MONEY SHOT

New study challenges common perceptions of pornography viewer preferences

by Eric W. Dolan
January 22, 2024
in Relationships and Sexual Health


(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

Viewer preferences for male ejaculation in pornographic videos appear to be more varied and complex than previously assumed, according to new research published in the scientific journal Sexes. Contrary to popular belief, the study found that a significant number of viewers, particularly women, prefer male ejaculation inside the female partner’s vagina, with less interest in other forms, such as on the face or mouth.

Some feminist scholars have argued that certain depictions of male ejaculation, particularly those involving ejaculation on a woman’s face or in her mouth, are symbolic of misogyny and sexual domination. However, until now, little was known about the actual preferences of pornography viewers regarding these portrayals. This lack of understanding prompted researchers to investigate what viewers, both male and female, genuinely prefer and perceive regarding male ejaculation in pornographic videos.

“I have been teaching a class on the sociology of deviance for the last 10 years at McGill University, and as part of it, have looked into pornography,” explained study author Eran Shor, the co-author of “Aggression in Pornography: Myths and Realities.”

“While doing that, I found that there are many misconceptions about pornography in both the academic literature and in public discourse. Some of these misconceptions have to do with the content of mainstream pornography and others with what viewers want to see and how they interpret the content of pornographic videos.”

The research team used a mix of voluntary and purposive sampling techniques to recruit a diverse group of participants. The study’s participants, who were drawn from 55 different countries and included a near-equal number of men and women, as well as non-binary individuals, were primarily recruited through online platforms such as Craigslist, Kijiji, and Facebook groups. Participants were required to be over 18 and regular viewers of online pornography.

The interviews, conducted in either French or English, were carried out by two skilled graduate research assistants via Skype audio calls, ensuring the anonymity of both parties to encourage openness and reduce social desirability bias. The conversations, which ranged from 30 to 120 minutes, were recorded and transcribed for detailed analysis. The researchers focused on two primary questions: the importance of seeing male orgasm in pornography and the preferred placement of male ejaculation.

A significant portion of the interviewees (about half) expressed indifference to the depiction of male ejaculation. This sentiment was notably higher among heterosexual men, with a substantial number stating that they often stopped watching before the male orgasm occurred.

Contrary to the common depictions in mainstream pornography, the most popular specific preference (37.8% of all interviewees) was for ejaculations to occur inside the female partner’s vagina. This preference was particularly strong among women, with nearly half of the female participants expressing this view.

A segment of the participants did express a preference for visible ejaculations on various body parts. However, only about 17% of all interviewees preferred ejaculation on a woman’s face or in her mouth, far less than what might be expected based on the content of popular pornographic videos.

“One thing that I found interesting is that there were relatively minor differences between the preferences of male and female viewers of pornography related to male ejaculations,” Shor told PsyPost. “The literature leads one to expect a much more substantial difference here.”

Interestingly, less than 10% of the interviewees, including a slightly higher percentage of heterosexual women than men, preferred to see male ejaculation on the female performer’s face. Moreover, this practice often elicited strong negative reactions from participants, who described it as unappealing or even repulsive.

“In contrast to common assumptions, most viewers either did not care about the male ejaculation or its placement, or preferred for it to be in the female partner’s vagina,” Shor said. “Very few viewers expressed a preference for ejaculation on a woman’s face or in her mouth and many of them found such practices disturbing.”

A related study, published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior in 2022, found that both men and women viewed images of external ejaculation more positively when accompanied by facial expressions indicating pleasure from the recipient. This suggests that the enjoyment of viewing external ejaculations is not about degradation but rather is influenced by perceived mutual pleasure, challenging some common assumptions about its appeal and significance.

Similarly, the findings from the new study “are not in line with the assumptions of many feminist scholars,” Shor told PsyPost. “These assumptions suggest that male ejaculations in pornographic videos, particularly ejaculations on a sexual partner’s face or in their mouth, are often used to symbolically debase and humiliate women and that they are therefore prefered by many male viewers (leading producers to include them in videos).”

The new study also uncovered interesting variations in preferences across different cultures and genders.

“The preference for ejaculations inside a female performer’s vagina was especially salient among South Asian and African interviewees, perhaps because these cultures ascribe great importance to the male semen and the common belief that spilling semen in vain weakens men,” Shor explained. “Visible ejaculations (ejaculations on the female performer’s face or body) were especially popular among Middle Eastern interviewees. One possible explanation for this is that Middle Eastern cultures ascribe great importance to the male orgasm and viewers wanted visible proof that it occurred.”

While the study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. Despite efforts to mitigate it, the results might be influenced by social desirability biases. In other words, participants might have responded in a way they believed to be more socially acceptable or favorable, rather than providing their genuine preferences and thoughts. This is a common challenge in research involving personal and potentially sensitive topics like pornography viewing habits.


The study was titled: ““As Long as It’s Not on the Face”: Pornography Viewers Discuss Male Ejaculation Perceptions and Preferences“.