Pornhub continues to release user data annually and it has become apparent that women comprise 37% of its gay male porn viewers – especially among viewers 18-24 years old who prefer hunk or ftm porn videos.
Lucy Neville was taken aback when this result surprised her; this discovery became the basis for her new book Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, after interviewing and surveying over 500 women for research purposes.
1. It’s a form of self-expression
Lucy Neville was taken aback when Pornhub released its user data in 2015, which revealed that women made up more than 33% of gay male porn views on the platform. Her research, released this month in her book Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, proves this fact by showing how women who may or may not find attraction to men are just as fond of watching male-on-male porn.
Neville’s interviews with female viewers reveal that they appreciate the versatility of gay pornography and find it more authentic than heterosexual material. Furthermore, they appreciate how its depictions of sex acts are not stereotypical; thus enabling them to learn about masculinity while exploring various kinks or sexual desires through it.
Neville interviewed some women who said they enjoyed gay porn because it allows them to look at men without feeling objectified or judged, while others, especially survivors of rape or assault, found it an effective way of experiencing sexual arousal without dealing with uncomfortable power dynamics present in heterosexual erotica.
One of the more eye-opening findings from Neville’s research was that 55 percent of her interviewees reported fantasizing themselves as men while masturbating to gay porn, suggesting that sexual attraction and identity don’t always revolve around gender binary categories. Clinical psychologist Itumeleng Mamabolo agrees with this assessment; noting that people’s sexualities often don’t fit neatly into any specific box.
2. It’s a way to explore sexuality
Researchers have discovered that straight women make up 37% of views on Pornhub for male gay porn, many being curious or interested in anal sex to looking for potential partners for an ongoing dom/sub relationship.
Researchers involved with this study believe females are drawn to gay pornography because it offers unique perspectives that cannot be found elsewhere, and because same-sex relationships don’t conform to conventional gender roles; which many find attractive. They also point out how same-sex relationships may not follow gender expectations which some find appealing as it challenges gender roles that often limit female participation in heterosexual relationships.
Additionally, they noted that many women experience their sexuality as fluid; watching male pornography provides one means to explore and refine it. Some participants reported using pornography to learn more about male body parts while practicing stereotypically gay acts such as anal penetration with their partners.
Women often turn to gay porn as an escape from everyday life and to regain power over their bodies. Gay porn provides them with more realistic portrayals than straight porn, giving them permission to fantasize freely about men’s penises and dangly balls without feeling self-conscious or pressured into anything too sexual or inappropriate.
Other participants reported enjoying the voyeuristic aspects of gay porn, feeling empowered that they could look at men’s genitalia without offending anyone. Furthermore, survivors of sexual assault or rape reported using it to explore their own kinks or fetishes without experiencing the unsettling power dynamics that often exist within heterosexual porn.
3. It’s a way to bond with friends
Researchers are often shocked to see that female viewers make up a sizable percentage of gay male-on-male viewing on Pornhub – it’s the second-most watched content after lesbian content!
Pornhub, with over 115 million daily views, took sexuality researcher Lucy Neville by surprise with its 2015 findings. In her book Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys she discovered that women make up over one third of Pornhub’s gay male porn views on its platform.
Pornography can be hard to define, so Neville conducted several online questionnaires and focus group interviews with women to ascertain their preferences in pornography. She found that many were drawn towards gay male porn, as it felt more natural than heterosexual porn. Furthermore, consensual sex made for more enjoyable experience free from patriarchal influence.
The study revealed that many women were intrigued by the variety of scenarios depicted in gay porn, such as married lovers, siblings and incest. Heterosexual porn often shows women focusing solely on pleasing male subjects – an experience many may find unnatural and even dangerous – while gay porn typically depicts sexual encounters between friends or strangers rather than only between one male subject and female subject – making the action more relatable for female viewers.
4. It’s a way to explore sexuality
Research by Pornhub, one of the world’s most popular porn websites, revealed that male-on-male pornography was the second-most viewed genre among women – second only to lesbian content – drawing widespread outrage and leading Lucy Neville to base her 2018 book Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys around these findings.
Her study, consisting of interviews and surveys with over 500 women, unearthed some intriguing insight into why straight females are drawn to visualizing m/m sex. Most participants viewed it as an outlet to explore sexuality while watching gay porn didn’t seem as fake compared to mainstream shows featuring erections and ejaculation which many women feel are chemically-induced or not authentic.
Gay porn is so widely enjoyed because it offers different perspectives on sexuality than heterosexual content does, such as depictions of same-sex relationships that don’t conform to traditional gender roles – something women find attractive.
Gay pornography actors tend to be homosexual or bisexual men themselves, which adds a level of authenticity that mainstream sex videos often lack. Furthermore, these guys take great joy in what they do and often show it through their performances.