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With the rise of shows like Bridgerton, Heated Rivalry, and Off Campus, conversations about "smutty TV" have moved into the mainstream. But these shows may be doing more than entertaining us. Research suggests that media helps shape beliefs and expectations about sex and relationships. In a 2003 empirical research review by social psychologist L. Monique Ward, one finding was that media serve as powerful sources of information about sexuality, particularly when they repeatedly portray certain ideas about attraction, romance, and intimacy.

In today’s smutty media, the fantasy often extends far beyond the sexual acts themselves. In a 2025 analysis study published in the journal Sex Roles, researcher Johanna Kluger found that romantic heroes depicted in contemporary romance novels have changed with modern cultural expectations. Instead of the distant, dominant heroes that were once prevalent in romance stories, today's most popular love interests are often emotionally intelligent, communicative, and attentive. In a 2018 analysis of female-authored erotica, Zahra Mayeesha argues that modern work portrays stories in which "emotionally responsible masculinities are imagined for men who perform emotional labor equally to their female partner” (Mayeesha, 2018). Smutty media doesn't just portray sexual scenes; it often showcases an idealized compassionate version of partnerships.

Are Modern Smutty TV Shows Changing Americans’ Expectations About Sex?

In recent years, we have seen numerous popular so-called “smutty” shows on television and streaming outlets. While no longer considered ‘trashy,’ the term ‘smutty’ has been claimed by many fans as something that is no longer stigmatized.

The genre of the modern "romantasy" has cropped up in discussions on social media platforms. Many clients who reach out for relationship or sex therapy articulate the kind of relationships they are longing for. These clients may be frustrated with dating apps because the many people who........

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