Happy Women’s History month! Here at ForPlay Films and ForPlay Toys we’re taking the opportunity to explore female sexual empowerment through the ages. And this week, we’re taking a look at feminist porn!
There was a time when feminism and porn seemed like total opposites. Even now, there are critics who don’t believe that feminist porn can actually exist. But here at ForPlay, we think differently! We believe that porn based on consent, agency, pleasure, mindfulness, and connection can absolutely be empowering, and can absolutely be feminist. We celebrate sexuality, and believe it can be actively healing, and a force for good!
But we’re only the latest in a long line of feminist porn activists. And it’s absolutely worth knowing some of the game-changing icons who came before us.
So let’s take a look at the history of feminist porn! It’s a ride, so make like the reverse cowgirl and get on top as we look back in this sexy, and empowering, retrospective!
1970s-1980s: Early Rebels
Back in the day, the feminist movement was shaking things up all over the world – birth control became widely available, and suddenly women’s rights became more and more mainstream. Women demanded more autonomy over their own lives, bodies, and their own sexuality. That feminist vibe spilled over into discussions about porn. It might have seemed like the most unlikely place to find feminism, but icons like Annie Sprinkle and Candida Royalle wanted to make a change. They started poking at the adult industry, trying to bring accountability and awareness into the world of erotica. They wanted to flip the script on the typical male-focused, often-exploitative scenes that were taken for granted as default. Both trailblazers started their own studios, created their own provocative, challenging films, and focused on female pleasure. In the process, they de-stigmatized sexuality for everyone, including queer folks, and even men.
1990s: The Revolutionaries Arrive
Fast forward to the ’90s, and a fresh batch of renegade filmmakers stepped into the spotlight. Folks like Tristan Taormino and Erika Lust were on a mission to create porn that was not only steamy but also socially responsible. That meant consent first, no matter what. They carried on the mission towards inclusivity, with Tristan especially practicing inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community. They dished out films that put women’s pleasure front and center, and also offered high production values that celebrated sensuality.
2000s: Lights, Camera, Internet
As the internet took center stage, the game evolved. With the accessibility of the internet, DIY and a shoestring budget became possible. Indie creators saw an opening to share their own visions of what feminist and inclusive porn could be. And even though mainstream porn continued its sometimes-problematic habits, and even grew in scale, radically feminist platforms like PinkLabel.tv also popped up. Founder Shine Louise Houston was part of this wave, creating queer-centered, body-inclusive feminist and ethical porn, such as the cult favorite The CrashPad Series.
2010s: From Underground to Mainstream
By the 2010s, feminist porn was stepping out of the shadows. Some works even got a nod from the mainstream, earning awards and turning heads. Erika Lust’s company LustCinema became a veritable empire, generating awareness for the whole feminist porn movement. And newer filmmakers like Petra Joy and Tobi Hill-Meyer kept the momentum going, even encouraging other feminist filmmakers to enter the fold.
2020s: Still Going Strong
Fast forward to today, and feminist porn is still thriving. It’s all about inclusivity, body positivity, and, of course, consent. Some creators are even diving into the world of virtual reality for an extra immersive experience. Here at ForPlay Films we’re proud to be part of this latest wave, combining artistry with a holistic, mindful approach to sexuality, that welcomes everyone in. Our founder Inka Winter, is a rising feminist porn icon in her own right, with experience not only as an award-winning porn director, but also trauma-informed intimacy counseling. Like our forbears, ForPlay Films celebrates female-focused erotica, realism, foreplay, and genuine authentic pleasure. We also love empowering our performers to choose their own partners, and explore only the sex acts they want to explore. We’re mindful of inclusion and diversity, whether ethnicity, race, gender, identity, or body-based, defying fetishization and stereotyping. We love letting our beautiful performers be the whole humans that they are. We believe in mindfulness, the integration of trauma, and sexual healing. Our company offers education, meditation, and even carefully-curated sex toys. And we’re excited to always be learning more.
So there you have it. A whirlwind history of feminist porn, from rebellious beginnings to a genre that’s redefining the game, one steamy scene at a time. There are so many choices to fit your desires – and we hope you’ll visit us, too. Watch a film, buy a toy, celebrate your sexual empowerment… and let’s lift a glass to everyone from the past who made the present possible. And let’s remember to fight for our future freedoms, too.
Disclosure: Some blog articles on this site were written with the aid of generative tools. But we promise a few things – no human jobs were replaced in the making of any blog article, and no article is ever posted without editing and fact-checking by a real person. And most importantly – ALL our porn is real! So why not check out our films? We can’t wait to share!