Navigating Sexual Identity and Literacy: The Influence of Modern Pornographic Culture on Asian American Women
Location
PANEL: Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Seniors
Wilder 101
Moderator: Kathryn Metz
Document Type
Presentation - Open Access
Start Date
5-1-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
5-1-2026 12:15 PM
Abstract
This study examines how the widespread accessibility of online pornography influences sexual identity formation and sexual literacy among Asian American women. Pornographic media frequently portrays Asian women as submissive, passive, and hypersexually available, reinforcing harmful stereotypes that shape how this group is perceived and how individuals may perceive themselves. Despite these cultural narratives, limited research explores Asian American women’s lived experiences with sexuality and media representation. Drawing on ten in-depth interviews with Asian American women, this study investigates how exposure to modern pornographic culture affects their understanding of sexuality, identity, and self-perception. I argue that the growing accessibility of online pornography intensifies stereotypical portrayals of Asian American women, constraining their sexual literacy and complicating their processes of sexual identity development.
Keywords:
Asian American, Pornography, Sexual identity, Feminism
Recommended Citation
Sipress, Natalie, "Navigating Sexual Identity and Literacy: The Influence of Modern Pornographic Culture on Asian American Women" (2026). Research Symposium. 39.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/presentations/39
Major
Sociology; Dance
Award
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship
Project Mentor(s)
Christie Parris, Sociology
2026
Navigating Sexual Identity and Literacy: The Influence of Modern Pornographic Culture on Asian American Women
PANEL: Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Seniors
Wilder 101
Moderator: Kathryn Metz
This study examines how the widespread accessibility of online pornography influences sexual identity formation and sexual literacy among Asian American women. Pornographic media frequently portrays Asian women as submissive, passive, and hypersexually available, reinforcing harmful stereotypes that shape how this group is perceived and how individuals may perceive themselves. Despite these cultural narratives, limited research explores Asian American women’s lived experiences with sexuality and media representation. Drawing on ten in-depth interviews with Asian American women, this study investigates how exposure to modern pornographic culture affects their understanding of sexuality, identity, and self-perception. I argue that the growing accessibility of online pornography intensifies stereotypical portrayals of Asian American women, constraining their sexual literacy and complicating their processes of sexual identity development.
