Section I: MacKinnon Using your own words, explain Catharine MacKinnon’s account of gender. Is this account convincing? Why or why not? Catharine MacKinnon presents a convincing sexuality-based theory of gender that interrogates the idea of heteronormativity as a foundation of gender dynamics. MacKinnon defines heterosexuality as the eroticization of dominance and submission, and gender as the result of socialization under this eroticization. She asserts that the female gender stereotype is inherently
Pornography and feminism have had quite an odd relationship. Feminist writers such as Gloria Steinem have denounced the sex industry while it has continued to expand exponentially. Due to technological advances such as the internet and cell phones, pornography is easier to access then ever before. Some publications even estimate that gross annual sales for pornographic videos would exceed four billion dollars (Rich 2011: 1). With this much money being invested into an industry that operates in a
showing prostitutes at work was pornographic and unacceptable(Faigley & Selzer, 539). Major Claim The influential feminist pro-censorship movement threatens the women’s rights movement it professes to serve. It is led by law professor Catharine MacKinnon and writer Andrea Dworkin. The feminist movement thinks that sexually oriented expression-not sexist concepts of marriage and family, sex segregated labor, or pent-up rage is the cause of discrimination and violence of women. Their solution
one hand, you have people who feel that there is no correlation between the two, that pornography is used only for personal enjoyment, and it stops there. Then you have the feminist viewpoint which totally disagrees. Two well known feminists, Catharine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin have their own view and definition on pornography. þ....Pornography is the graphic sexually explicit subordination of women, whether in pictures or in words, that also includes one or more of the following: (i) Women
and positive influence that pornography has on society’s view of female sexuality. The belief that pornography promotes sexism and “perpetuates men’s control over women’s lives” has been expressed for decades, most notably by women such as Catharine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin during the anti-pornography feminism movement (Shaw 2010). It has been argued that porn is disempowering to women and depicts them as simply sex objects for men. Some pornographic material focuses on the male actor’s satisfaction
1980s. There were many who played a major role in setting these stones down beside Stanton and Anthony, these women were Susan Moller Okin (who fought for self support), Alison Jagger and Iris Marion Young (who fought for economic support) and Catharine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin (who wanted to change the way men saw women). Not only did these women wanted to change right now but for future generations that wouldn’t suffer what women had to go through to get this rights that women
Feminism includes more than ten types feminists. The three significant and standing out groups are Liberal, Radical, and Post-modern. Liberal feminists believe that unless women have the same opportunities and treatment as men, they will not be able to achieve their full potential. Another type is Radical feminists who believe the world would be so much better without men in it. Because they accept heterosexuality, lesbians are dominant in the radical feminism pool. Lastly, Post-modern feminists
Pornography is another one of those issues that borderline between freedom of choice and an individual's civil rights. Some freedom of speech activists claims that this is freedom of speech, whereas others argue that pornography is degrading and abusive to women. When is it free speech otherwise just bad taste? In this paper, we will look at the ethical principles surrounding pornography. And the effects it has on the individuals making the film and those who watch it. Anti-porn feminists argue
Catharine MacKinnon, an American scholar, teacher and lawyer describes sexual harassment as an “explosive combining of unacceptable sexual behaviour and the abuse of power.” It is not a new phenomenon that the women in the backward regions of the country are perpetually, even post six decades of having been granted these rights are trying to cope up with personal attacks on their bodies, minds, dignity and integrity. Prior to 1997, a complaint for criminal assault of women to outrage her modesty
material that contains the explicit display of sexual organs or activity, with the intent to stimulate erotic behavior. I believe wholeheartedly that pornography is very discriminating towards women and I agree with the five basic ideas that Catherine MacKinnon advocates. Her basic ideas are as follows: Pornography, by its very nature, is discrimination against women which in turn advocates and justifies rape. The distinctions between sexually explicit materials and actions they depict are meaningless.
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
are reduced to those parts; women penetrated by animals or objects; and women presented in scenarios of degradation, humiliation, or torture, shown as filthy or inferior, bleeding, bruised, or hurt in a context that makes these conditions sexual” (MacKinnon). As the pornography industry is now, it contributes to the ideals of rape culture by fetishizing femininity and female “fragility” and/or “innocence”. This obviously misogynistic practice also creates a reliance on understanding... ... middle
Gloria Steinem is a radical feminist and a woman’s rights leader who is known throughout the world. She started the Women’s Media Program and Ms. Magazine. Currently, she is a writer and journalist for New York Magazine, creating editorials about politics and media affairs. Ms. Steinem became famous in the 1960s and 70s during the second wave of feminism. She has been known as “the” feminist leader since 1969 when she published articles about abortion rights and women’s liberation. She received
Liberation vs Oppression In Jane Gallop’s Feminist Accused of Sexual Harassment, Gallop details a case in which she was accused by two graduate students of sexual harassment. Gallop, a strong believer in feminism, disputes these claims by making an argument for the necessary intertwining of pedagogy and sexuality. Drawing from anecdotes about her experience with the anti-pornography movement, Gallop expands on her lengthy career as a feminist scholar in order to analyze the discourse in the feminist
Andrea Dworkin Andrea Dworkin has been an influential write, speaker, and activist for over two decades. She claims to be a feminist, and that her ideas are beneficial to women. This paper will show that many of her most popular beliefs are not only detrimental to society, but also not in the best interests of women. In letters from a war zone, Andrea Dworkin presents a collection of speeches and short articles she has composed during her career as a writer and activist. Many of her articles deal
Catharine MacKinnon's Book Feminism Unmodified Catharine MacKinnon, in her book Feminism Unmodified, takes a unique approach to the problem of gender inequality in America. She claims that pornography defines the way in which America’s patriarchal society perpetuates male dominance, and attacks traditional liberal methods that defend pornography on the basis of the first amendment’s right to free speech. According to MacKinnon, pornography is not an example of speech but rather an act. She proposes
Essays on Rape Only Words, by Catharine MacKinnon is a collection of three essays; each essay argues her claim that sexual words and pictures should be banned instead of Constitutionally protected under the First Amendment as free speech. In her first essay, “Defamation and Discrimination,” MacKinnon takes the stance that pornography is sex, and should not be treated as speech, but as a sexist act. She claims that pornography is an action, just as, “a sign saying ‘White Only’ is only words,
The vulgar and refreshing paraphrase of a simplified hippy version of what shall be taken as topic: We are so oppressed. Maybe we are not repressed, but come on. We are so oppressed. Malcolm X knew it, Catharine MacKinnon knew it. Everyone knows it. One way we are oppressed is sexually. We might not just be repressed, while we still clearly are because there are laws and things. But, come on. Even if sexuality is socially constructed, it’s still very material, it is out there as much as anything
supported you this far I want to support you a little more". As a result Eddie finds it hard to let go of Catherine. This is shown by the fact that is takes Eddie a while to be persuaded by B. that the work is the best thing. Eddie is worried that once Catharine has her job she will get her own place and they will never see her again. "And then you will come visit on Sundays, then once a month, then Christmas and new years finally" I get the idea that B understands what Eddie is going through and that
Catharine Sedgwick’s Hope Leslie, Stephen Gould’s Dinosaur in a Haystack, and Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm all display similar characteristics, so that though they are seemingly unrelated, they can be compared. Mainly the comparisons exist through the imagery the authors use to weave the stories together, the structure of each book, the authority of each author, and the use of nature. A character or objects are the images that the three authors use to tie the plots of the books together