Anti-pornography feminists argue that pornography is degrading to women. In Dworkins (1989) work ‘Men Possessing Women’ she outlines the history of the word pornography and how nothing has changed since ancient times. The word pornography is derived from the ancient Greek meaning and literally means ‘writing about whores’. Dworkin goes on to say that many feminists believe the meaning of this word has not changed over time or that it is even misnamed. While they do acknowledge that in modern times the ‘writing’ of the definition has now been adapted due to technology they still believe that women that participate in pornography are viewed as ‘whores’ by the patriarchy. Anti-pornography feminists believe that ‘whores’ exist solely to serve men sexually and only exist within a framework of …show more content…
This could be supported in ‘Lovelace’ as in the scene where she is at a party with the cast and crew of ‘Deep Throat’ nearly every person there is male. The belief that pornography is ‘dirty’ derives from the convictions that the sexuality of women is dirty and pornography reinforces this. Women’s bodies in general, but especially their genitals, are dirty in themselves and anti-pornography feminists argue that pornography embodies and exploits this idea by selling and promoting pornography (Dworkin, 1989). Although other strands of feminism, such as pro-sex feminists, believe that pornography disproves the idea that female sexuality is dirty, anti-pornography feminists argue viciously that this is not the case. According to this argument pornography is massively degrading towards women as it is just a platform for men to sexually dominate ‘whores’ which, in turn, is extremely damaging toward a woman. However, the pro-sex feminists have presented evidence to suggest that pornography is not degrading but instead liberating to
A pornographic world [What is normal] by Robert Jensen takes an inside look at the culture of masculinity and what role pornography takes in shaping that culture. Jensen describes how he was forced to play a “macho” role as a child out of fear of being bullied and ridiculed for not being manly enough. Pornography use started for him and his friends in grade school – they would steal magazines and hide them to share in a group later. He talks of how he learned of a social concept, called the “ideal of prostitution” (the notion of men “buying” women in various forms of undress, solely for their pleasure), at a young age. While there has always been a stigma around pornography, whether stemming from moral or religious reasons, Jenson continued to use porn until his 30s.
To sufficiently take a side in the ever-growing debate of pornography, one must first define the concept around which this discourse surrounds itself. A working definition for pornography is a piece of material that has the object purpose of arousing erotic feelings. Radical feminists, however, strictly define it as “the act of sexual subordination of women” (Dworkin 1986).
Sexuality has often been confused with pornography. It has been trivialised as something that is a denigration and denial of true feeling by sensationalising genuine expressivism.
Pornography and Feminist Fight for Women’s Rights. There was a complaint in 1992 about having The Nude Maja in a classroom. The complaint came from a feminist English professor who stated that the painting made her students, as well as herself, uncomfortable. Another incident occurred at the University of Arizona when a female student’s photographic artwork consisting of self-portraits in her underwear was physically attacked by feminists.
The term pornography originates from the Greek language, and the definition of this word is "depiction of the activities of whores" (Sushma, 2014). Pornography is encountered in many forms. Such as films, books, photographs, on television, in addition to the internet. Pornography is in each and every culture. Some cultures are more accepting than others when it comes to pornography. Some denominations do not approve any forms of pornography in addition to finding the act of viewing and reading this material as a sin. Even though several people in the world condemn pornography, the industry that produces these movies, plus other materials is a booming industry. Pornography has provided a higher income for those that are involved, including the
The dictionary definition of pornography is sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal. (http://dictionary.reference.com/) Theories from feminist Andrea Dworkin, Catharine A. Mackinnon, Robin Morgan, Nadine Strossen and Jennifer Saul as well as researching crime involving pornography was used to see how the degree of violence has escalated over the years in pornography. From these theories, feminists were divided into two categories: the anti- pornography feminist and the liberal/sex-positive feminists. Pornography reinforces the feminist idea of omnipresent female oppression. Society has become increasingly sexualized since pornography became part of free speech.
Richlin, Amy (ed). (1992). Pornography and Representation in Greece and Rome. New York: Oxford University Press.
In their work, Penley et al. define feminist pornography as, “[using] sexually explicit imagery to contest and complicate dominant representations of gender, sex, race, ethnicity, class, ability, age, body type, and other identity markers” (2013: 9). By depicting marginalized identities as desirable and in positions of control, feminist pornography seeks to challenge heteronormative representations of sex and gender where men are dominant. It also seeks to display alternative forms of attraction and pleasure that are not portrayed in the media in an attempt to destigmatize wide a range of sexual acts and identities. Penley et al. further define feminist pornography as a political movement; thus, pornography can be used to transform how sexuality is expressed and practiced throughout society
...gument against pornography is claiming that intercourse is an act of rape, the argument immediately seems outlandish and almost laughable, and it surely seems that way to the average person. People see these examples of radical feminism and attribute those isolated incidents as representative of the entire feminist movement as a whole. Therefore through complexity, the feminist movement lost a substantial amount of its genuine credibility due to perceived extremist views on female sexuality. This, among many other incidents, seems to be the cause of this great reversal in female sexuality in our current day society. Instead of putting an end to pornography, it flourishes. Instead of bringing an end to female objectification, it is often nowadays encouraged. This reversal of feminist ideals is the main cause for the damage to female gender roles in the 21st century.
Pornography as today, is the representation in books, magazines, photographs, films and media, of scenes of sexual behavior that are erotic or arouse sexual acts. Defining and classifying materials that are considered pornographic has proven somewhat elusive and has varied considerably across time and across different social and cultural context. Pornography can be divided into three categories; Erotica: which are images that express mutual pleasurable sexual expression between people who have enough power to be there by positive choice. Participants have the same power and there is no sexist; Nonviolent pornography: images that have no explicitly violent content but show unequal power relationships;
Again, there are different ideas of what is considered pornographic from artwork, movies, and books. While one may look at a painting that depicts nude forms or read a book that includes sexual acts may not see this as a form of pornography while others would find it morally offensive. Feminist would argue that the morality of porn is it is degrading and humiliating to those involved, not of its sexual nature. Their concern is that it promotes sexism and violence against women or children. “What is objectionable about pornography…is its abusive and degrading portrayal of females and female sexuality, not its content or explicitness” (Rodgerson & Wilson, 1994) However, others may feel that it is sexually liberating and in no way degrading to those involved. Those women feel in control of their sexuality and choose to participate in acts as a way of expressing themselves while feeling it has no barring on their moral character. While others would argue that it promotes immoral behavior which would lead to criminal acts or an unhealthy obsession with sex. “The most commonly feared adverse effects of pornography include undesirable sexual behaviors (e.g. adultery), sexual aggression, and loss of respect for traditional family structures and values, loss of respect for authorities, and a general nonspecific moral decay.” (Hald & Linz,
Freedom of expression and the speech is an indispensable element within democratic society and is well claimed under the article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our own First Amendment also patently indicate that the Congress cannot propose any legislations which limit the freedom of expression and speech. In the article Let’s Put Pornography Back in the Closet, the author Susan Brownmiller introduces the history of freedom of speech, in which pornography has been allowed and grown intractably, and claims that pornography is one of the “misuses of the great guarantees of free speech and free press”, so that it should be limited. The author of this article, Brownmiller, the founder of Women against Pornography, quibbles over prevalent pornography with a colloquial, but logical and formal style to the general audience by saying “I didn’t say that, although I wish I had…”. With these friendly styles of writing, Brownmiller borrows the position of other experts to express her idea in order to avoid any further misleadings.
In deeper readings I have come to an understanding which is based upon the way these forms of thought view sexuality and sex as a whole. Liberal feminism is sex positive while radical feminism is what can be labeled as anti-sex. To elaborate, liberal feminism holds the stance that a woman has control over her body and can decide what to do with it. This view includes her decision to be involved with pornography. This is in complete incongruence with the views of radical feminism, which condemns pornography as a whole as “a practice of sex discrimination” (Dworkin & McKinnon, 133), no matter the type or whether it was safely produced. Radical feminism elaborates that pornography is a medium based upon a “systematic practice of exploitation and subordination based on sex that differentially harms and disadvantages women” (Dworkin & McKinnon, 133) Pornography supports the unbalanced power structures within society and cite the fact that most pornography is made for men, by men, with male desires and interests in mind which leads the media to support and idolize unreal and harmful situations within the “storyline” of the pornographic media. These two ideologies view pornography in very black and white terms, as well and fine or bad and evil, with no real wiggle room for
Many feminist theories believe that pornography is part of male culture and the patriarchy in which women are exploited and abused. In fact, one of radical feminism philosophy’s primary concerns is pornography as they believe porn degrades women and that women involved in the industry are physically damaged by patriarchy, as pornography as often directed by male pornographers (McElroy 2016). Renowned radical feminist Andrea Dworkin explored issues like misogyny and pornography. Dworkin spoke out for several causes, primarily in ending violence against women. Her famous work Pornography: men possessing women (1981) argues that porn teaches men to rape and violently abuse women. However, studies show that watching pornography its self does not cause any considerable social harm. Despite this, it is true that the adult industry itself can be torturous and
To some, pornography is nothing more than a few pictures of scantily clad Women in seductive poses. But pornography has become much more than just Photographs of nude women. Computer technology is providing child molesters and child pornographers with powerful new tools for victimizing children. Pornography as "the sexually explicit depiction of persons, in words or images, Sexual arousal on the part of the consumer of such materials. No one can prove those films with graphic sex or violence has a harmful effect on viewers. But there seems to be little doubt that films do have some effect on society and that all of us live with such effects.