Youth and Porn Resource Kit
3. Responding

3.3 Practical Case Studies

Case Study 5.
Max: ‘Uncomfortable experience viewing porn’
Max (16 yrs, bisexual, he/him) watched porn for the first time with friends to see some same-sex content but felt very ‘uncomfortable and confused’. He’s returned to watch it a few times to make sense of it, but still feels quite disturbed by the experience.

1: Validate and normalise

Validate Max’s feelings – wanting to see same-sex content can be part of exploring sexuality and any response to it is normal (arousal, fear, disgust, curiosity, etc.). Feeling ‘uncomfortable’ with something seen in porn is also very common.

2: Assess

 Assess harm through asking further questions:
  • What was most confusing and uncomfortable about it for you?
  • How do you think this may have impacted you?
  • Is there anything else you want to talk through about your experience?

3: Build critical thinking and porn literacy

Discuss how some Rainbow young people watch porn because they consider it a safe place to view same-sex representations, and to explore and feel affirmed in their sexuality. However, the sexuality and gender diverse content in porn can include similar dominant, coercive or non-consensual scripts about sex to heterosexual porn. Some content also reinforces transphobic, biphobic, and homophobic stereotypes and scripts; and seeing this content can be uncomfortable, disturbing or confusing. 

Discuss Max’s experience and ask questions such as:

 

  • How did the porn you viewed portray sexuality and gender diverse actors?
  • How did you feel about what you saw?
  • How does porn fit with your own beliefs about sex and relationships?
  • How would you like to navigate porn moving forward?

4: Support and refer

Offer services such as Safe To Talk, and In The Know as needed, to help process the experience. If Max is wanting sex education appropriate to his identity and sexual practices refer to Rainbow Services or bish. 

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