Created by God, Addicted to Porn: Redemptive Masculinity and Conservative Christian Narratives of Pornography Addiction Recovery

• In Event: 4107 - Masculinities II

Abstract

According to both empirical evidence and theories of gender, there is a strong relationship between hegemonic masculinity and pornography consumption in American culture. Even conservative Christian men who morally oppose pornography are nearly as likely to consume it as their liberal and secular counterparts. On the surface, it appears that men who perceive themselves to be addicted to pornography fail to meet expectations associated with idealized manhood. Yet, drawing from 35 in-depth interviews with conservative Christian participants in five pornography addiction recovery groups, we find that self-identified pornography addicts draw from hegemonic beliefs about masculinity to make coherent and legitimate their narratives surrounding pornography addiction and recovery. They do this by blending cultural schemas rooted in gender, science, and religion. By analyzing these narratives, we extend the sociology of gender to illustrate that culturally salient beliefs about masculinity are strengthened by situationally relevant beliefs related to religion and science.

Authors

• Kelsy Burke, University of Nebraska Lincoln

• Trenton M. Haltom, University of Nebraska-Lincoln