Giami, A., de Colomby, P., Paterson, F.

Eroticizing condoms: Representations of sex and AIDS
among sex workers of the porn industry,
and consumers of porn magazines in France.
A preliminary study.

Originally published in: D. Friedrich, W. Heckmann (eds). Aids in Europe-The Behavioural aspect.
Vol. 2 : Risk Behaviour and its determinants .
Berlin, 1995, Sigma, pp. 235-246.
Reproduced here by permission of the authors.

Paper delivered at :

AIDS  in Europe - The Behavioural Aspect

European Conference on Methods and Results of Psycho-Social AIDS-Research

September 26-29, 1994, Berlin , Germany

Contents

INITIAL HYPOTHESIS

PREMISE

1.The historic link between pornography and sex-education

2. The dilemma posed by using porn material in AIDS prevention

Consumers of Porn Magazines in France

RESEARCH-ACTION WITH THE MAGAZINE SEXY-MAG

ANALYSIS OF THE "AIDS AND CONDOMS" THEME IN A FEW FRENCH HETEROSEXUAL EROTIC MAGAZINES

Representation of sexuality and AIDS among actors and models

CONCLUSION

References

 

INITIAL HYPOTHESIS:

 

This project stems from some results of the French National Survey on Sexual Behaviours, in which 47.4% of men and 19.3% of women stated they read a pornographic magazine  often or occasionally (Spira, Bajos, ACSF, 1993). In addition, a large proportion of these readers considered that condoms could be used in erotic play. Thus, it seems that a fairly large portion of the so-called general population would be accessible through porn publications, to messages concerning prevention .

 

The first aim of this project was to evaluate how it might be possible to conceive and disseminate messages concerning prevention of HIV built around the principle of the eroticisation of condoms. In order to do this  we tried to find out what has already been improvised in the field of the Porn industry[1], and by the people involved in it. We also wished to sensitize the producers of porn magazines to the problem of AIDS prevention and to encourage them to come up with AIDS prevention messages in the usual language - written and iconographic - of these magazines.

 

During our preliminary exploration work for this project we contacted the people in charge of these publications and also met with actors and models who work in this milieu. Conversations with all of those involved led us to suppose that few individuals protected themselves and rarely against HIV infection. In this context of frequent partner turn-over and high-risk sexual activity, the problem of contagion is accentuated.

 

Our work developed as follows:

- We wished, firstly, to use the porn press to help spread specific HIV-prevention messages.

- Secondly, we looked at what had already been done on this subject in this press.

- After interviews with several actors and models working in this field we noted that safe sex was not practiced systematically.

We concluded that if we wished to collaborate with this milieu to produce messages of prevention geared toward the general public, it was also necessary and urgently so, to have the actors and models, and the people around them,  become more conscious of the risk involved in their work and change their behaviours.

 

PREMISE:

1.The historic link between pornography and sex-education.

 

Due to the censorship of explicit representations of genitalia and sex acts, porn films and magazines have often used the pretext of sex-education to show sexually explicit material. Since the 1930s, Sexploitation Movies and Hygiene Pictures, for example, showed the damages wrought by sexuality and were in fact the only films showing genitals. More recently, there was a German film series on sex-education, Helga: the Private Life of a Young Girl, (by Erich F. Bender, 1967). These films reflect the evolution of the basic premise; they have covered topics like prevention of venereal diseases, reproductive education, and in the 1970s, during the "sexual revolution", spoke of mutually satisfying sexual relations. Rather surprisingly, on the other hand, AIDs has not yet produced a new blossoming of Hygiene Pictures (Bouyxou, 1994). It would seem that safe sex and condom use are problematical for the current sex industry.

C. Lemes recounts feeling she was "transgressing a taboo" in order to get Playboy (Brazil) to print a scientific survey on the sexual behaviour of Brazilian men accompanied by recommendations on condom use (Lemes, 1994).

As for sex-education, it has often been accused by reactionaries of being a form of pornography which increases the frequency of sexual activity and contributes to making youngsters sexually active at an earlier age. Since oral contraceptives and birth control education have become readily available, the education establishment has been involved in this debate. And now, there is similar opposition among teachers concerning the distribution of condoms to adolescents.

 

2. The dilemma posed by using porn material in AIDS prevention.

The main studies on the effects of exposure to pornography have two underlying research paradigms: learning: "exposure to pornography in experimental conditions can lead subjects to commit sexual aggressions; people imitate what they see or, at least, become less sensitive to sexual violence towards women" - and catharsis: "reducing aggressive urges (aggressiveness) through the experience of symbolic systems such as art, for example." (McCormack, 1988, p. 493).

Under these conditions, if one adheres to the liberal viewpoint that pornography mainly produces a cathartic-type effect, its use as a technique to help prevent AIDS by modifying high-risk behaviour may at first seem limited. If, in addition, one adheres to more conservative viewpoints or to the American Feminist viewpoint that pornography reinforces the tendancy of violence towards women (Pornography is the theory, rape is the practice : Andrea Dworkin), then there is the moral issue implicit in supporting porn businesses which apparently produce these effects.

Moreover gay porn and heterosexual porn do not have the same status. The gay porn is considered as political correct in American circles because it helps support the gay identity and takes place in the struggle against AIDS (Patton, 1991).

It is not our aim, in this research, to evaluate the effects of exposure to porn messages. For the moment we are attempting to explore the place and the status of condoms and safe sex in the porn system of representation.This system of representation is seen as a "magnifying mirror" of sexual representations, and by extension, of AIDS as understood by the general population. In other words, an analysis of porn can help us understand the representations of sexuality in contemporary French culture. Behaviour change is a long-term process. Transformation of representations might be the first step of such a long-term process.

 

Consumers of Porn Magazines in France 

 

1- Pornographic magazines are read mainly by men.

47.4% of men and 19.3% of women stated that they read a pornographic magazine often or occasionally. This is a high percentage which leads us to suppose that porn messages get good public distribution.

 

Methods

The analysis of data available in the ACSF file was geared on the 5.7% of men who stated they had often read a porn  magazine. This choice was made in the interest of working with a contrasting sample. Since only 1.5% of women fell in this category, they were not included in this analysis.

 

2 - The change in sexual behaviours since the appearance of AIDS:

40% of readers, as opposed to 19% of men overall, stated that they had changed their sexual behaviour since the appearance of AIDS.

 

3 - Feeling concerned by AIDS:

This group seemed to feel more concerned by AIDS than other men: 10% thought they had a greater risk of being infected  as against 5% of men overall, and 14.5% stated they were not at risk as against 23.5% of men overall. Likewise, 66% of readers wondered very often or often if they were already infected; less than 50% of men overall gave a similar response.

 

4 - Opinions about condoms:

Readers of porn magazines seem to have a more positive image of condoms and their opinions about them are more clear-cut than among the general male population. Readers find them even less complicated to use than men overall, more of them maintain that they can be used in erotic play (+12.7 points), and that they can make pleasure last longer (+9.9 points) or increase it  (+2.8 points).

 

5 - Average number of sexual intercourse:

A higher proportion of readers have sexual relations, and though they may not actually be more precocious to start with (age of first encounter), readers state a greater frequency of sexual intercourse than men overall, no matter what age-group they belong to.

 

6 - Number of partners:

Readers have more frequently been in a multi-partner situation during the past 12 months and have had a larger number of partners than multi-partner non-reader males.

 

7 - Frequentation of prostitutes:

Although it is a minority activity, frequentation of prostitutes seems to concern readers of porn magazines more than the general male population. Twice as many readers stated they had been to a prostitute during the 5 years preceding the survey (6.6% against 3.2%) and during the past 12 months (1.8% against 0.9%).

 

8 - Homo- and bi-sexuality:

Twice as many readers of porn magazines stated that they had been sexually attracted to men, and twice as many also admitted that they had had at least one same-gender sexual experience in their lives.

 

9 - Masturbation:

More than half of the sample of readers stated that they masturbated often and considered this practice to be completely acceptable. Conversely, while 35% of the sample of the general male population found this practice acceptable, only 17% stated that they masturbated often.

 

10 - Less frequent practices

Minority practices such as group sex, exchanging partners or use of an object for sexual arousal, while they are not common amongst either the general male population or readers of porn magazines, are more frequent amongst the latter. The highest percentage of readers having often made love with several people concerned men over 40 (5% against 0.4%); in addition, 1.5% of men 25 years old and under stated they did it often, five times more than men their age overall.

 

11 - Condom use:

Over 80% of readers in all age-groups stated that they had already used condoms during their sexual life (the corresponding figure for men overall was only 69.1% and the percentage decreases with age). Condom use over the 12 months preceding the survey remained higher among readers even though use of this type of protection diminished noticeably with age in both groups.

 

Comments:

Porn magazine readers stated in this national survey that they had more frequent and diverse sexual activities than the general male population. They reported a higher number of partners. More of them also felt concerned by the risk of catching HIV, stating that they had changed their sexual behaviour since the appearance of AIDS, and more stated that they used condoms.

In the present state of the project, we cannot assert that this situation is directly linked to their consumption of porn magazines or if consumption of porn magazines is only one element in a more diverse sexual repertory which implies cultivating eroticism and being more at ease sexually (Béjin, 1993).

In any event, the fact that 40% of readers (as against 19% in the general male population) stated that their sexual behaviour had changed since the appearance of AIDS, is an indicator to be taken into account regarding the potential for change in this group. While it is still difficult to assert that condom use will increase due to specific messages of prevention in the porn press, we can state that this population is already sensitive to this problem. This is in keeping with Ducot and Spira's (1993) proposal which suggests: "In dealing with condom use, the emphasis should be on the fact that sexual relations with condoms can be satisfying, and not just: "wear a condom and you'll be safe".

 

RESEARCH-ACTION WITH THE MAGAZINE SEXY-MAG

 

In March, 1993, the magazine Sexy-Mag ran a feature entitled: "Love in the Time of AIDS".

It included:

- a technical and humorous presentation of condoms and how to use them;

- information on the AIDS epidemic;

- information on condom use by people in the sex industry;

- information on the risk-factor in various sexual practices;

- suggestions on different no-risk sexual practices: sex-play without penetration, fondling, mutual masturbation, soft-core sadomasochism, getting the partner to participate in putting on the condom (with her mouth, for example), etc.

This report represented an original type of communication in heterosexual circles since it emphasized the erotic aspects and erotic advantages of condom use and safe-sex.

On the other hand, along with this feature, this issue of the magazine also contained texts about and photographs of penetrations without condoms. So the presence of diverse and contradictory messages must also be taken into account. This construction associates hygienist elements (information, mainly) with erotic elements. This magazine's strategy aims, on the one hand, to give accurate information about AIDS and prevention of HIV (a specialist had been consulted), and on the other to bring out the erotic benefits of the new situation in two ways: condom use and development of sexual practices that gain legitimacy thanks to absence of risk involved.

 

It is in this context that we contacted Annabel Faust, the chief editor of the magazine and main author of the feature.

Together, we developed a project to print a special edition of the magazine centered on AIDS prevention. The project was submitted to the French Agency for Fighting AIDS (Agence Française de Lutte contre le Sida) which comes under the French Ministry of Health.  The AFLS accepted the project in principle and agreed to finance it.

A special issue came out in December, 1993, and included:

* An explicit photographic feature showing a man and a women in an erotic context with close-ups of the penis with a condom.

* A condom given out by a Pin-Up girl and inserted in the magazine as a gift.

* A questionnaire for the readers on sexual practices and condom use.

* An interview with the French singer, Pierre Vassiliu, on AIDS.

 

Publication of this document allowed us to meet the directors of other porn magazines interested in the experience and who might wish to reproduce it in their magazines.

 

ANALYSIS OF THE "AIDS AND CONDOMS" THEME IN A FEW
FRENCH HETEROSEXUAL EROTIC MAGAZINES

 

We analyzed the qualitative content of themes covering AIDS and condoms in the principal monthly French erotic magazines found in newstands: Hot Video, Penthouse, Sexy-Mag, Union and Video-Exclusive as well as other magazines published on an ad-hoc basis: Paris-Las Vegas, Défi, etc… The analysis covers the period from December 1993 to July 1994.

On the one hand, the analysis brings out the relative importance of the AIDS problem and on the other it reveals some modes of communication specific to this type of publication. It is important to point out that these strategies were worked out by the editors of these magazines independently of any Public Health organization.

 

1 - The AIDS theme is covered explicitly together with prevention which is thereby included in the magazine's context.

- Publication of a special feature on HIV-prevention covering several pages together with a text stressing the magazine's erotic values. (Sexy-Mag, Paris-Las Vegas).

- Interviews with actors and models who say they feel concerned by AIDS and work with condoms, or that they refuse to work without condoms or that they are aware of the risk involved in working without condoms.

 

2 - The AIDS theme is covered without any explicit reference to prevention:

- An editorial reaffirming erotic freedom despite AIDS (Video-Exclusive, Paris-Las Vegas).

- "Briefs" giving epidemiological-type information on the AIDS situation worldwide.

 

3 - The theme of condoms is covered with no explicit reference to AIDS and is integrated into the magazine's erotic content:

- Explicit photographs with condoms (Sexy-Mag, Union).

- Erotic texts ( true stories, or accounts of fantasies involving condom use at the desired moment, "in the heat of the moment". In this type of text, condom use is integrated in an imaginary scenario with no change in style. (Sexy-Mag, Penthouse, Union)

- Personal ads by readers who demand condom-use or "absolute hygiene" from their partners.

- A special feature on condoms with advice to consumers (Union, Penthouse); an illustrated history of condoms; ads for condoms that strengthen erections.

 

4 - The AIDS theme appears as a "signature" in an implicit message of prevention.

- A one-page advertisement by organization for AIDS prevention with a metaphoric message: (e.g. "Today everyone says yes", which is both the title of a porn film and the slogan of a public prevention campaign) - (Hot Video and Penthouse).

 

Comments:  It is important to stress that most of these messages are written. Except for the two photographic features, (one of which was done at our request) there is no visual representation of condom use. We note, however, that heterosexual sex-acts are not the main subject of the photo features. These mainly show female models (alone or in groups), who sometimes use penis-shaped objects (dildos). Furthermore, many of the features including male models in scenes without penetration (soft-core sadomasochism, domination, exhibition). Thus, it would seem that the representation of condom use in the male heterosexual porn press is complicated by the fact that visual representations of penises are infrequent; the focus is centered far more on the female image.

We would like to suggest that a woman be included in a photographic series featuring condom use, and be shown placing the condom (with her hand or her mouth); or else that a special scene be created with condoms and female genitals which are represented far more often.

 

Representation of sexuality and AIDS among actors and models.

 

In the course of our work, we interviewed actors and models, both professionals and amateurs, who pose for photos or make porn films. This is a qualitative first contact which does not constitute a representative sample. Also, our analysis is based on informal unrecorded interviews.

 

We treated representations of sexuality and AIDS according to a hypothesis developed during previous research, by ourselves and other authors (Giami, 1993;  Day,  1990) according to which use of any preventive measures against HIV is far from being systematic in all sexual relations. Individuals feel the need to protect themselves in relation to the significance they give to their sexual activity. Starting from this hypothesis, we must study the representations of sexuality (type of activity and type of partner) and their links with AIDS representation.

 

1 - The distinction between pornography and eroticism

This is a distinction made by actors and directors in the porn industry. Eroticism implies an artistic performance by the subject. Pornography is done by "others". It is seen as being "vulgar", "ugly" and "dirty" while eroticism  is seen as being "beautiful", "artistic" and expressing "love of life". In the name of this "love of life and of love", some actors justify the necessity of AIDS prevention.

 

2 - Selection of sex partners

This is the most usual type of HIV prevention strategy found in the the population what population as a whole. Porn actors construct a hierarchy and a distinction among several types of partners. On the one hand, the distinction between private and professional partners; on the other, between "known" professional partners and unknown ones who are not a part of the usual partner networks.  Finally, we noticed rejection of professional partners who were perceived as "taking drugs" or who did not look "healthy".

Men and women expressed different concepts of what a "partner" is. For the women, "professional partners" are not always seen as "sex partners", but as "working partners". For men, on the other hand, having sex with porn actresses was often stated as a prime motivation for working in this profession. Thus we noted a big difference in the explicit motivation for men and for women. Women expressed a motivation that often lay much closer to exhibitionism.

 

3 - Condom use

Far more women than men demand the use of condoms and assert that they are more at risk than men. Men, aside from some exceptions, expressed the difficulties or impossibility of condom use, saying that, for them, condoms inhibit erection. Although many actors ask that condoms be used systematically in scenes featuring penetration, it seems that this  is not done much in practice. Condom use seems all the more difficult because a large majority of actors - both men and women - are prepared to work without condoms. Thus, condom use seems to be imposable only by the actors or actresses who have a high social status in the porn star-system. During the interviews, we observed that many actresses affirmed they had given up making hard-core films because of AIDS (Nina Hartley and Tabata Cash, for example). A few actresses asked that condom use be made obligatory by law.

Finally, it seems that condom use is not perceived by the public as being erotic. This is a major economic obstacle for the producers.

 

4 - Protection strategies

The protection strategy most often used, when possible, is the selection by the actor or actress of the working partner, or refusal of the latter if they are perceived as "suspicious" or "unknown".

In most cases, when condoms are not used, actors justify their non-use with the following theories:

- penetration without ejaculation inside the insertee's body is not at risk.  This theory is based on another theory whereby men can transmit the virus but cannot be infected during penetration. In other words, men and women believe that the insertee runs the greater risk. 

- resorting to AIDS screening. This has two functions: it reassures the person who is tested; and it serves as a certificate of being HIV-negative for the partners and the producers. However, many actors place little faith in these certificates. The actors know very well that an anonymous test can be used as a certificate by someone other than the actual subject of the test.

 

CONCLUSION

Interviews with actors and actresses bring out the fact that condom use is far from systematic in the porn industry. Its non-use engenders justifying theories based on selection of "safe" partners, resorting to medical screening tests, or the belief in the potentially non-infectious character of penetration without ejaculation. As with the general population, it seems that porn actors are reluctant to use condoms, and men more so than women.

The eroticization of condoms thus seems possible only in terms of their representation in an erotic context. This seems to be happening in varying degrees in the porn press. The eroticization of condom use, however, i.e. as an enhancer of pleasure or arousal, does not seem to have been developed. Condom use is always presented as a necessity or an obligation for protection against infection by the AIDS virus, and never as an erotic device.

The representation of condoms in erotic contexts is a first change aimed at the public. It seems necessary, however, to make porn actors more conscious of the fact that they run a high risk of infection, so that they, in turn, may practice risk-reducing strategies.

 

References :

Béjin A., (1990) : Le nouveau tempérament sexuel , Paris, ed. Kimé.

Bouyxou, J.P. (1994) : "Hygiene Pictures" p. 190-196 in : A. Bergala, J. Deniel, P. Leboutte eds. : Une encyclopédie du nu au cinéma . Dunkerque, eds. Yellow Now.

Day S., (1990) : "Anthropological perspectives on STDs", p.88-97 in: N. Job-Spira, B. Spencer, J.P. Moatti, E. Bouvet, eds. Public Health and The Sexual Transmission of Diseases , Paris, John Libbey.

 Ducot B., Spira A., (1993) : "Preventive Behaviour of AIDS : prevalence and conductive factors", Population , 5, p. 1479-1504. 

Giami A., (1993) :  "Une théorie sexuelle du sida", Prévenir ,  n° 25, 1993, pp. 79-89. ;

Lemes C. , (1994) : "Brazilian Play-Boy against HIV : a pioneering approach", 566D,  10th International Conference on AIDS/STD , Yokohama, 1994. 566D

McCormack T., (1988) : "The censorship of pornography : Catharsis or learning ?"  American Journal of Orthopsychiatry , 5, 8 (4), pp. 492-504.

Patton, C. (1991) : "Safe Sex and the Pornographic Vernacular" p. 31-50 in : How do I look ? Queer films and video , Bad Object-Choices, Bay Press, Seattle, 1991.

Spira A., Bajos N., ACSF group, (1993) : Analyse des comportements sexuels en France . Paris, La Documentation Française.

Stoller R. , (1991) : Porn.  Myths for the twentieth century . New Haven,  Yale University Press.

 



[1] It is not our intention to discuss here the differences between pornography and eroticism, we prefer to use the term "porn" as defined by Stoller: "Porn refers to the products of the X-rated Industry: photographs, movies and videotapes of adult men and women performing, not simulating, erotic acts." (Stoller, 1991).