Analysis Of Pornography, Autonomy, And Equality, By Andrew Altman

Andrew Altman, in “The Right to Get Turned On: Pornography, Autonomy, and Equality” supports and defends rights to production, selling, and viewing of pornography, even hard-core pornography depicting sexual violence. He argues that sexual autonomy gives right to produce and access pornography, including the ones that contains sexual violence. However, his argument is too focus on the sexual autonomy right of an individual that he fails to give importance to issues such as the harm that violent pornography brings to the society.

Altman defines pornography as “sexually explicit material, in words or images, which is intended by its creators to excite sexually those who are willing viewers of the material” (Altman, 308). He argues that restricting pornography, even violent porn, is a violation to an

individual’s right to sexual autonomy. Sexual autonomy is an individual’s right to develop and explore their sexual identities, which gives them the right to produce and access porn, even hard-core porn, depicting violence and the subordination of women. He said that pornography is an important source of entertainment that aid in an individual’s sexual needs. He emphasized that each individual has the right to choose what is good for them, what they do with their bodies, and that pornography is watched by viewers who willingly spends money for sexual arousal and pleasure.
There might be no physical harm done to the individual involve and accessing pornography, but there is harm done to the society, which Altman argument fails to give importance.

The message that hard-core pornography, depicting sexual violence and inappropriate scenes, sends out is morally wrong for it is corrupting the person’s mind with lust and violence, which can serve as a trigger for them to commit rape and sexual assault in order for them to fulfill their sexual desires and fantasies. Porn negatively influences the society, because it depicts women as an object to satisfy their sexual needs. The women’s are portrayed in a humiliating and degrading way, affecting the value of women. The value of marriage is also affected, because pornography misuses sexual intercourse as a means for sexual desires and pleasure, mostly hard-core porn containing intense scenes promoting sexual violence. According to John Stuart Mill, if an activity causes harms to others, it can be restricted, whether a right is violated. Hard-core Pornography devalues marriage, degrades the dignity of woman, and promotes sexual violence, causing harm to the society, thus it should be

restricted.
Someone might object saying that as logical being, each individual ought to discriminate between the “fantasy world” on screen and real life. That watching violent porn does not affect ones value and view of women, and that it is not the only factor that can contribute to rape and sexual assault, but alcohol and drugs can also be the cause. Violent Pornography should not restricted, because it would bring more problems, such as an increase in sexual crimes due to the fact that there is no other way to fulfill their sexual needs. Restricting pornography, is the same as taking out an individual’s right for sexual pleasure and knowledge, and that’s a violation to their rights and freedom.
Altman’s lack of attention to address these issues and provide enough evidence of the positive effects of Pornography, makes his argument lacking. Pornography is addicting and has the power to negatively influence opinions and views, in regards to sex, promoting violent acts and social inequality toward women due to the psychological spillover effects, thus bringing harm to the society. The argument to restrict pornography stands stronger for it addresses the wellbeing of the society.