TY - JOUR

T1 - Sex on screens

T2 - the language of sexting and amateur pornography

AU - James, Alexandra

AU - Waling, Andrea

AU - Dowsett, Gary W.

AU - Power, Jennifer

PY - 2024/7/31

Y1 - 2024/7/31

N2 - Frequently referred to as ‘sexting’ or ‘amateur pornography’, digital sexual images and videos form an increasingly common part of adult sexual relationships. However, the vocabulary available to speak about these practices is limited, with ‘sexting’ often associated with young people in negative terms. This study is based on 23 interviews with adults in Australia who are 25 years and older. It explores the language adults employ to discuss and comprehend the creation and sharing of sexualised images and videos. Findings show that negative or positive connotations associated with the terms used to discuss sexual images and videos influenced the ways participants drew on, or rejected, terms to align digital practices with their sexual subjectivity. Reticence to engage in active communication about digital sexual practices, and participant’s distancing of their own practices from the terms commonly understood to refer to such practices, made it difficult to engage in conversations about consent or desire in the context of digitally mediated sex. Findings provide insight into the ways that ­digital sexual subjectivities are discursively framed and extend these implications for sexual health promotion with respect to how to frame messages of digital sexual safety in a sex-positive and open way.

AB - Frequently referred to as ‘sexting’ or ‘amateur pornography’, digital sexual images and videos form an increasingly common part of adult sexual relationships. However, the vocabulary available to speak about these practices is limited, with ‘sexting’ often associated with young people in negative terms. This study is based on 23 interviews with adults in Australia who are 25 years and older. It explores the language adults employ to discuss and comprehend the creation and sharing of sexualised images and videos. Findings show that negative or positive connotations associated with the terms used to discuss sexual images and videos influenced the ways participants drew on, or rejected, terms to align digital practices with their sexual subjectivity. Reticence to engage in active communication about digital sexual practices, and participant’s distancing of their own practices from the terms commonly understood to refer to such practices, made it difficult to engage in conversations about consent or desire in the context of digitally mediated sex. Findings provide insight into the ways that ­digital sexual subjectivities are discursively framed and extend these implications for sexual health promotion with respect to how to frame messages of digital sexual safety in a sex-positive and open way.

U2 - 10.1080/13691058.2023.2258949

DO - 10.1080/13691058.2023.2258949

M3 - Journal article

VL - 26

JO - Culture, Health & Sexuality

JF - Culture, Health & Sexuality

IS - 7

ER -