1. Pornography & Prostitution
Chapter 15
Pornography & Prostitution

2. 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

3. 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

4. Pornography Under Siege
Video (5 minutes)

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

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Day 2

14. 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%

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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)

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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!

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