Pornography & Prostitution Chapter 15 Pornography & Prostitution

Pornography Written, visual, or audio-taped material that is sexually explicit and produced for purposes of eliciting or enhancing sexual arousal Explicit, raw Might be viewed as obscene, disgusting

Erotica Books, pictures, etc. that have to do with sexual love and beauty Sexual material that is artistically produced or motivated by artistic intent Artistic Sensual rather than sexual Themes of love and romance rather than SEX

Pornography Under Siege Video (5 minutes)

Group Activity VIII: Pornography In mixed gender groups of 4-5 students: Rate each of the next 4 pictures using this scale: 1 2 3 4 5 Erotica Neutral Obscene/Porn Do this first by yourself, then discuss and come up with a group rating.

Group Activity VIII: Pornography Now address the following issues: What themes seem common to pictures you rated low/high? Is pornography harmful or harmless? Why? Is there a gender difference in your group? If so what is it and why do you think it exists?

Reaction Paper VII: Porn & Sexual Coercion Do you think viewing pornography is related to incidences of sexual coercion (rape)? Why or why not? Based on your response do you think all pornography should be outlawed?

Pornography & Sexual Coercion Conservative-moralist position Condemns all sexually explicit materials Threat to social institutions (family) Feminist position Sexually explicit materials degrade women as objects, promote sexual violence Liberal position Sexually explicit materials are harmless Educational & helpful to overcome inhibitions

Pornography & Sexual Coercion Commission on Obscenity & Pornography 1970 government commission Concluded that porn was not harmful, no casual link to sexual violence against women Pornography and sex offenders No link to sex offenders BUT may arouse existing deviant urges

Pornography & Sexual Coercion Meese Commission (1985 - Reagan) Concluded causal link between sexual violence & violent pornography No link for nonviolent pornography So does it or doesn’t it? Yes & no

Donnerstein & Malamuth (1997) Non-violent pornography has no consistent effects on sexual aggression Angered males who are aroused can become aggressive (but this is thought due to general arousal) May impact negative attitudes towards women Dehumanization Objectification

Donnerstein & Malamuth (1997) Violent pornography impacts sexual aggression Increases tendency to be aggressive towards females Especially when victim portrayed as aroused Disinhibition (rape not so bad) Encourages belief in rape myths Discourage empathy w/ rape victims

Day 2

Prostitution Sale of sex for money ($7 Billion-$9 Billion/year business) Most are women and motive is money Coercion rare Most customers are male and motives vary Incidence Kinsey 2/3 males visited prostitute > once Fewer college educated males Current < 10%

Class Data (N = 104, Females = 74) Have you ever paid someone else to perform a sexual act for your sexual gratification? YES! Males - 20.7% Females - 0.0%

Type of Prostitutes Hierarchy reflecting cost, status & adjustment ~2 million in US Streetwalkers (bar)- bottom & short-term Cheapest, least desirable, drug abuse, pimps Dysfunctional, sexually abused, teen runaways Sexual enjoyment (Savitz & Rosen, 1988) Many report work-sex very satisfying sometimes 60% report O w/ customers Non-work sex enjoyable also

Type of Prostitutes Brothel - middle Legal (Nevada) or massage parlors Live at brothel to service customers 24/7 More desirable, more expensive, better adjustment, adult movie stars, less drugs & sexual abuse, no pimp Married, normal life

Type of Prostitutes Call girls - top (Heidi Fleiss) Most desirable, high fees Educated & middle class, well adjusted socially, charming company (not drug addicts) Act like a lover

Customers of Female Prostitutes Male, married, middle-class, occasional, healthy Motives - why visit a prostitute? Sex w/o negotiation or commitment Sexual variety Sex away from home STARVATION

Characteristics of Prostitutes Being a prostitute (especially lower levels like streetwalker) is associated with: Poverty Sexual or physical abuse BUT only 12% abused become prostitutes Dysfunctional family (runaway) Psychological problems Farley (1998) - 66% have PTSD (v. 30% of vets) Personality: Impulsive sensation seekers

Legalization of Prostitution (Rio, 1991) Argues for decriminalization of prostitution 1959 UN concluded it should not be a crime Many organizations demanding decriminalization ACLU NOW COYOTE Rationales for laws poor

Legalization of Prostitution (Rio, 1991) Society views it as immoral Studies suggest majority support decriminalization Laws prevent spread of VDs Prostitutes account for only 5% of VD in US Europe: VD rates decrease after legalization Laws prevent crimes associated w/ prostitution Few prostitutes are addicts, criminals Laws encourage attacks (customers, pimps)

Legalization of Prostitution (Rio, 1991) Prostitution is harmful to prostitutes ONLY streetwalkers exhibit pathology Addicts,PTSD, sexually abused, etc. Higher-level prostitutes~controls on pathology, abuse Decriminalization still would outlaw juvenile Ps Laws deter prostitution ~2 million prostitutes in US Don’t deter customers

Legalization of Prostitution (Rio, 1991) Decriminalization could have positive effects Less physical abuse to prostitutes, customers Less pandering, incidental crime, VD Save millions in prohibition attempts Seattle spends $1 Million/year Could tax this $7 Billion/year

Reaction Paper VIII: Legalization Do you think prostitution should be legalized? Explain your position in light of Rio’s arguments. PLEASE TURN THIS IN AFTER CLASS!

Conclusions Commercial sex common Pornography Prostitution Non-violent not harmful? Violent harmful Prostitution Complex causes Legal, moral issues