SOSC 200Y Gender and Society Lecture 14: Heterosexism as violence

L14: Re-defining pornography Pornography constructs the image of women –Objectification of women, Fragmentation and Submission Pornography constitutes the meaning of sexuality in the male dominated world –Eroticisation of female subordination, violence Men treat women as who they see women as being in the pornography –It causes women discrimination –It causes attitudes and behaviors of sexual violence

L14: Re-defining pornography (cont’) Physical: cause physical violence –Production and violence against women –Rape, violence and sexual assault Dispossession: deny women’s civil rights –Dehumanizing women –Encourage sexual aggression of men and violence against women Silencing: encourage women to desire own submission –Shapes how women see themselves and each other.

L14: Radical F: Heterosexism as violence Heterosexism: the double standard –Sex essential for men; and women serve men Sexuality/ Heterosexuality - sites of violence:  Rape: power and violence – blame the victim  Sexual harassment: power for sexual favour, power creates hostile environment

L14: Heterosexism as violence (cont’) Sexuality/ Heterosexuality - sites of violence:  Prostitution: commercialize women’s body to serve men  Pornography: objectify women’s body and sexuality  Beauty contest: objectification  Marriage: dependence, chastity and violence  Romantic love: pleasurable submission

L14: Radical Feminists’ argument: Male-dominate societies normalize heterosexual union They then regulate sex around the double standard Therefore : 1.Sexuality = Power 2.Public and Private (happen in every sphere of lives) 3.By ‘normal’ men (all males are enemy) 4.Compulsory heterosexuality = patriarchy

L14: Questioning radical feminism Identifying pornography and prostitutions –Not all of the porn are violent and sexist –Against normal sexual exploration – erotica –Against the sexual needs of unmarried male and the minority groups Correlations between pornography and violence (sex crime) –No/ weak evidence –Unclear impact on attitude and behaviour –Japan’s case?!

L14: A split in feminism To ban or not to ban? –A dangerous politics (Liberal feminists) Ally with conservatives – promote moral censorship The problem of dividing women (good women vs bad women) under the patriarchical system –Distract from significant issues Why cannot women have sex under a equal basis? Why cannot women have sexual desire and pressure? Why women would engage in the ‘commercial sex’? Who are they?

L14: A split in feminism (cont’) Patriarchy as total domination? –Deviant and counter currents –Alternative sexual politics –Feminist campaigns