What I Have Learned From Academic Research

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As I might have mentioned, the topic of my research paper is how the proliferation of the internet has impacted people's sexuality and sexual behavior. In order to come up with research articles, I spent a lot of time searching various sex-related journals for use of the word "internet". (This was the best method I found; all attempts to narrow or focus my search ended with no results.) Since my search methods were less than precise, I've spent a lot of time browsing through unrelated journal articles. Combined with the research for my paper, I've learned a few things, namely:

• A LOT of scientists have studied the practice of condom-less sex among gay men. Seriously, during my research I thought about creating my own Research Paper Drinking Game where I would down a shot every time I came across the word "barebacking".
  
• "Autassassinophilia is a paraphilia (i.e. "fetish") in which a person is sexually aroused by the risk of being killed." I have no idea how to pronounce that.
  
• Social scientists REALLY enjoy coming up with cutesy article titles. Some of my favorite examples: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered ... I’m Yours”: Calibrating Body Ownership through the Consensual Mastery/slavery Dynamic; the elegantly simple Hey stud: Race, sex, and sports; and the enigmatic Silver 'porn bullet' for information technology industry?
  
• Studies regarding the use of pornography and other sexually explicit materials are still disturbingly biased toward male use.
  
• Apparently sex, and especially porn, is bad, yo. Not all of the research agrees, but man: it is difficult to find good, comprehensive research that focuses on normal, healthy, positive sexuality.
  

Comments

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plane_jane pointed me toward that Tumblr before (LOVE IT!), but I haven't come across any links to academic writing.

There is definitely sex-positive research out there, and I've analyzed some of it for my paper; it's just far outweighed by research focused on addictions, disorders, dysfunction, disease risk, etc.

My problem with the research being done about pornography use is that it focuses mainly on the types of porn men have been shown to prefer: hardcore images and videos, etc. Women are more likely to prefer written erotica, sex "chat", and images that are less genitally-focused and more sensual. When you don't include the types of porn that women like in your research, of course it looks like women don't like porn!

I have other issues, too, but you spared me from your rant, so I should return the favor and spare you from mine. ;) (Especially since I know it's just be preaching to the choir.)