14 Women on How They *Really* Feel About Porn

"I'm really not that opposed to porn. I just never watch it. In large part, because I'm terrified that I'd get a computer virus or somehow spam email all my friends a porn link if I went to some shady website." —female, straight, in a relationship

"Porn has enabled me to avoid having casual sex with a guy just because I am horny. It is a means to keep myself safe." —female, straight, single, not dating

"When my imagination is lacking, porn makes up for it. But, why is there so much spitting in porn these days?" —female, bisexual, single, not dating

"My current relationship is fine and barely affected by porn, but almost every previous relationship was impacted in some way, from grooming expectations to having rough sex and faking orgasms at 18 years old. I didn't freely orgasm with a man until I was 24. And I'd had a lot of sex. I always felt the guys expected me to come like a montage from a porno. Also—anal. Why is this expected as a regular on the menu? Not to mention deep throating until you gag! Wonder if men would come up with this on their own so frequently if there were no such thing as porn?" —female, straight, in a relationship

"I don't watch porn to pleasure myself, if anything I watch it to understand more about sex and sexuality." —female, straight, single, not dating

"Seeing so many different body types and vaginas has helped dispel any negativity I had felt about my body, especially after childbirth. That was unexpected." —female, straight, in a relationship

"I actually learned how to have sex from porn, as unfortunate as that sounds. Porn, in my life, has been equal parts positive and negative." —female, straight, single, not dating

"I date younger men, and their behavior in bed is almost solely learned from watching porn. Some have difficulty performing in real life." —female, straight, dating/having casual sex 

"I've had guys expect that if a woman wants to have casual sex, she is up for having sex like a porn star." —female, straight, single, not dating

"I'm in my early 20's and I don't have a partner, but I still want to explore my own sexuality. I think it's a safe way to learn about yourself and your body. It makes me happier, more confident and gives me control over my own life." —female, straight, single, not dating

This survey is on part of our series on women and porn, and appears in the November issue of Marie Claire, on newsstands now.