The Effects of Pornography
The Effects of Pornography in Our Culture Today
Pornography is a constant debate. Everyone has an opinion on the subject. Many people say pornography is bad for society as a whole. There are many negative effects of pornography, such as an increased likelihood of sexually aggression, the objectification of women, and the imbalanced relationship in pornography may be integrated into real life relationships. Pornography has extensive, destructive effects that are too great to defend. Pornography, especially violent pornography, may amplify the probability of sexual aggression. Violent pornography may provide one with the impression that sexual aggression is acceptable. In a study conducted by Kelly Davis, men were more likely to be sexually aroused by a portrayal of pornographic rape when the victim “was portrayed as experiencing sexual arousal during the rape (as is typical of rape portrayals in pornography) rather than disgusted” (Davis 3). The violent behavior caused the men to become aroused instead of disgusted, as they should have been. The behavior depicted in the film was acceptable to the men. Violent pornography enforce the idea “that women like to be treated like objects, treated with contempt, and enjoy eroticized violence” (Kasper). The woman enjoying being harmed in the depiction and men’s acceptance of the horrible act may create a false idea that pleasure and pain are the same. The men who view this type of pornography may begin to believe that women take pleasure in receiving pain. Men may become progressively more aggressive sexually in their attempt to recreate the situation they viewed. One study found that frequent “exposure to pornography in general, and violent rape pornography in particular, has been positively associated with self-reported likelihood of forced sex, rape, and sexual aggression” (2). Men may become more aggressive sexually due to the exposure to the pornographic representation of rape. Men, women, and
Pornography is a constant debate. Everyone has an opinion on the subject. Many people say pornography is bad for society as a whole. There are many negative effects of pornography, such as an increased likelihood of sexually aggression, the objectification of women, and the imbalanced relationship in pornography may be integrated into real life relationships. Pornography has extensive, destructive effects that are too great to defend. Pornography, especially violent pornography, may amplify the probability of sexual aggression. Violent pornography may provide one with the impression that sexual aggression is acceptable. In a study conducted by Kelly Davis, men were more likely to be sexually aroused by a portrayal of pornographic rape when the victim “was portrayed as experiencing sexual arousal during the rape (as is typical of rape portrayals in pornography) rather than disgusted” (Davis 3). The violent behavior caused the men to become aroused instead of disgusted, as they should have been. The behavior depicted in the film was acceptable to the men. Violent pornography enforce the idea “that women like to be treated like objects, treated with contempt, and enjoy eroticized violence” (Kasper). The woman enjoying being harmed in the depiction and men’s acceptance of the horrible act may create a false idea that pleasure and pain are the same. The men who view this type of pornography may begin to believe that women take pleasure in receiving pain. Men may become progressively more aggressive sexually in their attempt to recreate the situation they viewed. One study found that frequent “exposure to pornography in general, and violent rape pornography in particular, has been positively associated with self-reported likelihood of forced sex, rape, and sexual aggression” (2). Men may become more aggressive sexually due to the exposure to the pornographic representation of rape. Men, women, and
Cited: Davis, Kelly Cue. Et al. “Men’s Likelihood of Sexual Aggression: The Influence of Alcohol, Sexual Arousal, and Violent Pornography” 32, 581-589. Family Safe Media. NextPhase Inc. 24 March 2008 <http://www.familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html> Kasper, Barbara and Barbara Moore. “WAVE: Women Against a Violent Environment.” Porn Insidiously Devalues Women. (27 October 1994). 24 March 2008. <http://www.rochesternow.org/porn.html> Matheson, Angela. “Green Left Weekly.” Pornography as News?. No. 8. (17 April 1991). 24 March 2008. <http://www.greenleft.org.au/1991/8/1555>