A longitudinal study provides insight into the use of sexually explicit material (SEM) in female adolescents, suggesting it can lead to the adoption of self-objectifying thoughts and hyperfemininity. The study was published in Psychology and Sexuality.
It is easier than ever for individuals to access sexually explicit content and researchers have been increasingly interested in studying its effects on the sexual development of young women. There is some evidence to suggest that sexually explicit content might benefit young women by helping them learn about and explore their sexuality, leading to increased sexual agency.
On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests that material such as pornography can lead to hyperfemininity, which is when women attempt to conform to gender roles by adopting exaggerated, stereotypically feminine characteristics.
“In the context of SEM use”, the study authors explain, “exposure to media content that objectifies women and treats the female body as a tool used by men puts women at risk of internalizing objectifying social messages communicating that a woman’s value is expressed through physical appearance, sexual appeal, and the ability to attract men”.
A longitudinal study was carried out in five waves, each about six months apart, to examine the relationship between female adolescents’ use of sexually explicit material and their sexual satisfaction and development.
Participants were female students recruited from 14 different high schools in Croatia. The final sample included 552 students who took part in the final wave and at least one additional wave. At all five waves, the frequency of SEM use was measured using the description “any material which openly (i.e., not censored) depicts sexual activity”. In the final wave, the surveys measured sexual agency, hyperfemininity, and sexual satisfaction.
The results showed a positive association between the frequency of SEM use at baseline (at age 16) and sexual agency and hyperfemininity two years later. An increase in SEM use over time, however, was only positively correlated with hyperfemininity and not sexual agency. The authors suggest that these findings support research showing that SEM use is associated with the endorsement of gender scripts and self-objectifying thoughts.
No significant relationship was found between hyperfemininity and sexual satisfaction. The authors stress that while the lack of correlation does not suggest that hyperfemininity has a negative impact on sexual satisfaction, it also does not mean that is has a favorable one.
“Women high in hyperfemininity tend to use sexuality as a means to attract men or maintain a relationship. Such extrinsic rather than intrinsic treatment of sexuality as well as the possible prioritization of their partner’s pleasure may negatively affect young women’s ability to communicate their sexual needs and desires and therefore lower their sexual satisfaction”.
As researchers expected, sexual agency was associated with higher sexual satisfaction. The authors address the difficulty in promoting the development of sexual agency in women, given the sexual double-standard that is in play. While men tend to be encouraged to express themselves sexually, women receive mixed messages on whether it is appropriate for them to communicate their sexual needs.
The study authors address the limitation that they did not assess SEM content, and therefore cannot distinguish how different SEM genres might affect women. Regardless, since sexual habits are likely to be formed in adolescence, the authors suggest that media literacy should be taught in schools to address the unrealistic and problematic sexual interaction depicted in sexually explicit material.
The study, “Longitudinal Assessment of the Association Between the Use of Sexually Explicit Material, Hyperfemininity, and Sexual Agency in Adolescent Women”, was authored by Verena Klein, Sandra Šević, Taylor Kohut, and Aleksandar Štulhofer.