126. The Feminist and Financial Ethics of Porn with Maitland Ward | Financial Feminist

Intro

In this episode of the Financial Feminist podcast, host Madeleine Ward explores the feminist and financial ethics of the porn industry with guest Maitland Ward. Please note that this episode contains explicit content and discussions about sex and pornography.

Main Takeaways

Misinformation and Stigma around Porn

• There is a lot of misinformation and stigma surrounding the porn industry.
• Accurate statistics from nonpartisan sources are difficult to find.

Maitland Ward’s Transition to Adult Film

• Maitland Ward shares her journey from being a Hollywood actress to becoming an adult film star.
• She discusses how creating her own content in the industry has empowered her and provided financial independence.

Soap Opera Experience

• Maitland Ward talks about her experience working on soap operas, including Boy Meets World.
• Soap operas require intense work due to the fast-paced nature of shooting and quick script turnaround.
• She highlights the unique opportunity to learn from established actors in the industry.

Exploring Sexuality and Cosplay

• Maitland Ward discusses her transition to exploring her writing and erotic content.
• She shares how her love for cosplay and fantasy has become a significant part of her career.
• Social media, especially Snapchat, played a crucial role in solidifying her presence in the cosplay world.

The Feminist Perspective on Porn

• Maitland Ward emphasizes that pornography can be empowering for women, providing them with control over their bodies and sexuality.
• She explains that not all pornography is degrading towards women and that there is confusion around its definition.
• Maitland advocates for more verification and regulation in the industry to eliminate degrading and illegal content.

OnlyFans and Financial Empowerment

• Maitland Ward discusses the financial empowerment that platforms like OnlyFans provide for performers.
• She highlights the importance of building a brand and audience before starting on platforms like OnlyFans.
• Maitland explains the challenges and stigma sex workers face when managing their money.

Summary

Misinformation and Stigma around Porn

The episode begins by addressing the misinformation and stigma surrounding the porn industry. Accurate statistics from nonpartisan sources are challenging to find, contributing to the lack of understanding and misconceptions about the industry.

Maitland Ward’s Transition to Adult Film

Maitland Ward shares her personal journey from being a Hollywood actress to entering the adult film industry. She discusses how creating her own content in the industry has empowered her and allowed her to achieve financial independence.

Soap Opera Experience

Maitland Ward reflects on her experience working on soap operas, particularly her role in Boy Meets World. She highlights the intense work required in soap operas due to the fast-paced shooting schedule and quick script turnaround. Additionally, she emphasizes the valuable learning opportunities provided by working alongside established actors in the industry.

Exploring Sexuality and Cosplay

Maitland Ward discusses her transition to exploring her writing and erotic content. She shares how her love for cosplay and fantasy has become a significant part of her career, with social media platforms like Snapchat playing a crucial role in solidifying her presence in the cosplay world.

The Feminist Perspective on Porn

Maitland Ward advocates for the feminist perspective on pornography, emphasizing that it can be empowering for women. She believes that pornography allows women to have control over their bodies and sexuality. She also highlights the need for more verification and regulation in the industry to eliminate degrading and illegal content.

OnlyFans and Financial Empowerment

Maitland Ward discusses the financial empowerment that platforms like OnlyFans provide for performers. She emphasizes the importance of building a brand and audience before starting on platforms like OnlyFans. She also addresses the challenges and stigma sex workers face when managing their money.

Conclusion

This episode of the Financial Feminist podcast delves into the feminist and financial ethics of the porn industry. Maitland Ward’s personal experiences shed light on the empowerment and financial independence that can be achieved through creating one’s own content in the industry. The conversation challenges misconceptions and highlights the importance of accurate information, consent, and regulation within the industry.