PORNOGRAPHY CHAPTER 3

Early Political Perspectives of Pornography Conservative perspective- preserving traditional sexual mores, morality Liberal perspective- freedom of sexual expression

The Porn Wars Liberal Feminist perspective- anti-censorship “it’s my body it’s my choice,” pornography as empowering, financially rewarding, and defying traditional mores of sexual purity of women Radical Feminist perspective- American Booksellers Association Inc. V Hadnut, pornography viewed as violation of civil rights, sexually objectifying and degrading to women

Manifesting in modern Sex trafficking Debates… Radical Feminists/ Abolitionists- Largely support simultaneous abolition of pornography and prostitution. They are viewed as inextricably linked. Pornography fuels sexual objectification and commodification of women’s bodies, and demand for bought sex, resulting in sex trafficking. Liberal Feminist/Neoliberal perspectives- Sex trafficking, prostitution, and pornography are distinct. If it is a free choice, then it should be supported. *note, these are discussed in general terms. There are liberal feminists who are anti-porn and radical feminists who are not. Like while Republicans are generally thought to be anti-abortion, there are some Republicans who are pro-choice.

Key Areas of Pornography Debates and Sex Trafficking Demand Violence Against Women Inequality and General Degradation

Demand Research does not support that pornography increases demand for bought sex Child Pornography is a form of sex trafficking, thus demand for child pornography inherently creates sex trafficking of children in this context

Violence Against Women Worst case scenarios (death, torture, mutilation) are uncommon, but do exist. They are already punishable by law Frequency of violence in pornography depends on how violence is measured Women are disproportionately targets of verbal and physical aggression in pornography Research does not support “Harder Hit” arguments Research tends to be exclusionary of LGBTQ* pornography

Inequality and General Degradation Inequality between men and women in giving and receiving sexual pleasure Playing the dominant or subordinate role in sex Unequally conducting or receiving acts of “degradation” Debates about what qualifies as degradation

Question What is power? How do we define it? Use this definition to determine the difference between sexually empowering images and sexually disempowering images Let’s find some examples…

Culture and Advertising Heteronormativity and androcentrism in advertising Sexual subject vs sexual object Men and women are both sexualized, but in different ways Relate this material to liberal feminist, radical feminist, and intersectional feminist thinking

Cultural normalization, Blurring the Lines and DMST Lolita Teen porn Schoolgirl fetish “Just turned 18,” “jailbait,” “barely legal” Toddlers in Tiaras

Child Pornography as Sex Trafficking According to the US TVPA, any commercial sex act involving a minor is sex trafficking This includes pornography Creating something of value makes it a commercial sex act Buying, selling, trading images, creating, possessing and distributing, it can be viewed as sex trafficking Demand for child pornography creates sex trafficking to make it. Existing legislation on child pornography

Supreme Court Supports pornography as a form of free speech, excepting child pornography and subjectively determined breaches of obscenity. Anti-censorship

Discussion Questions Describe at least three key radical feminist arguments used to justify eradication of pornography, and the research supporting or refuting these arguments. What is the Supreme Court’s determination about pornography and censorship? Do you agree or disagree, and why? In what ways may some types of pornography contribute to cultural desire for young adult female bodies?