Feminism :: Porn / Anti-Porn
What is pornography? Some think it degrades and humiliates women. We are visually assault by pornographic images in our everyday. These images affect our sense of self. It is a form of violence against women. In refusing to be colonized, we have to take action. Gail Dines said, "Our theory is only as good as our activism. Our activism is only as meaningful as our theory." Where do you stand on the issue of pornography?
Exposure to Pornography: Cause of Child Sexual Victimization
A man discusses a paper written by Diana E.H. Russell and Natalie J. Purcell who are interested in putting an end to violence against women. He holds up the latest issue of Cosmopolitan to the camera to trick viewers to watch his video. Reading the paper entitled, "Exposure to Pornography as Cause of Child Sexual Victimization," he says that exposure to pornography leads some men to sexual child abuse. The paper exposes the myths that pornography leads to a decrease interest in the material. Learn about the male perpetrators and the factors that might have lead to their behaviors.
"Child pornography is the theory. Molestation is the practice." (Jenkins, 2001, p.4)
"We live in a culture which sexualizes children and infantilizes grown women for the gratification of men." (Anderson, 1989, p.7)
Perversion for Profit
George Putnam in this 1965 anti-pornography propaganda film discusses pornography as leading to abnormal sex, crime and violence. He notes that 75% of it ends up in the hands of children. He talks about the girlie magazines feature nudity, calculated to stimulate readers. These publications point to the lack of moral standards. They advocate overthrow of these standards. He criticizes photographs that depict lesbianism and teenage participation in sex. The photographs and magazines covers are quite interesting.
Pornography and Feminist Discourse
In her first ever videolog, a woman, taking a women's studies course, decides to talk about pornography. She thinks pornography causes a lot of social ills and affect the sexual health of adults through exposure as children. She finds a lot of anti-pornographic messages. Through her research, she questions her own opinions about pornography. She looks to radical feminism as a starting point. She comes to the conclusion that pornography is a symptom of the poisoned thought process that is already in place.
What is Pornography?
What is pornography? Some people interviewed in this video think pornography is being able to provide someone with their sexual fantasy, anything sexually arousing, sexually explicit, anything that brings up nasty image in the mind, and exploitation.
What is erotica? How is it different from pornography? Or is it different? Listen to what some people in the porn industry have to say.
National Conference on Pornography & Pop Culture
Gail Dines, Professor of Sociology and Women's Studies at Wheelock College, addresses the audience in the National Conference on Pornography. She wants to fight against the pornographic culture and to reclaim our lives, our culture and our feminist movement. She sees pornography as damaging misogyny, male entitlement to female bodies. We are told that images represent our sexual freedom. She replies by refusing to be colonized. It's an inspiring speech.
Make Love Not Porn
Men and women took to the streets to voice their concerns about porn in this feminist anti-porn protest. With phrases like "Make Love Not Porn," "Porn is fake - Girls are real," "Porn is RAPE - Girls are real," they make their position clear. The camera follows a man through the streets as he flashes the messages attached to his body to the pedestrians and passing traffic. The video features music by Gloria Gaynor, "If You Want It (Do It Yourself)."