Erotica, Porn, and Mental Health
If you’ve ever wondered what the difference between erotica and porn is, you aren’t alone. It is challenging to distinguish between two things when there is no one definition for either. In the 1964 Supreme Court case, Jacobellis v. Ohio, Justice Potter Stewart was so stimmed about how to define porn he ended up stating, “I know it when I see it.”
However, it is generally agreed upon that the difference between porn and erotica is a person’s attitude toward sex and human sexuality. Erotica is considered a form of art that celebrates human sexuality. It engages the senses, the mind, and emotions. Porn, on the other hand, is less evocative and suggestive. Its primary purpose is to turn its viewers on.
Like beauty, the definitions of porn and erotica are subjective and colored by personal morals, religious values, and aesthetics. What one person considers erotica, another might consider porn, and vice versa.
What does this have to do with mental health? Well, a lot.
Erotica not only arouses the body but also arouses the mind and engages our imaginations. This creates an avenue for you to see yourself in the erotica, encouraging folks to explore their sexuality and curiosities in healthy ways. Erotica also tends to highlight consent, safe sex, and communication more often than porn does, which can improve folks’ ability to communicate their desires. While there is nothing wrong with porn and especially ethical, body-positive, queer-friendly porn, a lot of pornography, unfortunately, perpetuates unhealthy and unrealistic images of bodies and sex. This is especially problematic when porn gets mistaken for educational material.
Regardless of your definition of porn and erotica, remember you’ll know it when you see it. The most important question you should ask yourself is, ‘Does this make me feel good?’
If the answer is no, the materials you’re viewing may not be healthy for you. Remember, just because something physically turns you on, doesn’t mean it feels good mentally and emotionally.
Stay tuned to QueerDoc social media for some of our favorite sources of—and inspiration for—erotica. And if you haven’t read our earlier articles in our series about sex for trans bodies, we’ve discussed Six Sex Toys That We Love For Trans Folx and Changes to Genitals, Libido, and Orgasm: What To Expect on Hormones so far.
This week’s article is written by Sarah Rasmussen (Sarah.) Sarah is a Master of Social Work student and has been a part of the QueerDoc team providing Youth Care Support.
Sarah grew up in Tallahassee, FL, and attended Salem College in North Carolina. After graduating, Sarah spent over a decade working with underserved youth populations in outdoor and wilderness settings across the United States and Asia.
Currently, Sarah lives in a rural Rocky Mountain town in Colorado with her dog Fly and is finishing Florida State University’s Master of Social Work program. Sarah works as an advocate for survivors and victims of sexual and interpartner violence. Sarah is trained in Play Therapy and holds a weekly group meeting for kiddos.
Sarah also works closely with the local LGBTQI+ community and Gender & Sexuality Alliances to educate and address interpartner and sexual violence within the community. Sarah enjoys adventuring in the wilderness with her dog, regardless of the weather. Notably, some adventures are more fun than others.