What If Porn....

[Heather]

...can't be held to the level of responsibility for sexism playing out in sex and relationship dynamics as many people hold it to?

This study came out this week -- http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 98204.html -- that had findings that really stand counter, I'd say, to a lot of assumptions made about porn, sexism and misogyny. While I've personally never felt comfortable, from a fact-based perspective, with how much is put on porn around those two things, there certainly have been some areas I've had concerns with this around when it comes to porn, and a level of this it's-porns-fault I could understand, consider or put out there.

But, of course, study or no study, porn is made by people, and it's people who put sexist and misogynist stuff in it when they're in it. And porn is viewed by people, many of which, like most people, are going to have internalized misogyny and sexism. And how someone looks at any kind of media, and what they take away from it, always varies, whether we're talking porn or an ad for McDonald's. (As a vegan, I'm pretty sure my reaction to McDonald's ads is way different than someone carnivorous who digs fast food and doesn't have ethical conflicts with it, for example).

But what now? To me, a lot of this was a bit convenient: after all, how great would it be if fixing sexism and misogyny in sexual contexts was so easy as changing a kind of media or limiting it? That would be way easier than what it more likely involves (solutions which also likely don't impede on freedom of speech and expression).

What do you think? If you've put a lot of this on porn, and it isn't porn at the level you thought, what now?

[Sunshine]

I have always thought it unlikely that porn is the cause of anything so much as a symptom. Like you say, Heather, it's people who are (or are not) sexist and misogynistic and who bring that to what they create and consume, and sexism and misogyny have been around for an awfully long time. I doubt those problems would disappear if pornography was forbidden.

Every single man I know consumes porn in some form or other, and most of the women too. As long as it's not illegal stuff involving minors or people who were forced to take part in the production, I don't see anything wrong with that. (Personally, I prefer erotic material that is in writing or drawings so it's 100% clear that no actual person was harmed in the making). If pornography is helping people have some kind private sexuality and being good lovers to themselves, then I'm all for it.

The article said that the study wasn't entirely trustworthy because young men and teenagers were not considered. Somehow, this painted a picture in my mind of a boy who spends all his days in his room watching sexist erotica and playing violent computer games with more sexist erotica in them. If this person exists somewhere, I bet there's an awful lot more wrong with him than could be fixed by taking away his escapist enjoyment and I'm glad he's not out harassing real women or shooting real humans.

We can't fail to socialize certain people and then blame their behavior on the entertainment industry or porn or whatnot. And a very small percentage of the population are probably antisocial, always were and always will be.

I think that if you're already ignorant, sexist and violent, then exposure to sexist and violent materials will probably reinforce that. But if you have a decent grip on reality and a few good relationships in your life, then I doubt a little porn will hurt you.

[Carmen]

I think it is true that porn is only one of the many means for the misogyny and lack of of sexual education in our culture to manifest itself. And it is certainly a symptom of a dysfunctional society. Porn has the potential to be very destructive as it has a huge influence on the sexual education of a lot of youth and adults alike. Especially when our sex education in school is so lacking, porn is often the only means for people to see and learn about sex. Thus, when people are watching bad, misogynist, sexist porn, they are not only internalizing it like we often do with media sources, but they may also be tangibly learning from it. Thinking, "if these people are having sex like this, I should too." This can be very harmful. It can normalize sexist, nonconsensual behavior as well as unrealistic sexual expectations and behaviors.
Porn is not necessarily inherently bad and no one should feel ashamed of watching it. But I think the negative ways porn often manifests itself in our culture is something worth investing and ultimately changing in order to create safe, sex-positive, feminist alternatives.