Trump's trial, Stormy Daniels and why our shifting views of sex and porn matter right now

The hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump and adult film star Stormy Daniels continues − and how Americans see sex and sex workers may play a factor in their judgments of it.

During her questioning of Daniels, Trump's lawyer Susan Necheles referenced Daniels' occupation to challenge her credibility, per the New York Times. “You have a lot of experience in making phony stories about sex appear to be real,” Necheles said, to which Daniels replied: “That’s not how I would put it. ... The sex in the films is very much real, just like what happened to me in that room.”

Despite the widespread use of pornography, sex and sex work remain taboo subjects in American culture; however, experts say those views are starting to change. It could be crucial in how people perceive Daniels and her credibility.

"Sex workers are whole people," Jill McCracken, a professor of English and women's, gender, and sexuality studies at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, previously told USA TODAY. "Our society has such a tendency to focus on sex, and, especially when we think about sex work and the exchange of money for something sexual, I think that we have a tendency, of course, to stigmatize it and also to just emphasize that over everything else."

How do Americans view sex and sex workers?

American society has strong puritanical roots and has historically scoffed at sex talk, experts say; however, the internet age has also made sex and sexual expression more accessible and, subsequently, pornography more commonplace.

As a result, porn has become "a very robust source of people's sexuality and sexual outlet," Laurie Mintz, professor of human sexuality at the University of Florida, previously told USA TODAY. "And maybe it's considered especially taboo because other people can see it."

The percentage of Americans who find pornography morally acceptable has also increased in recent years, growing from 36% to 43% from 2017 to 2018, according to a Gallup poll. That number stayed about flat at 41% in 2022.

Despite this, many Americans still hold strong judgments about porn and sex workers. For example, the internet lit up with mockery when photos circulated of "Hot Ones" host Sean Evans spending time with porn star Melissa Stratton. "Generally, we are moving in the direction of sex positivity," Courtney Watson, licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told USA TODAY. "But that's because as a society where we were at is so far back."

More:'Hot Ones' host Sean Evans spotted with porn star Melissa Stratton. The mockery crossed a line.

Daniels has described facing judgment for appearing in porn as well. On Thursday, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger showed the jury a tweet that Daniels confirmed receiving on March 18, 2023, referring to Daniels as a "disgusting degenerate prostitute." The Twitter poster added: "Good luck walking down the streets after this!" Daniels described that tweet and another as "tame" compared to others she's received.

According to experts, women face particularly heavy scrutiny when it comes to sex, sexuality and porn. Allison Moon, author of "Girl Sex 101," previously told USA TODAY: "It’s not hard to find examples of people shaming women for the number of sex partners they’ve had or the kinds of sex they enjoy. Owning our sexuality often comes with a price. Whether it’s humiliation, rejection, or just garden-variety slut-shaming."

Ronald Weitzer, a sociology professor at George Washington University and the author of "Sex Tourism in Thailand," said people often make "sweeping generalizations" about sex workers and see them only for what they're famous for. As a result, sex workers' humanity often gets neglected and people may be less likely to take their allegations of sexual misconduct seriously.

Women and sex:Billie Eilish says her bluntness about sex makes people uncomfortable. She's right.

What's going on with the Trump trial?

Daniels described on Tuesday having sex with Trump after meeting him at a 2006 Lake Tahoe golf tournament and having dinner with him in his hotel suite. Trump denies that happened.

Daniels' story of that 2006 evening formed the basis for an alleged $130,000 hush money payment she got from Trump lawyer Michael Cohen less than two weeks before the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors allege the payment violated federal campaign finance laws and that Trump falsified records to cover it up.

Trump trial live updates:Stormy Daniels testimony concludes, Trump moves for mistrial

Daniels' occupation and sexual history have been a major subject of her questioning during the trial. While on the stand, Daniels was asked by Necheles to confirm she has appeared in and had sex in over 200 porn movies. Daniels said it was about 150.

Necheles also asked Daniels to confirm that, despite her sexual history, she says seeing Trump sitting on a bed in a T-shirt and boxer shorts was "so upsetting" that she "got lightheaded" and almost "fainted." Daniels responded that she sees her husband naked almost every day, but if she came out of the bathroom and saw someone who wasn't her husband naked, it would be shocking.

Necheles has asked Daniels about other details of her alleged history with Trump as well. After she suggested Daniels made up her story of having sex with Trump, Daniels shot back: "If that story was untrue, I would have written it to be a lot better."

"I didn't have to write this one," Daniels added.

Contributing: David Oliver, Aysha Bagchi, Kinsey Crowley and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY