I don’t know what the average person thinks when they hear the term “step mommy” or “stepsis” out of context, but I sure know what my mind jumps to and it’s not a typical family relationship. Perhaps you’re more innocent than me. To be fair, I came of age with access to an ever-growing cornucopia of internet porn and yes, I’m a bit of a pervert. But I swear I’m not the only one that associates these innocent terms with porno storylines. People have written stand-up bits, published YouTube skits, and made TikTok videos all hinging on the overwhelming popularity (or, at least, ubiquity) of step-family-themed porn, often referred to as “fauxcest”. So, what’s the deal with that? Why are incestuous relationships so common in pornography storylines that there’s not just one but multiple popular meme formats revolving around it?
Well, a common theory is that porn consumers are just so over-saturated with sexual imagery nowadays that “normal sex” isn’t enough. Porn viewers keep chasing bigger sexual thrills when the old plotlines start falling flat and suddenly they’ve popularized the dirtiest topic of them all: incest. Now, this may be true for some people, however, the idea that pornography is drug-like in this way is not generally backed up by science and seems to be a myth often used by anti-porn organizations to paint porn as inherently dangerous. The same organizations relying on this narrative will claim that watching porn made by consenting adults is the beginning of a slippery slope that leads to child porn and bestiality.
Not only is this idea sex-negative and judgmental of porn viewers (not to mention unsubstantiated), but it’s also dubious on the surface. Sure, incest is very taboo in the real world (and for good reason), but is it really true that this “step sis” or “step mom” porn is some of the most extreme legal porn to be found? For one thing, most of the time it’s pretty obvious that these clips are actors hired by a production company and following a script. Even if the actors convincingly portray family members, though, I’m not sure the average “step daddy” video on PornHub is scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to dark eroticism or kink. It’s hard to prove with the very limited research in this area, but it seems like often the sex in these videos is relatively standard for porn. Intercourse, kissing, oral, maybe some dirty talking, spanking, or anal. If viewers were really chasing the thrill of outlandish sex, wouldn’t they be more likely to be searching for content with water sports, extreme bondage, or high-intensity sadomasochism?
So, if people aren’t generally seeking out incest storylines for intensity alone, why is this fauxcest so ubiquitous in porn? My theory is that general porn audiences want to have their cake and eat it too. Realistically, people on average aren’t super into hardcore BDSM or more niche fetishes. Many of the most popular search terms and most viewed categories on tube sites like PornHub are things like “lesbian,” “big tits” and “mature.” XHamster’s 2020 report even mentions a notable decline in more “hardcore” genres such as gangbangs and BDSM. That being said, many people are aroused or intrigued by taboos. Something feeling “naughty” or “off limits” often excites people, which could be aided by the fact our fear and disgust responses are closely related to sexual arousal. So, when there are countless clips of traditionally attractive people having fairly average porn sex, how do consumers choose what to click on? They select what catches their eye and makes their heart skip a beat, and (especially when fauxcest porn was less commonplace) these incest-themed titles could do that. And that’s the thing; it seems likely that porn companies spotted a trend in clicks toward more vanilla porn with incest titles and ran with it, producing large amounts of content to compete for that edge. Once the market was flooded with the “step sis” hook, even people just searching for busty blondes probably ended up reinforcing this detected trend because so many videos happened to fall under the fauxcest umbrella.
This isn’t to say that people are just turned on by incest plotlines because they happen to be taboo without being physically outlandish, though. Incestual dynamics between characters can be a shortcut to including some plot and emotional resonance without dedicating too much time to character development. Most people can quickly grasp a scenario like “teen daughter is in trouble because she snuck out.” It has tension and a built-in power dynamic. It’s an easy starting point for eroticism in a way that more convoluted or nuanced setups just aren’t. With the popularity of fauxcest we can see the emergence of specific subgenres and tropes. Step-Daddy won’t tell on his Step-Daughter if she sexually services him; Step-Mommy wants to give her Step-Kids some hands-on sex education; Step-Sis catches Step-Bro masturbating and wants to help. These typical plotlines play with differing yet similar dynamics and create a predictable landscape for porn consumers to navigate without having to spend too much time dreaming up a storyline and then seeking it out with convoluted search terms.
If you enjoy fauxcest porn don’t worry–it probably doesn’t mean you’re secretly attracted to your family members and it definitely doesn’t mean you’re doomed to fall down a slippery slope into child abuse. Whether you like it for the taboo, the dynamics, the popular storylines, or just because it’s so hard to avoid that you got used to it, there’s no shame in enjoying fantasies made for and by consenting adults. If you’d like to branch out from the typical tube sites, though, I recommend investing in content made by smaller creators on OnlyFans or other websites where you can buy custom content or hone in on a specific niche you enjoy within this genre. Written erotica and fanfiction are also wonderful mediums for sexy content that scratches the taboo itch. After all, forbidden love is a very popular trope in romance and erotica, so you might find content with a similar flavor that isn’t specifically about incest. It could also be fun to explore roleplay with a partner in this area, too! Age Play is a topic that deserves much more than a sentence at the end of a blog post, but suffice it to say that many fun porn scenarios can be ethically explored through consensual roleplay and BDSM dynamics like DDlg and CGl.
Whether fauxcest gets your juices flowing or just makes you uncomfortable, it’s worthwhile understanding some of the reasons why this trope has become so popular in erotic media. If it turns you on, you’re not alone and there’s no need to worry about it unless you find it over-occupying your time, brain space, and relationship focus, if so then it is perhaps time to seek professional assistance through therapy. Alternatively, If you’re disturbed by it, that’s perfectly natural and understandable. I hope, however, that you can do your best to see why others enjoy the fantasy and trust in most people’s ability to keep their fantasy lives and real-life behavior separate.
By Aiden/Estelle Garrett