One respondent said his experience of porn has led him to “put pressure” on his partner “to try new things in the bedroom”.
One in five Irish men are using pornography at least once a day, according to a new study.
The Men’s Development Network, a Waterford-based non-profit that has focused on “male health, wellbeing, and transforming masculinities” for the past 25 years, has shared the interim findings of its Men’s Attitudes Now (MAN) survey, detailing that a fifth of all respondents under the age of 55 engage with porn at least once daily.
In contrast, over 70% of men under the age of 45 said they use pornography at least once a week. For respondents aged 44 or younger, the mean number who stated that porn influenced their expectations of sex was recorded at 40.88%.
Some of the men surveyed noted that regular use of porn provoked feelings of insecurity. One respondent aged between 18 and 24 said: “I have difficulty telling if a partner enjoys sex, as the reaction is not as exaggerated as a performer, and this has led to both guilt and insecurity.”
Meanwhile, another respondent aged between 25 and 34 said: “It’s led to me putting pressure on my partner to try new things in the bedroom.”
At least 10% of respondents aged 18 to 54 believe that men should figure out their problems on their own without seeking help from others.
The study is made up of 48 questions and is based on the ‘Man Box’ theory, an idea that if you don’t fit in, you’re not a ‘real’ man, and that not being a real man carries a heavy social price.
The survey, which is being billed as the first of its kind in Ireland, intends to gain a better understanding of male concepts of masculinity and gender, gathering insights into how men feel about themselves and their role in Irish society, including attitudes towards wellbeing, relationships, homophobia, pornography and wider social issues such as gender-based violence.
Further interim results from the survey found that while the majority of those responding disagree that men should use violence to achieve respect, at least 25% of men aged 18 to 44 agree that society instills a belief that men should use violence.
An average of 89% aged 18 to over 65 agreed that men who discuss their feelings should be respected, though 45% said they believe that society continues to place stigma upon this.
“Men and boys can become agents of change by challenging discrimination, sexism and violence and I welcome the tireless work that Men’s Development Network does in this area,” said Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. “I am glad that my Department has been of assistance this year by providing funding for its awareness-raising campaigns.
“I’m confident that through continued education we can support men and boys, and women and girls, to fulfil their aspirations unconstrained by narrow stereotypes. We must continue to work together.
“Our recently-published third national strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence takes a zero-tolerance approach and will support us all, over the next five years, to face up to the excuses we as a society make for unacceptable behaviours.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
