For context, I am nonbinary AFAB queer asexual. I also have autism, which might be why I don’t already have the answer to this and why I felt the need to ask here.
Is it immoral or harmful to draw sexy female presenting subjects? I have been drawing pinup girls since I was a kid, and have seen countless other artists doing the same. They share their work in online spaces, some have a patreon. I want to do that too, it’s fun. But I’m conflicted about whether this is wrong. Of course I would only post in where it’s appropriate like spaces dedicated to nsfw art, or if I built my own online space, I would censor and make sure to have an advisory so people don’t just stumble onto it accidentally.
I just need to know if it’s okay. People should have a creative outlet for their more pervy fantasies. But I’ve educated myself about objectification, and have been objectified plenty of times myself. I know about the problem with art galleries having a lack of female artist representation but too many pictures of naked ladies in their galleries drawn by men which is one of the many problems that brought about the suffragette feminist movement. I keep all of this in mind but at the end of the day I still have this need to draw boobies. There was a Youtuber called sexplanations who I thought was great, she advocated for there to be a healthy outlet for sexual fantasies. I strongly agree with what she said.
I need to know that it’s okay, and not immoral, and I will never ask again. Please. Thank you for taking time to answer.
First off I’m cis/het and AuADHD, so, this colors my views on things in a number of ways.
I think that you ask a good question that has a few answers and other perspectives that are worth exploring. My “short-and-sweet” answer is:
No, I do not think that there is anything wrong with drawing nudity and sexuality, where it comes from a place of appreciation (either from the artist or audience) and is not exploitative or non-consensually demeaning (ie. there are some who have fetishes for being consensually demeaned and while not my thing, I’m not going to yuck their yum).
Some may argue that any depiction of women in a sexual context is objectification and immoral. I strongly disagree with those views and see them as a desire for puritanical sexual repression. That is not to say that the pornography industry does not have a history and present of exploitation - it does. However, I reject the notion that sexuality is inherently wrong/exploitative/violent as pure nonsense and, by all evidence, psychologically very unhealthy.