You know, I’ve never really had a problem with porn and the pleasure industry.
There are some feminists who believe that porn is a disgraceful offense to women’s equal place in society and it degrades women to commodified objects, rather than human beings. They see it as an exploitative business where it is customary to see women being portrayed as subordinates to men, pleasure machines with little-to-no character, and victims of the displayed group or rough sex (symbolic to rape). They further add that porn conditions men to perpetuate the chauvinistic norms set by society and may possibly lead to increased violence against women. Some aggressive opponents may say that its very nature allows for the downward spiral of child pornography and bestiality. Particularly with regards to the sex act, much of male-female porn is centered on pleasure getting to the male (oral play, male-orgasm concluding scenes, etc.) rather than portraying egalitarian sex*.
Other feminists see it otherwise. They argue that participation in porn is a matter of choice. Consenting women agree to be on camera having sex. They enjoy having sex (and making plenty of money doing it) and do not feel they are being objectified. Disconnected from the multifaceted culture of sex, the premise of pornography leaves no one undermined or oppressed. They also emphasize the lack of evidence present for increasing violence against women and the importance of sexual liberties. Despite the existence of violent porn, there is little correlation made between misogynist/domestic violence with the pervasiveness of violent porn. Some would say it’s like denying the very existence of feature films because their possible violent scenes promote or cause violent behavior. In advocating a sex positive society, feminists – like, the more radical, Wendy McElroy – make the case for pornography by underlining the importance of it as a benefit to women and as a violation of the “our bodies, our rights” contemporary frameworks of feminism. Postmodern feminism, in particular, has paved the way to decipher the social developments that hinder expression, sexual fluidity, and gender identity. Porn, as some of said feminists argue, is a vehicle for the sexual liberation movements.
Which do you agree with? Go ahead and choose – this isn’t not my focus.
My perspective may be biased in what follows, but as the scholars and academia types would articulately say: Fuck it.
Porn can have utility value, in which it provides material for sexual fantasy and masturbation – which provide better sexual health. For those who have never grown accustomed to the adult film world, imagine lasting longer in the sack, expanding creativity, and broadening your horizons.
This is my focus.
While I am for people having sexual freedom and amplifying their sexualities, I fear the limitless nature of the porn industry may have on our sexual act preferences. I understand that sexual kinks are expanding and evolving as they suit the different types of porn subscribers. We’ve gone from the anal sex taboo of the initial stages of porn to accepting the realm of “two girls, one cup” and BDSM extremes. While some would argue for the defense of fetishes as individual choice constraints and unreasonable censorship, others would pose crucial inquiries.
In this “no holds barred” world of porn, I wonder how far we’ll go with porn. I am not critical of gay/lesbian or even she-male porn here. These have no rational repugnance – they simply represent an evident part of the population – who cares? Deviance doesn’t exist here.
With the large abundance of porn types and styles, the excitement of “traditional” sex has become relatively dull and less pleasurable. The industry has shifted from static focus on foreplay/intercourse to meet the needs of a wider market. Why has the market widened?
Things get monotonous. People become bored. Just as in relationships, without new excitement, the industry loses revenue. Tune into different porn sites and you’ll be linked to a seemingly infinite world of kinks that will likely blow your mind. You’ll learn new words you may be disturbed to clarify. People are getting off to an array of relatively outlandish things. Depending on how you define them, some are surprisingly simple (“masking”, “mounting”, internet role play, etc.) while others are shockingly repulsive (“scat play”, auto-erotic asphyxiation, etc.).
The way I see it, if it’s a consented sexual act between adults, the “appropriateness” of the material should be subjective; where fans can choose to view it or move along. This may be debatable but has definite validity.
With this said, however, how far will we go? When will porn be so desensitizing that viewers will only get off on extremes that create a new culture of sex? How far will it be before Joe can only get a hard on from watching a masked paraplegic dwarf in a banana costume blow 4 men in gorilla costumes in a horse stable? I’m not saying it’s ethically or morally wrong, I’m highlighting the long-term effect on the mind of the viewers. With expanding fetishes in the porn business – a powerfully pervasive multi-billion dollar industry – how will this shift affect sexual culture as a whole?
I hope that this is a slippery slope fallacy. I hope that the industry expands to fulfill the fantasies of those who subscribe, helps those who need to “unwind”, and revives otherwise dying relationships. I do not know what will ensue in the next decade, but I hope to understand it a bit better as we move into the 21st century sexual liberation era.
*Of course, I need not add the obvious positions held by fundamentalist religious communities.
