The Politics of Porn for Young People in New Zealand

This book sheds light on young New Zealander’s social realities and lived experiences of their digital and sexual lives through an understanding of how they think about and engage with porn. Drawing on qualitative empirical data from interviews with 106 young New Zealanders, each chapter examines young people’s creation of informal norms through an investigation of the broader issues associated with their engagement with porn, namely consent, gender, pleasure and ‘empowerment.’ Following this, the book gives voice to young New Zealander’s perceptions of the value of the sexuality education they receive. Finally, this text argues toward a co-constructed intersectional sexuality education.

Claire Meehan is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She specializes in young people’s understandings of intimate and sexual media and how this relates to issues around pleasure, gender, age, consent, and sexuality.