It is estimated that pornography sites receive more views than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter combined (Center For Dieases Control 2012 Not only does porn have a major monopoly on internet searches but is also becoming a stacking monetary empire raking in one billion dollars globally. Thank god sites like "Porn Hub" are now releasing yearly demographics showing just what exactly is being searched, how frequently, and even who is searching it. The obviously answer to who is men, right? Wrong.
Believe it or not, female porn and sex addiction is a very real and prevalent force within society. Although it is found that only 13 percent (Porn Kills Love 2010) of women claim to struggle with porn addictions, sample sizing and control of surveying offers a different perspective. It is due to the hyper sexualization of the female body that women cannot healthy express inherent sexual desire without being deemed a slut. The very sad reality of the matter is that women are being forced to repress and hide their sexuality; thus, cultivating sexual addiction.
Society has done all it can to make it very clear that sex is something done to women, not with them. Whether through movies, music, literature, or porn itself, a man is his most powerful when he has a woman by the hair. It is due to rapid slut shamming that is has become virtually impossible to merge the two worlds of societal demands and personal wants. To make matters worse, we have deemed porn, a very clear cut "man's problem."
A man's problem. Sure, data does support that men are statistically more prone to view porn but how accurate (if any are being conducted at all) are female surveys? Why would a women who has been sexual repressed and oppressed her entire life feel comfortable enough to open up about a problem she, statistically, doesn't even have? Society has neglected half the population when teaching healthy sexual expression. We have, instead, allowed men to continue their viewing pleasures while telling women they need to be lady in the streets a freak in the bed...well not too much of a freak because no one likes a whore. Double standard?
The issue is that women do struggle with sexual addiction and find it almost impossible to find support simply because their genetic makeup is different than a man's. We would never dream of not allowing a drug addict to receive aid and care because they are a woman...drugs can affect anyone right? Porn is the same. Please google female sexual support groups. You'll find three...maybe four. Google male sexual support group...there lies the problem.
In an age that claims equality we so often fail to acknowledge an EQUAL portion of the population that could struggle with addiction. We not only are doing women a dramatic disservice, but harming their views on sex and themselves. Sex is made for everyone....which means that the complications attached apply to everyone. Just because society does not advertise me as a person but a body, does not mean that I do not have personal wants. Major stigmas must be broken down in order to make any real progress forward. Addiction does not know gender.
