Exploring the meanings of porn use as leisure

Cavanaugh, Damien

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127248 Copy

Description

Title

Exploring the meanings of porn use as leisure

Author(s)

Cavanaugh, Damien

Issue Date

2024-12-05

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Payne, Laura

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Payne, Laura

Committee Member(s)

• Berdychevsky, Liza
• Liechty, Toni
• Ebata, Aaron

Department of Study

Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Key words: Leisure: Porn
• Quality of Life
• Porn and Relationships
• Pleasure

Abstract

This study investigates the multifaceted nature of porn use among participants (n=11), specifically seven women and four men who have varying sexual orientations, races, and education levels. This research utilized a qualitative approach borrowing tenets of Constructive Grounded Theory to conduct interviews. This study challenges simplistic categorizations of porn use and highlights the diverse roles porn as leisure plays in individuals' lives. Findings reveal that participants engage with various mediums, from traditional to digital platforms, reflecting evolving consumption habits and personal preferences. Notably, a preference for niche sites and high-quality content indicates a shift towards valuing relevance and community in porn use. The research underscores how porn, while traditionally viewed as casual leisure, extends beyond hedonistic pleasure to influence personal empowerment, relational satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Participants articulated experiences of intimacy enhancement and open communication within relationships, positioning porn as a potential catalyst for connection. However, the study also acknowledges negative aspects, including excessive consumption, feelings of shame, and unrealistic expectations, thus revealing the complex duality of porn as leisure as both pleasurable and potentially distressing. The findings highlight the need for nuanced discussions in mental health and relational contexts, particularly regarding the power dynamics couples navigate in their porn consumption. Furthermore, the study reflects shifting societal attitudes towards female engagement with porn, despite persistent gendered double standards. By fostering open dialogue about porn as leisure, this research advocates for an inclusive understanding of diverse sexual identities and experiences, encouraging healthy sexual exploration and the dismantling of societal stigmas.

Graduation Semester

2024-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127248

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2024 Damien Cavanaugh

Owning Collections