Varying Perspectives On Pornography
Essay Topic Four
Varying Perspectives on Pornography
PHSE337: Body, Culture and Society
Chelsea Holdom
Student ID #2700120
Word Count: 2448
In modern society, pornography is readily available in a wide variety of forms, from adult films to erotic novels, and can now be accessed at the click of a button thanks to the Internet. It has even begun to infiltrate our daily lives, with sexually explicit material appearing in our television shows and magazines. Due to the varied nature of pornography, it has resulted in a range of definitions; ask your neighbour, your friend and your colleague what their definition of pornography is and it is likely you will receive three different, subjective answers. This is because they will have formed their opinion based on their …show more content…
individual ideas, beliefs and personal experiences surrounding sex, sexuality and pornography. This increased exposure to pornography in modern society and the contentious nature of the term itself has resulted in a range of positive and negative perspectives being developed on the topic, which will be explored in this essay. I will endeavour to discuss the radical feminist, anti-censorship, conservative and pro-sex perspectives on pornography, and how their stances are a reflection of their views on sex and sexuality. Based on my prior knowledge and the research conducted for this essay, I will then identify my own perspective on pornography and argue why I hold this stance.
There are many different perspectives on the place of pornography in modern society, however in general it cannot be denied that it now holds a prominent place due to the advancement of technology. The invention of the Internet can be considered as a turning point for the place of pornography, which now makes up twenty-five percent of online search engine queries (Ropelato, 2006). It increased the accessibility of pornography exponentially, enabled the creation of new production techniques and influenced the popularity rise of hard-core porn, which has now become more mainstream and socially acceptable (Garlick, 2011). We are now considered to be living in a pornified culture, with Paul (2005) noting “the all-pornography, all-the-time mentality is everywhere” (p.5), which is evident from erotic novels such as the Fifty Shades of Grey series taking the world by storm and the soft-core pornography we are so often exposed to through mainstream media such as advertising, films and television.
The place of pornography in modern society has also become quite a contentious topic, as it has become difficult and complicated to separate pornography from non-pornography. In the 1940’s, Marilyn Monroe was photographed naked for a sexually explicit calendar distributed in the United States which was considered pornographic and banned in two states; fast forward fifty years and the naked photograph of Monroe appeared in an issue of Life magazine which was considered artistic, not pornographic (Rea, 2001). This is a prime example of the acceptance of pornographic images and tendencies in modern society, which is in part due to it being a very subjective term. Research carried out by Michael Rea (2001) has found that the many and varied definitions of pornography found across literature on the topic can fit into six different categories: “(i) those that define ‘pornography’ as the sale of sex for profit, (ii) those that define it as a form of bad art, (iii) those that define it as portraying man and women only as sexual beings or objects, (iv) those that define it as a form of obscenity, (v) those that define it as a form of oppression and (vi) those that define it as material that is intended to produce or has the effect of producing sexual arousal” (p.123). The mere fact that the term pornography can be defined in so many different ways suggests that there are a number of perspectives surrounding the controversial topic that are up for debate in modern society.
Radical feminists can be regarded as having a negative attitude towards pornography, as from their perspective it is a platform for reinforcing sexist views of male dominance and superiority over females (Dolan, 1987). This group’s stance on pornography is a reflection of their definition of sex and sexuality. They view sexuality as a social process that organizes society into the two separate sexes that we are familiar with and creates the socially constructed genders known as men and women; they believe the relations between these sexes is what forms the basis of society (MacKinnon, 1982). To radical feminists, pornography is less about the sex and more about the power relations represented. They do not view sex as the demeaning factor for women, but the ideological gender relations that are represented through it are what form the basis of their negative perspective (Morgan, 1980). These representations expressed through pornography show women who are simply treated as sexual objects and are not taken seriously at all, which results in the degradation of their status in society (Willis, 1993). In all varieties of pornography, it is common for storylines to involve submissive women who are ready and willing to be sexually dominated by one or more males, and the fact they are both represented as experiencing pleasure suggests the acceptance of male domination in modern society. It has been suggested that viewing this dominance in pornography, which can even be expressed through violence or sexual torture, can make people believe it is socially acceptable, therefore increasing its likelihood of occurring in reality (Russel, 1980). Sexual material that liberates women is viewed by radical feminists as erotic and is encouraged for use as sexual stimulation and entertainment. However, they consider sexual material that degrades and objectifies women to be pornographic, resulting in their perspective that pornography needs to be censored, in order to work towards equilibrium between the two sexes in society.
Anti-censorship feminists have a more positive perspective on pornography, suggesting that it is simply a form of sexual expression, and they argue against it’s censorship as they believe it could result in sexual repression for women (Chancer, 1996). This perspective is a reflection of their views on sex and sexuality, as they believe sexual expression is a natural and healthy way for a person, and particularly a woman, to develop. Pornography is most commonly associated with and celebrated by males, both as viewers and producers, but the anti-censorship group believes that women also have the right to express themselves through pleasure and desire and they should not be suppressed by ideologies of modern society (Chancer, 1996). As demonstrated by the radical feminist perspective, it is often believed that pornography can lead to sexual violence and therefore result in physical harm, and the degradation and humiliation supposedly experienced by women within pornography could cause harm to mental health (West, 1987). However, anti-censorship feminists challenge this and argue many women experience feelings of empowerment and satisfaction through consuming pornography. This is reinforced by a range of studies on women and the effects of pornography consumption, with results suggesting feelings of pleasure, arousal and sexual fantasy were experienced by many (Assiter & Carol, 1993). This perspective recognizes the feelings groups such as radical feminists have towards pornography, but they are more concerned with how the censorship of it would result in the loss of rights and freedom of expression for women who actively enjoy or produce pornography (Chancer, 1996). This perspective aligns with the feminist movement that advocates for freedom of sexual expression, and this group feels that censorship of pornography would violate many basic human rights and undermine what has been achieved for women’s rights throughout history (Strossen, 1995). In modern society, women are severely judged for consuming pornography or working in the industry, suggesting they should feel shame and guilt for expressing sexual desire. The anti-censorship perspective believes women should be able to freely experience their sexuality without judgment, as it is a natural, primitive urge, and that the censorship of pornography will just result in more oppression for women. Anti-censorship feminists believe notions of sexuality should be explored, not judged, and they support pornography as a means of exploring sexuality in modern society (Chancer, 1996).
In contrast to this, conservatives hold a more negative perspective on pornography as they believe it tends to arouse non-specific sexual desire, which goes against their traditional views on sex and sexuality that are based on the notion of virtue (Kristol, 1971). Social virtue encompasses family, marriage, monogamy and heterosexuality as four key aspects central to their social and core values (West, 1987). Conservatives consider virtue to be the fundamental element of social and moral standing, and one aspect of this is practicing sexual restraint (Kristol, 1971). They believe only those who are married should engage in sex for the sole purpose of procreation, and that any sex engaged in outside of marriage or for sexual desire is considered selfish and immoral (Sherkat & Ellison, 1997). This conservative view aligns with that of many religious groups, who believe sex outside of marriage is a sin. Conservatives therefore believe that exposure to pornographic materials has the ability to influence the sacrifice of virtue, corrupt core values and threaten self-control, as it advocates sex being engaged in to satisfy sexual desire. Pornography is now so easily accessible and is even present in the public sphere through the pornification of mainstream media such as movies and television shows, which conservatives worry could disrupt social order and result in increased immoral sexual expression. Consequently, conservatives encourage the censorship of pornography, as they believe the maintenance of social decency and core values is of utmost importance in modern society.
In alignment with the anti-censorship perspective, pro-sex groups view pornography as an essential tool for personal development as it encourages the exploration of sexuality and discovery of sexual preferences. This perspective is a reflection of their views on sex and sexuality, which they do not consider to be a personal choice, but instead a fundamental characteristic of an individual and an aspect that helps to define them (Taylor & Whittier, 1999). They believe that there is a wide and diverse range of sexual activity that can be considered acceptable, the only real constraint being that the informed and explicit consent of all involved is essential, and that sexual desire is healthy and should be expressed freely rather than hidden (Hoffman, 1985). Those that are pro-sex argue that ‘perversions’ which conservatives consider to be caused by pornography are in fact a result of the application of constraints in the effort to censor pornography (Hoffman, 1985). They also argue that the knowledge of pleasure is desirable for women and their perspective suggests the consumption of pornographic material has the ability to educate its audience to gain this knowledge of pleasure while also encouraging sexual exploration. They view pornography as just one of many ways that individuals can express their sexuality in modern society, and that the censorship of it would limit people in the discovery of their sexual identity.
Prior to taking this course, my perspective on pornography was that it was predominantly a male domain in which women were objectified for their sexual pleasure. I began to develop more of an opinion on the matter after conducting research for our group presentation on pornification in the media. This research led me to believe that pornographic materials influenced the degradation of women’s status in society, and discovering the fact that the word itself is derived from the Greek word porne, essentially meaning whore, reinforced this claim for me that pornography is degrading for women (Boyle, 2000). However, it was not until I began researching for this essay that I discovered even though the actual performance and production of pornographic materials may appear to be degrading for women, it is simply another expression of human rights and ultimately sexual discovery and freedom. If women are eager and willing to consume porn or participate in it’s production then they should not be judged for this or feel ashamed, but their desire for sexual development and discovery should be celebrated and encouraged.
In developing my own perspective on pornography, I do still agree with radical feminists in a sense, that pornography objectifies women and reinforces inequality between the two sexes. Majority of pornography, especially pornographic films, is extremely unrealistic and makes male dominance acceptable and appear to be the norm. Now that pornography is so easily accessible, this false message is reaching an extensive audience, and for those that are using pornography to explore and develop their sexuality they are being misled on what to expect from sexual experiences. Yet, in accordance with the pro-sex stance, I have developed my perspective believing that we should not be judging sexual desire and expression in modern society but we should be embracing it. We live in a progressive society and acceptance needs to increase, but the production of more realistic pornographic materials also needs to increase so as to ensure false representations and misleading stereotypes are not being bought into. MakeLoveNotPorn, a Cindy Gallop production, is a step in the right direction that I have aligned my perspective with. This website is one in which real couples can submit their real sexual experience videos for others around the world to pay to watch (Gallop, n.d.). The mission is to eradicate judgment surrounding human sexual experience and encourage open and healthy conversation about sex and pornography, all the while still encouraging the consumption of pornography if that is of the individual’s taste. I hold the perspective that in general, the representation of women in pornography degrades their status in society, but sexual expression is a necessary part of human development, so therefore more realistic pornography needs to become more accessible to reduce inequalities and sexual stereotypes.
The debate on the merits of pornography has become more heated than ever due to its complex nature and its increased availability and accessibility in modern society. How people define sex and sexuality is often a reflection of their stance on pornography. Those groups that have a negative perspective on pornography, such as radical feminists and conservatives, define sexuality differently but come to the same conclusion that pornography is ultimately damaging and harmful in modern society. The anti-censorship and pro-sex groups also hold different views on sex and sexuality, but align with their positive perspective on pornography in that everyone has the right to explore their sexual freedom and pornography allows this to happen. Throughout my research I have developed a perspective on pornography that encompasses both the positive and negative aspects of the argument, but ultimately I believe that sexual equality needs to increase which could be achieved through the production and distribution of more realistic pornography. This would still allow for freedom of sexual expression while making women a more realistic part of the pornographic process and abolishing the stereotype that male dominance and female submission is the norm in sexual experiences.
References
Assiter, A., & Carol, A. (Eds.). (1993). Bad girls and dirty pictures: the challenge to reclaim feminism. Pluto Press.
Boyle, K. (2000, April). The pornography debates: Beyond cause and effect. Women 's Studies International Forum (Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 187-195). Pergamon.
Chancer, L. S. (1996). Feminist Offensives:" Defending Pornography" and the Splitting of Sex from Sexism. Stanford Law Review, 739-760.
Dolan, J. (1987). The Dynamics of Desire: Sexuality and Gender in Pornography and Performance. Theatre Journal, 39(2), 156-174.
Gallop, C. (n.d.). Porn World vs. Real World. Make Love Not Porn. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://makelovenotporn.com/pages/about
Garlick, S. (2011). A New Sexual Revolution? Critical Theory, Pornography, and the Internet. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne de Sociologie, 48(3), 221-239.
Hoffman, E. (1985). Feminism, Pornography, and Law. University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 133(2), 497-534.
Kristol, I. (1971). Pornography, obscenity, and the case for censorship. New York Times Magazine, 24.
MacKinnon, C. A. (1982). Feminism, Marxism, method, and the state: An agenda for theory. Signs, 7(3), 515-544.
Morgan, R. (1980). Theory and practice: Pornography and rape. Take Back The Night: Women on Pornography. New York: William Morrow, 134-140.
Paul, P.
(2005). Pornified. New York, NY: Owl Books.
Rea, M. C. (2001). What Is Pornography?. Nous, 35(1), 118-145.
Ropelato, J. (2006). Internet Pornography Statistics. Top Ten Reviews, Inc.. Retrieved September 25, 2014, from http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html.
Russell, D. E. (1980). Pornography and violence: What does the new research say. Take back the night: Women on pornography, 218-238.
Sherkat, D. E., & Ellison, C. G. (1997). The cognitive structure of a moral crusade: Conservative Protestantism and opposition to pornography. Social Forces, 75(3), 957-980
Strossen, N. (1995). Defending pornography: free speech, sex, and the fight for women 's rights. New York: Scribner.
Taylor, V., & Whittier, N. E. (1999). Collective Identity in Social Movement Communities: Lesbian Feminist. Waves of protest: Social movements since the sixties, 101, 169.
West, R. (1987). The Feminist-Conservative Anti-Pornography Alliance and the 1986 Attorney General 's Commission on Pornography Report. American Bar Foundation Research Journal, 12(4), 681-711.
Willis, E. (1993). Feminism, moralism, and pornography. NYL Sch. L. Rev., 38,
351.
Varying Perspectives on Pornography
PHSE337: Body, Culture and Society
Chelsea Holdom
Student ID #2700120
Word Count: 2448
In modern society, pornography is readily available in a wide variety of forms, from adult films to erotic novels, and can now be accessed at the click of a button thanks to the Internet. It has even begun to infiltrate our daily lives, with sexually explicit material appearing in our television shows and magazines. Due to the varied nature of pornography, it has resulted in a range of definitions; ask your neighbour, your friend and your colleague what their definition of pornography is and it is likely you will receive three different, subjective answers. This is because they will have formed their opinion based on their …show more content…
individual ideas, beliefs and personal experiences surrounding sex, sexuality and pornography. This increased exposure to pornography in modern society and the contentious nature of the term itself has resulted in a range of positive and negative perspectives being developed on the topic, which will be explored in this essay. I will endeavour to discuss the radical feminist, anti-censorship, conservative and pro-sex perspectives on pornography, and how their stances are a reflection of their views on sex and sexuality. Based on my prior knowledge and the research conducted for this essay, I will then identify my own perspective on pornography and argue why I hold this stance.
There are many different perspectives on the place of pornography in modern society, however in general it cannot be denied that it now holds a prominent place due to the advancement of technology. The invention of the Internet can be considered as a turning point for the place of pornography, which now makes up twenty-five percent of online search engine queries (Ropelato, 2006). It increased the accessibility of pornography exponentially, enabled the creation of new production techniques and influenced the popularity rise of hard-core porn, which has now become more mainstream and socially acceptable (Garlick, 2011). We are now considered to be living in a pornified culture, with Paul (2005) noting “the all-pornography, all-the-time mentality is everywhere” (p.5), which is evident from erotic novels such as the Fifty Shades of Grey series taking the world by storm and the soft-core pornography we are so often exposed to through mainstream media such as advertising, films and television.
The place of pornography in modern society has also become quite a contentious topic, as it has become difficult and complicated to separate pornography from non-pornography. In the 1940’s, Marilyn Monroe was photographed naked for a sexually explicit calendar distributed in the United States which was considered pornographic and banned in two states; fast forward fifty years and the naked photograph of Monroe appeared in an issue of Life magazine which was considered artistic, not pornographic (Rea, 2001). This is a prime example of the acceptance of pornographic images and tendencies in modern society, which is in part due to it being a very subjective term. Research carried out by Michael Rea (2001) has found that the many and varied definitions of pornography found across literature on the topic can fit into six different categories: “(i) those that define ‘pornography’ as the sale of sex for profit, (ii) those that define it as a form of bad art, (iii) those that define it as portraying man and women only as sexual beings or objects, (iv) those that define it as a form of obscenity, (v) those that define it as a form of oppression and (vi) those that define it as material that is intended to produce or has the effect of producing sexual arousal” (p.123). The mere fact that the term pornography can be defined in so many different ways suggests that there are a number of perspectives surrounding the controversial topic that are up for debate in modern society.
Radical feminists can be regarded as having a negative attitude towards pornography, as from their perspective it is a platform for reinforcing sexist views of male dominance and superiority over females (Dolan, 1987). This group’s stance on pornography is a reflection of their definition of sex and sexuality. They view sexuality as a social process that organizes society into the two separate sexes that we are familiar with and creates the socially constructed genders known as men and women; they believe the relations between these sexes is what forms the basis of society (MacKinnon, 1982). To radical feminists, pornography is less about the sex and more about the power relations represented. They do not view sex as the demeaning factor for women, but the ideological gender relations that are represented through it are what form the basis of their negative perspective (Morgan, 1980). These representations expressed through pornography show women who are simply treated as sexual objects and are not taken seriously at all, which results in the degradation of their status in society (Willis, 1993). In all varieties of pornography, it is common for storylines to involve submissive women who are ready and willing to be sexually dominated by one or more males, and the fact they are both represented as experiencing pleasure suggests the acceptance of male domination in modern society. It has been suggested that viewing this dominance in pornography, which can even be expressed through violence or sexual torture, can make people believe it is socially acceptable, therefore increasing its likelihood of occurring in reality (Russel, 1980). Sexual material that liberates women is viewed by radical feminists as erotic and is encouraged for use as sexual stimulation and entertainment. However, they consider sexual material that degrades and objectifies women to be pornographic, resulting in their perspective that pornography needs to be censored, in order to work towards equilibrium between the two sexes in society.
Anti-censorship feminists have a more positive perspective on pornography, suggesting that it is simply a form of sexual expression, and they argue against it’s censorship as they believe it could result in sexual repression for women (Chancer, 1996). This perspective is a reflection of their views on sex and sexuality, as they believe sexual expression is a natural and healthy way for a person, and particularly a woman, to develop. Pornography is most commonly associated with and celebrated by males, both as viewers and producers, but the anti-censorship group believes that women also have the right to express themselves through pleasure and desire and they should not be suppressed by ideologies of modern society (Chancer, 1996). As demonstrated by the radical feminist perspective, it is often believed that pornography can lead to sexual violence and therefore result in physical harm, and the degradation and humiliation supposedly experienced by women within pornography could cause harm to mental health (West, 1987). However, anti-censorship feminists challenge this and argue many women experience feelings of empowerment and satisfaction through consuming pornography. This is reinforced by a range of studies on women and the effects of pornography consumption, with results suggesting feelings of pleasure, arousal and sexual fantasy were experienced by many (Assiter & Carol, 1993). This perspective recognizes the feelings groups such as radical feminists have towards pornography, but they are more concerned with how the censorship of it would result in the loss of rights and freedom of expression for women who actively enjoy or produce pornography (Chancer, 1996). This perspective aligns with the feminist movement that advocates for freedom of sexual expression, and this group feels that censorship of pornography would violate many basic human rights and undermine what has been achieved for women’s rights throughout history (Strossen, 1995). In modern society, women are severely judged for consuming pornography or working in the industry, suggesting they should feel shame and guilt for expressing sexual desire. The anti-censorship perspective believes women should be able to freely experience their sexuality without judgment, as it is a natural, primitive urge, and that the censorship of pornography will just result in more oppression for women. Anti-censorship feminists believe notions of sexuality should be explored, not judged, and they support pornography as a means of exploring sexuality in modern society (Chancer, 1996).
In contrast to this, conservatives hold a more negative perspective on pornography as they believe it tends to arouse non-specific sexual desire, which goes against their traditional views on sex and sexuality that are based on the notion of virtue (Kristol, 1971). Social virtue encompasses family, marriage, monogamy and heterosexuality as four key aspects central to their social and core values (West, 1987). Conservatives consider virtue to be the fundamental element of social and moral standing, and one aspect of this is practicing sexual restraint (Kristol, 1971). They believe only those who are married should engage in sex for the sole purpose of procreation, and that any sex engaged in outside of marriage or for sexual desire is considered selfish and immoral (Sherkat & Ellison, 1997). This conservative view aligns with that of many religious groups, who believe sex outside of marriage is a sin. Conservatives therefore believe that exposure to pornographic materials has the ability to influence the sacrifice of virtue, corrupt core values and threaten self-control, as it advocates sex being engaged in to satisfy sexual desire. Pornography is now so easily accessible and is even present in the public sphere through the pornification of mainstream media such as movies and television shows, which conservatives worry could disrupt social order and result in increased immoral sexual expression. Consequently, conservatives encourage the censorship of pornography, as they believe the maintenance of social decency and core values is of utmost importance in modern society.
In alignment with the anti-censorship perspective, pro-sex groups view pornography as an essential tool for personal development as it encourages the exploration of sexuality and discovery of sexual preferences. This perspective is a reflection of their views on sex and sexuality, which they do not consider to be a personal choice, but instead a fundamental characteristic of an individual and an aspect that helps to define them (Taylor & Whittier, 1999). They believe that there is a wide and diverse range of sexual activity that can be considered acceptable, the only real constraint being that the informed and explicit consent of all involved is essential, and that sexual desire is healthy and should be expressed freely rather than hidden (Hoffman, 1985). Those that are pro-sex argue that ‘perversions’ which conservatives consider to be caused by pornography are in fact a result of the application of constraints in the effort to censor pornography (Hoffman, 1985). They also argue that the knowledge of pleasure is desirable for women and their perspective suggests the consumption of pornographic material has the ability to educate its audience to gain this knowledge of pleasure while also encouraging sexual exploration. They view pornography as just one of many ways that individuals can express their sexuality in modern society, and that the censorship of it would limit people in the discovery of their sexual identity.
Prior to taking this course, my perspective on pornography was that it was predominantly a male domain in which women were objectified for their sexual pleasure. I began to develop more of an opinion on the matter after conducting research for our group presentation on pornification in the media. This research led me to believe that pornographic materials influenced the degradation of women’s status in society, and discovering the fact that the word itself is derived from the Greek word porne, essentially meaning whore, reinforced this claim for me that pornography is degrading for women (Boyle, 2000). However, it was not until I began researching for this essay that I discovered even though the actual performance and production of pornographic materials may appear to be degrading for women, it is simply another expression of human rights and ultimately sexual discovery and freedom. If women are eager and willing to consume porn or participate in it’s production then they should not be judged for this or feel ashamed, but their desire for sexual development and discovery should be celebrated and encouraged.
In developing my own perspective on pornography, I do still agree with radical feminists in a sense, that pornography objectifies women and reinforces inequality between the two sexes. Majority of pornography, especially pornographic films, is extremely unrealistic and makes male dominance acceptable and appear to be the norm. Now that pornography is so easily accessible, this false message is reaching an extensive audience, and for those that are using pornography to explore and develop their sexuality they are being misled on what to expect from sexual experiences. Yet, in accordance with the pro-sex stance, I have developed my perspective believing that we should not be judging sexual desire and expression in modern society but we should be embracing it. We live in a progressive society and acceptance needs to increase, but the production of more realistic pornographic materials also needs to increase so as to ensure false representations and misleading stereotypes are not being bought into. MakeLoveNotPorn, a Cindy Gallop production, is a step in the right direction that I have aligned my perspective with. This website is one in which real couples can submit their real sexual experience videos for others around the world to pay to watch (Gallop, n.d.). The mission is to eradicate judgment surrounding human sexual experience and encourage open and healthy conversation about sex and pornography, all the while still encouraging the consumption of pornography if that is of the individual’s taste. I hold the perspective that in general, the representation of women in pornography degrades their status in society, but sexual expression is a necessary part of human development, so therefore more realistic pornography needs to become more accessible to reduce inequalities and sexual stereotypes.
The debate on the merits of pornography has become more heated than ever due to its complex nature and its increased availability and accessibility in modern society. How people define sex and sexuality is often a reflection of their stance on pornography. Those groups that have a negative perspective on pornography, such as radical feminists and conservatives, define sexuality differently but come to the same conclusion that pornography is ultimately damaging and harmful in modern society. The anti-censorship and pro-sex groups also hold different views on sex and sexuality, but align with their positive perspective on pornography in that everyone has the right to explore their sexual freedom and pornography allows this to happen. Throughout my research I have developed a perspective on pornography that encompasses both the positive and negative aspects of the argument, but ultimately I believe that sexual equality needs to increase which could be achieved through the production and distribution of more realistic pornography. This would still allow for freedom of sexual expression while making women a more realistic part of the pornographic process and abolishing the stereotype that male dominance and female submission is the norm in sexual experiences.
References
Assiter, A., & Carol, A. (Eds.). (1993). Bad girls and dirty pictures: the challenge to reclaim feminism. Pluto Press.
Boyle, K. (2000, April). The pornography debates: Beyond cause and effect. Women 's Studies International Forum (Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 187-195). Pergamon.
Chancer, L. S. (1996). Feminist Offensives:" Defending Pornography" and the Splitting of Sex from Sexism. Stanford Law Review, 739-760.
Dolan, J. (1987). The Dynamics of Desire: Sexuality and Gender in Pornography and Performance. Theatre Journal, 39(2), 156-174.
Gallop, C. (n.d.). Porn World vs. Real World. Make Love Not Porn. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://makelovenotporn.com/pages/about
Garlick, S. (2011). A New Sexual Revolution? Critical Theory, Pornography, and the Internet. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne de Sociologie, 48(3), 221-239.
Hoffman, E. (1985). Feminism, Pornography, and Law. University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 133(2), 497-534.
Kristol, I. (1971). Pornography, obscenity, and the case for censorship. New York Times Magazine, 24.
MacKinnon, C. A. (1982). Feminism, Marxism, method, and the state: An agenda for theory. Signs, 7(3), 515-544.
Morgan, R. (1980). Theory and practice: Pornography and rape. Take Back The Night: Women on Pornography. New York: William Morrow, 134-140.
Paul, P.
(2005). Pornified. New York, NY: Owl Books.
Rea, M. C. (2001). What Is Pornography?. Nous, 35(1), 118-145.
Ropelato, J. (2006). Internet Pornography Statistics. Top Ten Reviews, Inc.. Retrieved September 25, 2014, from http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html.
Russell, D. E. (1980). Pornography and violence: What does the new research say. Take back the night: Women on pornography, 218-238.
Sherkat, D. E., & Ellison, C. G. (1997). The cognitive structure of a moral crusade: Conservative Protestantism and opposition to pornography. Social Forces, 75(3), 957-980
Strossen, N. (1995). Defending pornography: free speech, sex, and the fight for women 's rights. New York: Scribner.
Taylor, V., & Whittier, N. E. (1999). Collective Identity in Social Movement Communities: Lesbian Feminist. Waves of protest: Social movements since the sixties, 101, 169.
West, R. (1987). The Feminist-Conservative Anti-Pornography Alliance and the 1986 Attorney General 's Commission on Pornography Report. American Bar Foundation Research Journal, 12(4), 681-711.
Willis, E. (1993). Feminism, moralism, and pornography. NYL Sch. L. Rev., 38,
351.