Legislation introduced on Monday means that porn produced in the UK is now banned from showing a long list of sex acts.
The move, which was discreetly introduced, has been labelled "arbitrary" and "sexist" by critics.
The move brings guidelines for video-on-demand (VoD) online porn into line with what the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) deem suitable - R18 - for DVD sex shops.
The full list of banned acts includes:
Yes, you read that correctly, female ejaculation features on the list of banned acts - somewhere between urinating on and strangling your partner.
Male ejaculation, of course, is completely acceptable - whether that's on the face, body or as part of bukkake, where a large group of men climax over the same woman.
So far, so sexist.
Jerry Barnett, founder of anti-censorship campaign Sex and Censorship, told Vice UK he is skeptical about the R18 classification.
"R18 is a strange thing. It's a set of weird and arbitrary censorship rules decided between the BBFC, the police and the CPS," he said.
"There appear to be no rational explanations for most of the R18 rules – they're simply a set of moral judgements designed by people who have struggled endlessly to stop the British people from watching pornography."
Despite female ejaculation being banned, other less explicit acts are not covered by the rule.
Writing in the New Statesman, Lauren Razavi wrote: "Some of the acts facing on-screen censorship are especially popular in LGBT and BDSM communities, and participants argue that taking part in them poses no risk to consenting adults.
"Much more taboo sexual activities such as bukkake (a large group of men climaxing all over the same woman) and paraphilic infantilism (dressing up and being treated like a baby for sexual pleasure) are seemingly not addressed by this new legislation."
Additionally, porn produced abroad will not be subject to the new restrictions, despite being easily viewable in the UK.
On social media the law change has been poorly received.
What do you think of the ruling? Let us know in the comments below.
The move, which was discreetly introduced, has been labelled "arbitrary" and "sexist" by critics.
The move brings guidelines for video-on-demand (VoD) online porn into line with what the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) deem suitable - R18 - for DVD sex shops.
The full list of banned acts includes:
- Spanking
- Caning
- Aggressive whipping
- Penetration by any object “associated with violence”
- Physical or verbal abuse (regardless of if consensual)
- Urolagnia (known as “water sports”)
- Female ejaculation
- Strangulation
- Facesitting
- Fisting
Yes, you read that correctly, female ejaculation features on the list of banned acts - somewhere between urinating on and strangling your partner.
Male ejaculation, of course, is completely acceptable - whether that's on the face, body or as part of bukkake, where a large group of men climax over the same woman.
So far, so sexist.
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Jerry Barnett, founder of anti-censorship campaign Sex and Censorship, told Vice UK he is skeptical about the R18 classification.
"R18 is a strange thing. It's a set of weird and arbitrary censorship rules decided between the BBFC, the police and the CPS," he said.
"There appear to be no rational explanations for most of the R18 rules – they're simply a set of moral judgements designed by people who have struggled endlessly to stop the British people from watching pornography."
Despite female ejaculation being banned, other less explicit acts are not covered by the rule.
Writing in the New Statesman, Lauren Razavi wrote: "Some of the acts facing on-screen censorship are especially popular in LGBT and BDSM communities, and participants argue that taking part in them poses no risk to consenting adults.
"Much more taboo sexual activities such as bukkake (a large group of men climaxing all over the same woman) and paraphilic infantilism (dressing up and being treated like a baby for sexual pleasure) are seemingly not addressed by this new legislation."
Additionally, porn produced abroad will not be subject to the new restrictions, despite being easily viewable in the UK.
On social media the law change has been poorly received.
the UK porn ban thing is insane and unsurprisingly sexist.
— anyprophet (@anyprophet) December 2, 2014I don't normally tweet about kink stuff, but that UK porn ban is some hot bullshit. It's broadly BDSM-specific and also sexist as hell.
— Matthew Marko (@litrock) December 2, 2014Why is male ejaculation acceptable but female ejaculation deemed so offensive, it's now banned in UK porn?
#sexist
http://t.co/5e9s7acB8r
— Christopher H. Jr. (@HitchensJr) December 2, 2014Female ejaculation now banned in UK porn, but 'cum shots' are still fine. Nice. http://t.co/TU2AvJ0ov7
— Brogan Driscoll (@Brogan_Driscoll) December 2, 2014What do you think of the ruling? Let us know in the comments below.