Why more women are watching porn

When the study was first conducted in 2006, 73% of female participants said they’d watched an X-rated film at least once before. But when the same study was conducted again recently, researchers found more than 80% of women answered yes to the same question.

And they're not just watching it with their partners. Fifty per cent of respondents said they've viewed porn solo.

"Women are now consuming porn by themselves," one of the study's researchers Francois Kraus said. "That goes hand in hand with a widening of sexual behaviour, and changing attitudes towards sex toys or fellatio for instance."

So what’s behind the increase? Sexologist and relationship expert Dr Nikki Goldstein (drnikkig.com.au) said women’s access to pornography has risen steadily with the growth of the Internet and technology.

"Watching porn is a pretty safe form of sexual experimentation; it’s in the privacy of your own home. You can explore that without anyone knowing," Dr Goldstein explains.

It’s also become more socially acceptable for females to explore their sexuality, she says.

"In general, women are taking back their control sexually. In pop culture we had Sex and the City push the boundaries, and then again just recently with Fifty Shades of Grey and the subsequent increase in the popularity of erotic fiction."

Dr Goldstein says the industry has acknowledged the female porn consumer and is catering to the demand.

"If you look at a lot of the porn stars [such as 'the Ryan Gosling of porn' James Deen] and materials that are out there, the market is providing for women. They’ve acknowledged there are a large number of consumers that are female."

"These days I think the more poignant question is ‘why wouldn’t women be looking at porn?’"