Watch Porn, Help Me To Do Science

Wait, what?

I’m planning an experiment on the content of “women friendly/feminist” categories in major mainstream porn sites and directories. I don’t have the time, will or means to watch even 1/200 of it by myself, but I’d sure like some data about it and what, exactly, is included in this category. Here’s where you enter.

Why are you doing this? We thought you’re a feminist!

First, it’s strictly professional. I’m working for an educational meta-data catalog for living, studying for an MLIS, and aspiring to a PhD in information architecture. In other words: analyzing data and thinking about categorization is something I do on a daily basis, and I’d like to take it to new frontiers. Library and Information Science mostly doesn’t think of porn as something to be categorized or to be meta-dated. However, if the internet is mostly all about porn, I’d like to know more what’s going on there. Mostly in the so-called women-friendly categories.

Second, it’s strictly personal. I never thought of the issue of porn seriously and systematically. I know a lot of evidences that are saying it’s bad for women and our culture, but most of the evidences I read were about the ponification of media in general, and not specific to the porn industry in itself. This is my way of getting into the argument.

Third, it’s somewhat feminist. I heard about this mythical beast called feminist porn. I agree that at least on the theoretical level, such creature can exist: fully consensual sex for sale where all of the women are over 18, don’t carry a childhood trauma, get paid and where the production company is women-centered/controlled. This experiment is not about whether it exists or not. This experiment is about what mainstream porn counts as women-friendly/feminist porn. Because I do find it interesting (not to mention, fascinating from sociological point of view) for professional, personal and cultural reasons mentioned above.

How can I help?

Time requirements: I’m planning the research to take place between January and March 2012. Will you have the time to watch some porn and fill a survey then? It’ll provide me the data I need for my research.
Personal requirements: Are you a feminist man, or a woman?
Location requirements: not an issue. You can be anywhere in this world for this one.

Yes, I am the kind of person you’re looking for and I will have the time. How do I contact you in order to participate?

If we don’t know each other in person, leave a reply to this post with your email. If we know each other in person, email me.

Can I contact you regarding anything else in this research, or just to offer extra help and tips?

Sure, see my answer above. Having said that, a fair warning: I’ll be busy as hell until 3/11, so it might take me some time to get back to you. Sorry about that.