Uses of the Digital Erotic

Historically, Black women have been constructed to view our bodies as sites of sexual exploitation, objectification, and violence rather than as healthy digital erotic subjects of resistance. This study focuses on Black women digital erotic cultural producers who wish to use their bodies as vessels for Black feminist digital erotic resistance that has the potential to positively influence the sexual health behaviors among Black women. Drawing from interview and survey responses, I argue that Black women’s digital erotic cultural production as a form of Black feminist resistance against sexual oppression—digital erotic resistance—is an innovative, culturally relevant, and sex-positive form of sexual health promotion that positively influences healthy sexual behaviors. Results revealed that the digital erotic resistance of Black women digital erotic cultural producers influences their personal sexual health behaviors through accountability, assertive communication, and self-advocacy. Black women digital erotic cultural producers reported that their increased visibility debunks sexual stereotypes, encourages more sexual experimentation, and normalizes sexual desires, thus positively influencing their Black female audiences to engage in healthy sexual behaviors. Black women digital erotic cultural consumers agreed that digital erotic resistance influences their pleasure-based sexual health behaviors, specifically masturbation and communication with sexual partners. Within the scope of pleasure, Black women’s digital erotic resistance against sexual oppression positively influences the sexual health behaviors among Black women.