FAQ: All Girl and Lesbian Porn
Men . . . who needs ‘em? Lesbian porn is always near the very top of the list of any ranking of top porn search terms. In honor of our ongoing all girl and lesbian VOD porn sale (ends 9/16/19), we tip our hat to the genre with a guide to a few basics!
How is the genre defined?
While the lesbian category is broadly defined as any adult movie featuring action exclusively between female performers, it contains numerous styles and subgenres, from female domination to various iterations of LGBTQ cinema. Movies spotlighting female masturbation solo scenes are also included as part of the category. Several studios work solely within the lesbian/all-girl genre: Girlfriends Films, Sweetheart Video, Girlsway, Filly Films, Lesbian Provocateur, Sappho Films, LesbianX, and more.
When did the genre start and how did it evolve?
Lesbian themes in erotica date all the way back to the frescoes of Ancient Greece. In the wake of the sexual revolution and the flowering of movies outside the traditional studio system, exploitation films such as 1968’s The King explored lesbian themes (albeit with varying levels of authenticity). Even so, porn’s 1970s golden age was largely devoid of overtly lesbian-themed movies, according to author Heather Butler in the book Porn Studies. Even famous ’70s movies that incorporated lesbian sequences (such as Behind the Green Door) “ultimately reinforce[d] male sexual domination,” said author Tom Pollard in Sadomasochism, Popular Culture and Revolt. However, as the video age dawned, filmed pornography made all-girl porn part of its standard repertoire. From the 1980s onward, the prevalence of VHS and later web technology helped numerous genres proliferate, including lesbian and all girl.
Is there a difference between “girl/girl” and “lesbian”?
As is the case with many adult entertainment genres, much of lesbian porn is designed for a male audience. These movies often feature actors who are not necessarily lesbian by orientation but who perform in such roles in porn. “Most mainstream porn labeled ‘lesbian’ will feature straight or bisexual cisgender female performers who look classically ‘femme.’ A better term for this, which is often used instead, is ‘girl/girl’ or ‘G/G,’” said Lynsey G in her book Watching Porn: And Other Confessions of an Adult Entertainment Journalist. Other subgenres of all-girl porn are crafted with female and same-sex-oriented audiences in mind, often starring performers whose professed sexual preference in private life is gay/lesbian. Critics have praised Bree Mills’s Girlways movies as exemplary instances of this type of lesbian porn, which is often regarded as a rawer, more authentic brand of erotica.
Who are some famous lesbian and girl/girl performers?
Many prominent pornstars start out as girl/girl performers before adding boy/girl to their repertoire, while others remain girl/girl performers for the balance of their careers. For instance, prior to appearing in B/G scenes, Australian star Angela White began her career exclusively in all-girl videos, and still releases bestselling movies in the genre to this day. Performers such as Jenna Sativa and Prinzzess have carved out popular niches as all-girl actors. (Though now long since retired, Sunny Leone was also one of the best-loved all-girl performers during her heyday.) Still other actors become girl/girl only as a transition period toward the end of their porn careers. Visit the Adult Empire all girl and lesbian category page and use the “refine by performer” option at the left of the page to find more actors who have starred in a wide range of lesbian-themed porn.
