Our results suggest that popular pornographic videos contain high levels of both verbal and physical aggression. Compared with prior content analytic studies suggesting that aggression rates of pornographic films vary but rarely rise above 30% (Barron & Kimmel, 2000; Duncan, 1991), the results of the current study showed much higher rates, approaching 90%.

Our study was the first to track an important trend in pornographic videos: the increasing portrayal of sexual practices that are unusual and potentially harmful to women in real life (and to the actresses in pornography videos), such as double penetrations or what the pornography industry has termed ATM sequences.

For example, our study specifically sought to examine the frequencies and types of positive sexual behaviors portrayed in adult films. This permits the calculation of a ratio of positive to aggressive behaviors and thus a more complete understanding of adult video content. In the current study, only 9.9% of scenes contained positive behaviors whereas 89.8% contained some form of aggression.

By far, the most common verbally aggressive act was name calling (e.g., “bitch,” “slut”; n = 614, or 97.2% of all 632 verbally aggressive acts). Spanking (35.7% of physically aggressive acts; n = 980), gagging (27.7%; n = 759), and open-hand slapping (14.9%; n = 408) were the most frequently observed physically aggressive acts. Other physically aggressive acts recorded included hair- pulling (10.1%; n = 276), choking (6.7%; n = 184), and bondage or confinement (1.1%; n = 30).

The most frequent sexual act portrayed in the sample was female-to-male oral sex, appearing in 90.1% (n = 274) of the scenes coded. Vaginal intercourse was the second-most frequent sexual act, appearing in 86.2% (n = 262) of the scenes. Male-to-female oral sex was found to occur in 53.9% (n = 164) of the scenes coded, less than anal sex which appeared in 55.9% (n = 356) of the scenes.

In contrast, men were four times more likely to show displeasure when aggressed (16.0%), women 4%

Sexual violence is costly. Recent estimates put the lifetime cost of rape at $122,461 per survivor, including medical costs, lost productivity, criminal justice activities, and other costs https://perma.cc/W7GG-8V9F

Sexual violence consequences are physical, like bruising and genital injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy (for women) and psychological, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

The consequences may be chronic. Survivors may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and experience re-occurring reproductive, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and sexual health problems.

Sexual violence is also linked to negative health behaviors. Sexual violence survivors are more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, use drugs, and engage in risky sexual activity.

The trauma from sexual violence may impact a survivor’s employment in terms of time off from work, diminished performance, job loss, or inability to work. These issues disrupt earning power and have a long-term effect on the economic well-being of survivors and their families. Coping and completing everyday tasks after victimization can be challenging. Survivors may have difficulty maintaining personal relationships, returning to work or school, and regaining a sense of normalcy.

Additionally, sexual violence is connected to other forms of violence. For example, girls who have been sexually abused are more likely to experience additional sexual violence and violence types and become victims of intimate partner violence in adulthood. Bullying perpetration in early middle school is linked to sexual harassment perpetration in high school.

We Can Prevent Childhood Adversity https://perma.cc/U5TR-96CJ