Sexual Behaviors and Aggression in Gay Pornography

J Homosex. 2023 Dec 6;70(14):3353-3373. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2022.2093688. Epub 2022 Jun 27.

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested a substantial number of men who have sex with men (MSM) have consumed and used pornography to learn about same-sex sexual behaviors. Yet, past research has focused almost exclusively on condom-use in the category of Gay pornography and ignored the types of sexual behaviors and aggression depicted within the content. This study examined aggression and sexual behaviors depicted in Gay online pornography (N = 415). We found fellatio and anal sex were the most common behaviors, occurring in roughly two-thirds of scenes, while kissing occurred in less than a third of scenes. Additionally, sexual aggression occurred in 31% of scenes, with spanking being the most common, occurring in 20% of scenes. Anal sex and forced fellatio were found to be predictors of physical aggression. These findings point to normalization of aggression and narrow sexual behaviors in Gay pornography, which may have implications for MSM's norm perceptions related to sexuality.

Keywords: Gay; MSM; Pornography; aggression; condom use; content analysis; sexual behaviors.

MeSH terms

  • Aggression
  • Erotica
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities*