Every so often, the conversation regarding “ethical porn” rears its head yet again, usually prompted by some outside-the-industry blogger’s thinkpiece, or a news event that has anything remotely to do with porn. And time and again, people unfamiliar with the inner machinations of the porn industry somehow find endless ways to critique and condemn it. The industry isn’t perfect, but the rampant stigma against it from outsiders only increases the demand to create porn that is sex-positive, disrupts expectations, and is enjoyed by all involved. So what exactly is ethical porn, if not an oxymoron? Well, since we’re in the business of categorizing adult content, and we certainly know a thing or two about ethics in this business, the HotMovies staff writers each had their own take on what qualities make porn inherently ethical and guilt-free to consume:
Jeffton Banks:
Ethical porn, for me, has to do with ensuring that performers are given a safe space in which to work. That means they have a check-in meeting with everyone involved, their limits are made known to the performers they are working with AND the crew, and they are aware that they are able to change their minds at any time during the shoot. Performers should be aware that they are able to decide to practice safe sex if they so desire, and that all of their co-stars have current tests. It is also imperative that performers are able to work in an environment free from harassment and other negative workplace speech.
Stoney Rubble:
My personal idea of ethical porn is an experience between performers and consumers where the content creators shape a shoot with the ideals in mind that recognize the humanity and worth in the labor of all sex workers—the seasoned pros as well as the DIY amateurs who are performing or creating content just to keep the lights on. Ethical porn does not slut shame or stereotype. It celebrates the value in all kinds of sex work, including the costumers, makeup artists, and content editors/writers behind the scenes of the websites writing and promoting the films and clips. Ethical porn is a philosophy that rejects abuse in the industry of any kind. Ethical porn champions diversity and themes that are sex-positive. Ethical porn understands sex workers of all identities should have their narratives and contributions respected and their hard work fairly compensated.
This also brings to mind: ethical consumption of porn. Ethical porn and ethical-porn consumption cannot be mutually exclusive, and it relies on an understanding that there is more to performers than your orgasm. Models are human beings with triumphs, failures, and flaws, just like the rest of us, and who also exist and thrive outside their chosen line of work that just happens to facilitate our sexual release. A good example of ethical porn is director Shine Louise Houston‘s critically acclaimed Crash Pad series from Pink and White Productions.
Ed Mann:
“It all started with Girlfriends Films…”
That is the header of their studio description, but they are also the first studio that introduced me to the concept of “ethical porn.” It wasn’t being called that at the time, but Girlfriends Films was revolutionary as they were one of the first to create a comfortable and inviting environment for their performers. Everyone was treated with respect and all the performers have a good working experience with Dan O’Connell and his team. Many performers would talk about how different it was to be on the set of a Girlfriends Films movie, and because of this, everyone wanted to work with them. Just by implementing that one simple concept into their everyday practices, they raised the bar for all other studios and the proof was in the sales. Girlfriends Films DVDs were soon outselling all other lesbian studios combined and the same held true for VOD. They remain one of HotMovies’ top-selling studios after more than 15 years. Girlfriends Films is also the second recipient of the adult industry’s Leadership Award. The award is given to a company who best exemplifies the highest level of innovation and good business practices and it comes with the responsibility to continue to set that example for others.
Bridget:
The term “ethical porn” has been thrown around for years at this point, and as the adult industry reckons with its own #MeToo moment, the importance of performers’ consent and safety is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. While opinions may differ on what even constitutes “ethical porn,” I feel strongly that there are plenty of companies who work hard to ensure their performers’ and crew’s well-beings come first and foremost.
This simple characteristic—checking in with everyone on set to ascertain boundaries are being respected and everyone is enjoying themselves—is arguably the defining characteristic of “ethical” pornography, in my mind. I was reminded of this after reading Jezebel writer Tracy Clark-Flory’s recent account of visiting a Deeper.com production. Deeper has the benefit of being helmed by a director whose keen sense of boundaries and violations comes from her own lived experiences as a porn star. Kayden Kross takes boundary violations seriously, and admits in the Jezebel profile that she’s willing to stop a scene as many times as she needs if she senses the slightest sign of unease from her performers. Checking in is simple, and keeping consent the primary focus of a scene is a fairly obvious way to keep things ethical.
Authentic Lesbian:
Ethical porn is about following legal guidelines, respecting performers’ rights, maintaining safe and comfortable working conditions, and exploring sexual differences and creativity. Lots of studios, amateur and mainstream, pride themselves on having an ethical foundation, and one that sticks out to me is AbbyWinters. Diversity (among performers and sex acts) is something you can count on with AbbyWinters, but take note of how comfortable and relaxed their performers are onscreen. Oftentimes these are amateur stars or first timers, and having an open dialogue about their surroundings and what is expected of them during the shoot is priority one. Watching the before and after interviews sheds light on how high AbbyWinters holds their performers, audience, and content, and it benefits the industry overall.
Judy Hologram:
As with any workplace, how ethical a porno production is comes down to labor. Are performers and behind-the-scenes workers being fairly compensated for their work? Is there an open and ongoing conversation around consent and safety? Do cast and crew have resources available for when things go awry? Does the marketing and distribution of a movie also uplift and empower the cast and the consumers? There’s no one Almighty Most Ethical Porn Producer out there, and I hope that all content creators are consistently examining how they can work to create better, more just working conditions for their collaborators.
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