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Interview with Dr. Caroline West, Sex Educator & Host of the Glow West Podcast, on Ethical Porn

Dr Caroline West holds a PhD and MA in sexuality studies, and will shortly qualify as a sex and relationship coach. She is the sex and relationship expert for Bumble Ireland, writes a weekly sex column for evoke.ie, and is the sexpert on the Elaine show on Virgin Media One. She is also the host of the Glow West podcast which looks at sex, sexuality, and the body, which has been listened to in 160 countries. She has presented her research internationally and is a frequent media commentator on sex related topics.

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What is ethical porn?

Ethical porn is porn that is produced under fair and equal working conditions for its workers, and can often refer to the content on screen, such as depictions of mutual pleasure, rather than just pleasure/orgasms for one partner. it can be viewed by some as interchangeable with queer porn or feminist porn but its not 100% the same.

How does ethical porn differ from ‘mainstream’ porn?

Ethical porn often shows a broader spectrum of sexual activity than we often see in mainstream porn, which can be very formulaic. A lot of mainstream porn focuses on the climax of the man, resulting in the ‘cumshot’ and then all sexual activity usually ceases. In ethical porn, the cum shot doesn’t always mark the end of sex, reflecting how sex can be in reality. There’s also a great range of diversity and a lack of labels that might be said to be racist or derogatory.

Why use ethical porn over free sites (e.g. Pornhub)?

Pornhub has been accused of enabling piracy which means that performers can lose income. Pornhub has also been accused of hosting videos of child abuse or sexual assault and it can be hard to figure out if the content is consensual, as it also accepts content submitted by users, not just professional porn performers.

How do you know the porn you are watching is ethically produced?

If you go to the performers websites, they will upload content that they are encouraging you to watch, and this way you will know it is of them, and that money goes back to them for their labour. You can also trust some companies that are trailblazers in this area, such as Pink and White Productions who are advocates for porn to be more inclusive and realistic. Look at the categories it is listed under, if they use racist or sexist terms, it’s generally not ethical.

Why do you think people do not use ethical porn?

It could be an educational thing- many people don’t know it exists, or it could be that you have to pay for it, and there appears to be a stigma around this. Which there shouldn’t be , as performers are workers that deserve to be paid for their labour and still have to put food on the table like anyone else.

What tips would you give someone looking to switch to ethical porn?

Go to your favourite performers website and they will have links to their content. That way you are supporting them directly. I would also go to content sites such as OnlyFans as performers can ethically create custom content for the viewer and be paid fairly and directly.

What needs to happen to make sure that as much porn as possible is ethically produced?

More awareness for viewers who can make the switch and therefore change demand, and allowing porn performers to unionise so that they can advocate for themselves to have their needs met.

Any recommended reading/watching/following in relation to ethical porn?

Lots! Lustery, Crash Pad series, Pink and White Productions, Jennifer Lyon Bell, Four Chambers, Bright Desire, and Make Love Not Porn, and content directly from your favourite performer on sites such as OnlyFans.

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Disclaimer

This service is fully limited to Sexuality Education. All advice is given in an honest manner and as guidance only. By using this service, you agree that you make your own decisions, relying solely on your discretion; any use you make of such answers, advice or services is at your own risk and ‘Grace Alice Sexuality Educator’ cannot be held responsible or be liable for any damages or losses resulting from your reliance on such answers or advice.

What is a peer-to-peer support session?

Firstly, let us start with what the session is not! I am not a practicing sex therapist, sexologist, medical professional, psychotherapist, psychologist, counsellor, or mental health professional. Therefore, I do not provide medical advice (although I may recommend that you seek guidance from a medical professional if appropriate) or a therapy service.

Sex & Relationships Education is a separate field to these professions, and I employ my own unique approach based on my qualifications, training, and experience. I hold an undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy and a Masters degree in Health Promotion. I have over six years experience working as a Sex & Relationships Educator and have undergone continuous professional development and training. I also studied empathy education as a UNESCO scholar, which informs my approach. Details of my qualifications and training are available on my LinkedIn page – please see the ‘About’ page also!

Within a session, I offer a confidential and safe space for discussion of various issues relating to relationships and sexuality. I strive for a relaxed, informal vibe, where you can chat about something that you have been struggling with. I can offer a friendly and non-judgemental listening ear, suggestions on how you can approach your own personal situation, general information on the related topic(s) and details of relevant professionals, support services and organisations (usually in a follow-up email). I can accommodate sessions relating to many topics relating to relationships and sexuality – including but not limited to body image, sexual communication, consent and boundaries, protection, anatomy, vaginismus, porn, STIs and STI stigma, healthy and unhealthy relationships, gender and sexuality, pleasure, arousal, desire, infidelity, break-ups, dating, and more.  I want my clients to feel relaxed, comfortable, and free to talk without fear or shame, like they would with a very close friend!

How does a Booking work?

In a nutshell, you can contact me via the booking page on this site and request a booking. If I decide that a session with me would be a good fit for you, I will contact you and arrange a time and date!

Here is the pricing for sessions;

ServiceDurationCost
Standard Session1 hour€50
Student* Standard Session1 hour€40
   
*A valid student I.D. must be presented.  

Please note that the session must be paid for in full at least 24 hours prior to the session, using the payment method and details I will provide to you in an email. If you do not have PayPal, we can arrange another form of payment (Revolut or bank transfer – please factor in the extra time it will take you to set up an account if needed or the possible delay in bank transfers, this may slightly affect the scheduling of your session).

Due to the nature of this service, I cannot offer any refunds for any reason during or after a session.

However, if you have paid and can no longer attend the scheduled session, I can offer you a full refund if you notify me of the cancellation at least 48 hours beforehand. If you wish to reschedule, please notify me at least 48 hours before the time of the scheduled session, and we can work something out!

Am I guaranteed to have a session?

Imay choose not to do a session with you if I feel that I am unable to offer support or education relating to your situation. I will contact you to let you know if I have decided that my service is not a good fit for you, and I will offer some suggestions regarding more suitable professionals/organisations/services to contact.

Although we may chat about lots of different things during a session, if someone has clearly not been truthful in the booking form about the topic area that want to discuss and appear to have an ulterior motive in booking the session, I may choose to end the session. The same rule applies to a situation where someone is clearly not who they have stated they are in the booking form. 

I cannot offer sessions to anyone under the age of 18 years. I may choose to ask you to present a copy of a valid form of I.D. if I feel that confirmation of age is needed. Requesting to book a session indicates that you are aged 18 years or over, and that you are being truthful in disclosing your age.

If I feel that someone is being disrespectful, offensive, or inappropriate, and I feel uncomfortable, I may choose to end the session. I may also end the session if I believe that it is being recorded.

Is it all confidential?

Y

es! Confidentiality is essential to a service like this and I will do everything in my power on my end to protect it.

Here is what I will do on my end; I will abide by GDPR guidelines and make every effort to keep all personal information relating to sessions safe. Booking requests and emails with a form attached/included will be retained for no more than 1 year. The form may be printed, and I may take notes before, during and after the session either by hand or typed. Forms, notes, and USB key will all be stored in a locked file safe in my home office. All forms and notes (hard and soft copies) will be deleted and/or destroyed after one year.  I will send you a Zoom Meeting ID and password before the session using the email address you have given me. I will use headphones and will be alone in a private space during all sessions. All  records of calls and video calls will be deleted after one year.

Please be mindful of what you choose to share within the session. I have an obligation to break confidentiality and report to Tusla and/or the Gardaí any disclosures of child abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse and other crimes.

Here is what you must do on your end! You must not screenshot, record and/or distribute any part of your session. It is also your responsibility to protect your privacy as much as you like on your end. This may include keeping your phone password-protected, using a non-identifiable email address that does not include your name, deleting correspondence, making sure you have a private space for your session where you will not be interrupted or overheard, etc.

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