Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
School
School of Arts and Humanities
First Supervisor
Lelia Green
Second Supervisor
Debra Dudek
Third Supervisor
Lorel Mayberry
Abstract
Today’s young people are born into an era where online sources of sexual content, such as pornography, are readily accessible as a source of information. While pornography might serve as a salve for curiosity and provide some sexual information, turning to pornography for information about sex has both positive and negative aspects. Young people’s practices around accessing such information online are consequently worthy of exploration. This thesis seeks to interpolate teens’ access to pornography with their experiences of school based RSE. These perspectives are captured at a crucial time as consent has become mandatory within the Australian curriculum. Teens argue that current programs, including those on consent, are risk-focused and lack balanced information, which may contribute to fears around sex. More information around communication, pleasure, and mutual care is needed. Integrating pornography literacy as part of a wider digital sexual literacy could also be beneficial. This study uses qualitative data from 49 interviews (including 19 follow-up interviews a year later with 30 teens) and four focus groups with participants aged 11–17 to offer their suggestions for improvement. This thesis also aims to identify teens’ perspectives on other valuable sources of information which may supplement more formal sources of knowledge. Sometimes, teens turn to pornography to fill gaps of sexual information or to find more positive representations of sex and bodies that schools and parents currently do not provide. This thesis addresses public concerns and challenges in providing comprehensive RSE, such as teacher training, fears of sexualising children and whether schools can provide the specific sexual information desired by teens.
DOI
10.25958/9mmj-eh53
Access Note
Access to this thesis is embargoed until 24th May 2027
Recommended Citation
Woodley, G. (2025). Born into porn: Young people’s sources of sexual information. Perspectives on pornography and challenges and resistances to relationships and sexuality education. Edith Cowan University. https://doi.org/10.25958/9mmj-eh53