Anti- And Pro-Pornography Views And Feminism

Porn fems and antiporn fems have drastically different understandings of power as it relates to pornIs it a question about censorship or one about representation, accountability in what message one feeds consumers through their media? Is it a question of how to distinguish the violent from the nonviolent? Or one of the viewer’s role in interpreting and conceptualizing representation and violence? Tenets of anti-porn fem theory and how they relate to women’s social issues:Modern pro-pornogrophy philosophy is not commensurate to sex positivity because of the constant obligation to satisfy the male gaze; the omnipresence of allusions to sexual violence.

Mainstream pornography is also absent of realism, deeming any attempt to educate futileIt is void of empowerment for women outside the confines of the male gazeConsumers are inherently influenced by what they watch. Pornography is one of the largest industries, with a net worth of 97 billion dollars, more than the MLB, NBA, and NFL combined, with a huge audience, therefore is an indispensable part of an ideological system that legitimizes, and even encourages domination of women by menChallenging traditional sexual roles, judgments, and regulations in ways that make you enjoy sexuality and don’t harm oneself or others is characteristic of feminist philosophy. Also distinctive of feminist ideology is encouragement of critical reflection on all facets of life, like sexuality, including our own, and the cultural and social forces that mold it. Just like we, as feminists, must critically analyze each aspect of our lives to unlearn misogynistic, racist, and otherwise discriminatory behaviors, we must also dive critically into our sexual preferences and what we are taught to desire to find and unlearn what is unhealthy.

Clarke, 2004, questions the legitimacy of our understanding of freedom. Is the fulfillment of desire the same thing as freedom? Unpacking pro-porn arguments:sex -positivityArgument that the there’s nothing problematic about depicting pornographic pain, hierarchy, dominance, and submission as sexually arousing, as long as women are clearly shown consenting to and enjoying them.

Again, consumers are inherently influenced by what they watch. Does watching porn influence consumers to expect consent to often degrading sex acts? What happens when women do not consent, especially after male consumers have viewed pornography riddled with depictions of women being “punished” for their actions, and even for saying no? Taormino: “If celebratory eroticized depictions of female pain, abject submission, and even violence against women don’t disqualify” a porn as feminist, what does? Porn often depicts hitting, name-calling, and even stranglingOne study showed that 34%-68% of female domestic violence survivors had endured strangling by their abuser- toarmino.

Should we deem concerning the morality behind depicting a primary method of misogynistic torture as “a sex game”-taorminoMany women report feeling uneasy or “fucked up” after performing these scenes. (taormino) Taking on a character who, by real sex standards, is being assaulted or demeaned during a scene, can be unsettling, or even traumatizing, even after the scene is performed consensually. The sex being had on a set is still sex, and still bears the very real psychological consequences that come with having sex, even when the person dominating or demeaning a performer is playing a character. Pro porn argument: “some sex contains things that some may just find disturbing,like oppression and degradation. This notion relies on the claim that the “power hierarchy” is an inevitable component of all sexuality