Do women watch porn?
This is an easy question to answer in the internet age. Women do watch porn, and in increasing numbers.
Pornhub stats over the last decade show a steady increase in their female user base. In the USA, 29% of its users are women. Research also shows that more than 50% of women have watched porn in the last month. What type of porn women look at has also changed from soft-core and romantic to more extreme forms.
So, we need fresh insights into do women watch porn and why women watch porn to understand these changes.
Why Women Watch Porn?
Porn-watching habits of women are complex and nuanced phenomena. If you understand why do women watch porn, it will give you better context about what percentage of women watch porn –
1. Sexual pleasure and gratification
The desire for sexual arousal and pleasure is the most significant reason for porn watching among women. Many women use porn for self-stimulation during masturbation. Some women also prefer watching porn with their partner rather than solo consumption.
In the case of sexual gratification, men and women exhibit similar motivation for porn. However, women consume different types of pornographic content than men. Women prefer porn that emphasizes emotional connection and realistic scenarios. In comparison, men gravitate more towards explicit and performance-driven porn.
2. Curiosity
Curiosity and exploration of sexuality is a much more powerful motivator for porn watching among women compared to men. Women view porn as a controlled and safe space to explore their sexual interests. Women often use porn to learn about different sexual acts and use it as an input for their real life.
Psychologist Sean McNabney’s recent study found that women who watched pornography experienced less difficulty in becoming aroused and fewer problems in coming to orgasm. These women could also achieve greater orgasmic pleasure during solo and partnered sex.
3. Emotional regulation
Similar to men, women also use porn to deal with emotions such as stress and boredom. Porn also provides a distraction from negative emotions such as loneliness, anxiety, and sadness. Women might also watch porn to add novelty and excitement to the monotony of their daily life.
Porn use by women as a crutch for managing different emotional states means it has become a coping mechanism. So, there is always a chance of using porn to achieve temporary relief and not addressing underlying emotional issues. Porn-watching for emotional regulation can put women at the risk of developing porn addiction.
4. Fantasy and escapism
The fictional scenarios of porn act as a portal for fantasy for women. It gives them the freedom to experience their sexual imagination without the risks of real-life interactions. Fantasy of porn also provides emotional and psychological relief for women.
Research has shown that women have a greater degree of cultural and moral prohibitions about porn. So, they might find certain taboo or socially unacceptable sexual acts enjoyable in an imaginative setting. At the same time, most women would be unwilling to act upon scenarios of dubious consent or non-traditional relationships in real life.
5. Relationship Dynamics
One motivator that underlines women’s complex relationship with porn is how they use it to improve intimacy and emotional connection. Women often prefer to watch porn with their partner or spouse to add novelty and excitement to their relationship. It becomes a kind of foreplay or bonding exercise that enhances their enjoyment.
However, in some instances, women watch pornography to please their partner if they feel it is expected. In this case, more than mutual pleasure, women are motivated by a desire to accommodate their partner’s sexual preference. Unmet emotional and physical needs can also make women turn to pornography for sexual relief.
Do Women Really Watch Porn?
Do women watch porn? Yes.
Porn consumption of women is at a much lower rate than men, but that does not mean women do not watch porn at all.
When we observe the statistics and research, we can see that a significant section of the female population watches porn. Moreover, the number of women watching porn has been showing a consistent increase over the last decade.
Studies have shown that 60.2%. Of women reported consuming pornography in the past month, 34.9% of females have watched porn at least once in their lifetime. Data from PornHub shows that 29% of their visitors are women.
But, women do have a different relationship with pornographic content than men.
Women are likely to watch porn a few times a month, whereas men report watching porn a few times a week. More than 50% of women in committed relationships disapprove of porn and are also more likely to abstain from porn.
What do men and women search for?
Gender is a major socio-cultural determinant of the quantity and nature of porn consumption.
Men’s top search terms are – Hentai, Tradwife (Traditional wife), MILF, PInay, animation, real amateur, and teacher.
Women’s top search terms are – Lesbian, gay men, youth pornography, only women masturbating, and black protagonists.
Do women watch porn more than men – no.
Data from adult entertainment website PornHub shows that in the U.S., 29% of users are females compared to 71% males. But, women are more likely than men to search for extreme content such as BDSM and gangbang.
What are the categories the women prefer the most?
To understand the porn preferences of women, we can look at data from major adult websites such as PornHub. Here are the common porn search terms used by women –
- Lesbian
- gay men
- youth pornography
- only women masturbating
- black protagonists
When it comes to different categories of porn, women’s preferences have become increasingly hardcore in recent years –
- Gangbang
- Hardcore
- rough sex
- Bondage
- DP or Double Penetration
Apart from the statistics, research has shown that women generally prefer less graphic pornographic content focused on romance, intimacy and sensuality. At the same time, women also like to watch pornography with BDSM (Bondage and S&M) themes that feature a dominant male protagonist.
These contrasting preferences indicate an interest in power dynamics, control, and submission rather than sexual violence.
How Many Women Watch Porn in Percentage in USA?
In order to understand what percentage of women watch porn, we can examine a few significant research –
- The Barna Group published The Porn Phenomenon: The Impact of Pornography in the Digital Age in 2016. The study found that 39% of women actively sought out pornography.
- Then Barna did a follow-up study in 2024 titled, Beyond the Porn Phenomenon. It showed that 44% of all women view pornography. The follow-up study noted a 4% increase in 8 years. 40% of Christian women view pornography.
If we convert these percentages into numbers by referencing population statistics of the USA – we can conclude that around 50 million women watch porn.
| Category | Year 2015 | Year 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Females in the U.S. (Aged 13–65) | 105.8 million | 112.3 million |
| Those viewing adult content | 41.3 million | 49.4 million |
Pornhub also provides an additional data point to answer the question – what percentage of women watch porn. In the U.S., 29% of its users are women.
H2: How does BlockP can help Break you From Porn Addiction?
BlockP is the best porn blocker App for making your devices safe from explicit content. BlockP eliminates the temptations from your phone and laptops. It blocks the convenient access to porn and helps to prevent relapses.
- Content blocking – BlockP uses AI to filter explicit content in real time. It ensures accidental exposure to pornographic images, videos, and texts. The porn blocker lets you block specific websites by adding their URL and custom keywords depending on your need.
- Uninstall prevention – The password protection of BlockP prevents you from unblocking certain sites and uninstalling the porn blocker. So, even in the moments of temptation, you can stay safe from porn.
- Complete protection – BlockP filters explicit content across all your devices. It also works in incognito mode or if you are using a VPN.
- Productivity boost – The Whitelist feature of BlockP helps you streamline your online consumption. The focus mode of the App helps you block distractions and boost productivity.
- Community Support – The online support community of BlockP is a safe space to get inspiration and practical advice from others who are also recovering from porn addiction.
FAQ on Do Women Watch Porn?
1. Why do more women than men consume this extreme content?
The data from PornHub reveals that women are more likely than men to search for BDSM-related terms such as dominant and submissive, gangbang and double penetration. Research has shown that women prefer BDSM and S&M content that has a strong male protagonist.
The preference for extreme content in the case of women is linked to sexual fantasies and experiences that are not found in regular porn. Here, women are not seeking arousal from the sexual violence of extreme content. Women’s desire, in this case, is animated by themes of power dynamics, control, and submission within a sexual context.
2. What is the public view of pornography in the US?
Pornography is getting increased acceptance in the U.S., especially among young people. At the same time, there is also rising concern about the effects of easy access to porn.
Attitude about porn among young adults –
- 42 percent of young adults said that pornography is morally wrong.
- 34 percent of young men and women said it was morally acceptable.
- 22 percent said porn was not a moral issue.
However, most Americans hold the view that pornography should not be so easily accessible on the internet. Some states have passed age-verification laws, and some states, such as Utah, have banned PornHub.
3. How has pornography and its use evolved over time?
The word pornography has been in use since the middle of the 19th century. We can trace its origins to the Greek word pornographos – which means “writing about people who engage in sex acts for pay.” So, initially, pornography referred to literature about prostitutes. Now, pornography has also taken the form of images and videos.
In the print era, pornography catered to mainstream sexual interests. It was harder to access as the content had to be distributed in the physical form, such as magazines or DVDs.
Internet and technological innovations in the last two decades not only made porn accessible but also normalized its consumption.
Today, online porn leans more toward non-traditional sexual interests. Entertainment such as the TV show Game of Thrones and the movie Fifty Shades of Grey have made pornographic content mainstream and socially acceptable. We can also observe the blurring of lines between commercial and amateur porn content.
Porn has come a long way from literature, adult magazines and feature-length films to our smartphones. Not only has the content of porn changed, but it has also affected our sexual preferences in real-life.