What is Feminist Porn?

Now the longest running celebration of erotica focused on women and marginalized people, The Good For Her Feminist Porn Awards have been celebrating feminist smut for ten sexy years.

But wait, what is feminism doing getting into bed with porn?

At Good For Her, we are feminists and we sell and rent porn. In 2006 we decided that it’s not enough to criticize adult films for not adequately representing the diversity of women’s, trans folk’s- and in many cases, men’s – sexuality. So we decided to do something about it.

As porn star and performance artist Annie Sprinkle famously said, “The answer to bad porn isn’t no porn…it’s to try and make better porn!” Good For Her couldn’t agree more. We acknowledge that what one person finds “bad porn”, another may enjoy. We also believe that erotic fantasy is powerful, and that those who do not identify with the mainstream offerings deserve to put their dreams and desires on film, too. As feminists and sex-positive people, we want to showcase and honour those who are creating erotic media with a feminist sensibility that differs from what porn typically offers.

Good For Her wants porn to be held to a high standard. We all deserve to see artistic expressions that celebrate the diversity of who we are in all our glory, and artists deserve to have their work recognized. For these reasons, and many more, we are honoured to be the presenter and founders of the Annual Good For Her Feminist Porn Awards.

Do the Feminist Porn Awards discriminate against men?

Absolutely not. We know that there are a lot of men who are tired of the same formulaic porn without much choice. We love the men who appreciate a different perspective on porn, and we love the men who make porn that celebrates the ladies, and we love it when men get what we are doing!

What makes a movie a Feminist Porn Award winner?

In order to be considered for a Feminist Porn Award, the movie/short/website must meet at least two of the following criteria:

1) Women and/or traditionally marginalized people were involved in the direction, production and/or conception of the work.

2) The work depicts genuine pleasure, agency and desire for all performers, especially women and traditionally marginalized people.

3) The work expands the boundaries of sexual representation on film, challenges stereotypes and presents a vision that sets the content apart from most mainstream pornography. This may include depicting a diversity of desires, types of people, bodies, sexual practices, and/or an anti-racist or anti-oppression framework throughout the production.

And of course it must be hot!

Overall, Feminist Porn Award winners tend to be movies that consider a potentially female or trans viewer from start to finish. This means that you are more likely to see active desire and consent, real orgasms, and women and/or trans folk taking control of their own fantasies (even when that fantasy is to hand over that control).