The Functions of Pornography in South Africa: A Mixed Research Study of What Remains Unsaid about Explicit Media

Abstract It has been more than 32 years since Communicatio published “The Functions of Pornography in Society: A Survey of Some Alternative Intellectual Views”, a 1989 article by Stefan Sonderling that explored various ideological viewpoints and social roles of pornography. Despite the article’s suggestive title, it presents no actual survey data of porn functions by consumers. South Africa has repeatedly appeared amongst the top 20 porn consumer countries in the world, yet no academic publication has explored the quantitative dimension of South African porn use. Statistical data provided by websites such as Pornhub remains site-specific, insular, and devoid of experiential accounts by users. This article presents mixed-methods research data collected in 2017 as part of my doctoral study at the University of the Witwatersrand. The national study utilised a large anonymous survey (Phase 1) and a smaller number of in-depth interviews (Phase 2). This led to the collection of 676 completed survey responses and the recruitment of 25 interview respondents. The data shows that porn consumption pleasure possesses spatio-temporal specificities and that location and time are integral to enjoying porn. Porn is able to be a masturbation aid, a stress remedy, a sleep sedative, and an energy stimulant, arguably because it emulates the corporeal effects of sex. Lastly, this study reveals that the majority of porn consumers, including those in relationships, prefer to watch porn alone, away from the purview of their romantic partners.