“All About the Money Shot”? Pornography Viewers Discuss Orgasms

Abstract

Research has found a substantial gender gap in orgasm, with men reporting reaching an orgasm at significantly higher rates than women. This orgasm gap is mirrored in the visual pornography industry, where women are much less likely than men to be shown reaching orgasm. Some scholars have argued that the male orgasm (the “money shot”) is prioritized by producers, directors, and viewers alike, taking precedence over all other elements of the pornographic video. We examine this claim and the relative importance of both the female and male orgasms to viewers using a large and diverse sample of more than 300 men and women who regularly watch pornography. Our findings show that both male and female viewers believe that depictions of female orgasms are the most important feature of pornographic videos, while male orgasms are not as important.