By Dr. Laura McGuire
Porn can be divisive—and, often, whether you view the erotic subject as good, bad, or neutral depends largely on the lens and framework of your gaze. On one side is the camp that sees almost all porn, as long as it’s between consenting adults, as fun and fine. On the other side are the folks who equalize all types of porn and generalize them all as bad. This latter group is an interesting mix of liberal feminists, violence prevention advocates, and religious right followers who band together in this shared stance.
As a sexologist, I find myself somewhere in the middle. I do think that much of mainstream porn dehumanizes and objectifies human life and the sacredness of sexuality. Some researchers will point out that “porn” is linked to internalizing misogynistic and rape-centric beliefs. The issue with this research, however, is that these studies are using the incredibly broad term of “porn” to address only a small subsection of erotic art. Porn or pornography comes from the Greek words porne and graphein, which literally mean to write about sex workers. Today porn often elicits images of graphic and one-dimensional photos and videos that boil sex down to something that too often ignores consent, connection, and communication. Because of this, porn has become a fear-laced and shadowy word. But what about feminist porn? And how can artistic mediums allow for different ethics in the porn we create and enjoy?
I often tell people that porn is simply a combination of two things all human cultures love—art and sex. If the sexual art we create is violent or disturbing, it is not that the art form itself is bad, it is simply a reflection of the culture that we have created. In continuing to research and listen to nuanced conversations around porn, I have come across a really interesting medium for erotic art that ensures consent, compensates performers fairly, and diversifies sexual experiences—audio porn.
Audio erotica takes the best aspects of storytelling and auditory immersion and blends them with sexually explicit art. Specifically, queer, BIPOC, and female artists have utilized audio porn to amplify what they see as sexy and desirable while completely subverting mainstream filters and sensors that would otherwise squelch these stories. The other wonderful thing about audio porn is that it usually only consists of one or two actors speaking into a microphone—therefore drastically decreasing everything from sexual violence, to STI concerns, to the danger inherent in many other forms of sex work.
I have found mediums like the app Dipsea to offer all of what I find exciting—storytelling, imagination, and diverse representation—and none of what I dislike (concern for the participants, graphic visuals, and lack of centering sexual ethics). I love the way I can center myself in the stories—each one walks you through an entire narrative instead of skipping ahead to a purely neurological release.
Others are equally pleased with the app. I spoke with Allyssa, a 26-year-old bisexual woman, who shared:
I got Dipsea because their ad looked interesting. Erotica made by and for women? Yes please!
What I liked about it is the audio files are high quality and not corny or fake like you sometimes see in porn. I feel like the voice actors are genuinely into what they’re saying. They have a pretty good variety of fantasies, kinks, and lesbian narrations. I tried it months ago, so I hope they’ve added even more. It’s a good way to listen to something you’re curious about and hear it from a woman’s perspective. They also have a few educational pieces like how to explore dirty talking and understand what turns you on. I loved those!
Other similar audio porn platforms include Quinn, Audiodesires, and Emjoy. They each offer stories, separated by categories or tags, that help users find the auditory experience that is right for them. This leads to more refined search results and higher overall user satisfaction compared to searching for a video that is stimulating and not off-putting or offensive. For queer people who are used to being fetishized by mainstream porn, this is incredibly empowering and can create a newfound experience with erotica in general.
No matter what erotic medium turns you on, remember that the experience is your own. Seek and you will find the best platform for your sensual needs—and perhaps audio erotica will be your next wonderful destination. Happy listening!
