry-debates-mandatory-condom/story?id=8902451 Accessed: 19/10/2010
BBC News: Newsbeat 2008. 'Sex disease fears over teenagers' [Online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/health/newsid_7402000/7402661.stm Accessed: 19/10/2010
UK has the one of the highest proportions of people with STDs. It would be unpleasing to most people watching porn with actors using condoms. I 've seen that sometimes in straight sex, though never in lesbians - I can't imagine them licking their p*****s with dental dam! Would make no sense to watch it.
ReplyDelete^Why does it not make sense? It's because sex without barrier contraception has become 'the norm' (or naturalised) in pornography, and so viewers expect it.
ReplyDeleteThat's why it needs to be unnaturalised so that people do not expect it.
It's like with smoking. If I ever see anyone on TV smoking indoors I immediately think 'Oh this must be an old episode'. If it was the norm, which it once was, I wouldn't even notice it.
The change needs to come from the top - managers, directors etc. Condoms should become a 'niche' kind of pornography - banned even, like paedophilia/beastiality. Ofcourse, they still exist, but not any where near as much as it would if it was legal. People would also be put off if they had to pay for condomless pornography - which would also benefit the porn industry which has suffered massively due to the amount of 'free porn' available.