🧵 PORNOGRAPHY AND MALE ADOLESCENT BODY IMAGE 🧵
Want to know how pornography could actually be improving boys' relationships with their bodies?
Then read on...
In all honesty, there's not a lot of research on adolescent body image and pornography. But there is SOME stuff...
Firstly, there is evidence to suggest that MEN who watch lots of pornography are more likely to view mesomorphic (large muscle mass, low fat) bodies as desirable. Unsurprisingly, these same men are also less likely to be satisfied with their own bods. As for teens...
...An Internet Matters survey from 2018 of over 2000 parents of teens found that 27% of young people who watched porn experienced 'poor self esteem as they judge themselves against the actors' they're watching in pornography...
...In the same survey 34% of parents say watching porn harms their child's body image. But this is just what PARENTS are saying, specifically about porn and body image.
If we focus solely on body image alone, we do know that boys feel insecure about their bodies...
...a Picture of Health report by Credos of 1005 boys found that at secondary age, 38% of boys feel a pressure about how their bodies look. Of these, 56% say they'd find it hard to talk to a teacher about these worries...
...Anyway - back to pornography.
In her 2021 book, Pornography and Public Health, Emily Rothman actually posited the THEORY that amateur porn - which is more popular among younger porn consumers - could actually be having a positive impact on the way young ppl see their bodies..
...amateur or 'homemade' porn is more likely to feature 'real bodies' and therefore could help combat the myth that to be attractive, or having sex (if you want to use that as a proxy), you need to be a muscle-bound Adonis.
We need more research on this though...
...Penis size. There. I said it. Intuitively, it stands to reason that pornography might induce penis size anxiety among porn consumers who are used to watching male porn actors with large penises. Again, research is scant and confusing...
...some studies show that porn consumption does lead to greater dissatisfaction with the size of one's penis, but others show that consumers of porn are actually MORE pleased with their penis size.
Interesting.
So what does this mean for teachers?
1. Avoid stigmatising the discussion of pornography.
Not every person who watches porn is an evil sexual deviant who deserves to be ridden with guilt. Do what you can to make children feel like they can discuss worries safely...
2. As for penis size anxiety, I'd suggest that directing emphasis on how males can make their intimate partners feel comfortable and cared for is the best use of their time and...ahem...energy.
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