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"Contributing to the problem of not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up was the regular world travel that porn afforded me. The constant barrage of publicity events took me to New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Germany, London, Paris, Australia, Romania, and Italy between road trips—notably one during which I drove up and down the whole of Eastern Europe. Canada and Mexico were a given, of course, and I've seen every state in the nation (once on a porny tour bus!). The available number of things I might think to do when I grew up seemed to increase rather than get narrowed down.
"The next thing porn gave me was investment capital. I bought real estate, maxed out my IRA contributions, and put money in the stock market. These things further delayed the pressure of having to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up.
"Finally, porn brought me experience-based knowledge from my time 'in the field.' I directed my first adult film in 2013. In 2014 I won best director for a project I directed with my husband. In 2015 I launched a production studio. Now I direct one movie a month [for] my self-funded, self-directed line, and porn has finally brought me the thing I think I always wanted: It allowed me to indefinitely put off deciding what I will do when I grow up."
Madison Young
performance artist, author, adult film performer, director, and producer
"Porn has been an incredibly empowering part of my life in so many ways…. I can look back at the porn I’ve made and see photos from the first time I met my husband, the first time that he placed rope on my body. I have beautiful documentation of some incredibly powerful sexual experiences that I’ve shared with many of my lovers, as well as many of my firsts, like the first time that I was flogged, caned, whipped—or even the first time that I experienced rope in a sexual context.
"The making of porn itself has been a meaningful and powerful experience for me, a container to explore my sexuality and sexual fantasies in depth, frequently, and with many different partners. It is because of porn that I became so very interested in sex education, and that I became such a pro at sexual negotiation. When you are having sex with so many different partners, it becomes key to know yourself and become very assertive and clear in your sexual negotiation.
"Also, over the past 15 years I've been both performing and directing, porn has been my livelihood and an extension of both my art and activism in creating social change and dismantling sexual shame and stigma in our society by documenting and performing authentic sexual experiences in front of the camera.
"Economically, my career in pornography has financially supported my life as an artist, as well as, for over a decade, my feminist art gallery and performance space, which produced over 500 art events, performances, and exhibitions celebrating the diverse work of the feminist, women, trans, sex worker, LGBTQ, and kinky artist communities, in a very visible, storefront art gallery in the heart of San Francisco from 2000 to 2011."
Misty Stone
adult film performer
"I think some of the great things I have been able to do since getting into porn have mostly been teaching[-related]. Being able to be a mentor and show young women in the adult industry how to be women in this industry and grow as people and performers.
"I enjoy building people's confidence, helping them find out who they want to be and [how to] express themselves.
"I also have enjoyed traveling all around the world. And yes, baby: Because of working in this industry, I have been able to work in and meet people from countries all over the globe."
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.All personal photos courtesy of subject. Lead image courtesy of Leah Schrager.