It Does Not Degrade Women
The idea that the mere existence of porn is degrading to women both as individuals and as class is a red herring. “Degrading” is a subjective term, a statement of feeling about a thing, an opinion rather than a fact. Using this word exposes the person using it more than it reveals any truth about porn. Any feelings, thoughts or fantasies, of which women and men are capable, are appropriate subjects for art. Something as important to our species as sex is a natural inspiration for creative expression of all types. How one views the underlying subject of a piece of art, whether it be popular or fine, reflects that person’s upbringing. Pornography, by its very definition, deals directly and unapologetically with the sexual realm in all its complexity and contradiction. When it comes to anything sexual, our cultural tensions are stretched between stubborn Puritanical prohibitions and robust individualistic hedonism.
When viewing depictions of the latter, the attitudes and judgments of the former can be triggered in those who still influenced by those views, knowingly or not.
Just saying something is “degrading” doesn’t make it so. This value-laden assertion is most often made regarding materials taken out of context, often by those who deliberately manipulate the content in the service of an existing prejudice. We live in an open, pluralistic society and aren’t going to like everything we see. That’s a small price to pay for enjoying the freedoms of constitutional government. If people find porn degrading, they shouldn’t look at it. As Oscar Wilde wisely said, “In matters of taste there can be no dispute.”
Sign up for the OV Daily Newsletter
OV Social
..whom are basic and beast like. IT empowers women on a physical sense. The more effectual and important sex is, the more power it is to be sexy. outside of that, it derogates them. we can agree on that right? The more addicted people become to sex, the more imporant the role of the sexual nature of a woman becomes. if pornography was posted on the back of cereal boxes, imagine a nun or nanny or school girl avoiding their sexual scrutiny. that's obvious. let's stay on the same page here so we know what we're talking about. We have a polarized set of values. It's worth mentioning the liberal feminists. it is because of sex, that they view woman as superior. The simply fact is, women are like men, except they have everything handed to them. their life is easier. you can't even mention it. they even have that handed to them. womens life is harder. that's legal and fair to say. but the truth is, women act like spoiled children . Their whole sociology is different. the standards methods and structure of society grants women a paved road. Again, it is not a based on truth that it is because woman are 'superior', it is based on the fact that the world bends for women in a way it does not for men. I think it degrades woman to base their strength merely on their sexual nature. women have a profound strength, which i think derives from the 'unpaid' parlance they receive. almost a guilt payment, and that's the empowerment that is undermined and compromised when it it is shunned.
Those who want to put the focus on the sexual nature of society, disrespect society as a whole outside the primal sexual urge. they disrespect courtesy decentcy truth and all noble qualities.
I did in my younger years. Maybe things have changed but in the Porn I saw all women were sex starved creatures to be used and exploited by men. Men were dominant and expect to be serviced sexually by men. If that isn't degrading to women then I don't know what is.
you will find that the majority of most men do not agree that pornography is bad in any form.You will find that women in that field of work will not agree for obvious reasons.It is harmful in every way possible. I'm a lady. My body was not given to me to show the entire world.The definition of degrading is as follows in Webster's.
1. Harmful to the mind or morals; "corrupt judges and their corrupting influence"; "the vicious and degrading cult of violence".
2. Used of conduct; characterized by dishonor.
I believe that explains alot.Many criminals have stated that they were exposed to a high volume of pornography at a very early age as a child. Not excusing their crimes.And when any child is exposed to such garbage what kind of effect can that possibly have besides a negative one?
First things first, please do not refer to "facts" if you are not prepared to cite an actual reference (for clarity 'many criminals...' is not sufficiently backed up and I won't just take you word for it). With that in mind, I think we have strayed a bit from the actual argument. The notion of pornography as a part of pop-culture is perfectly reasonable, but you are not really addressing the notion that the existence of pornography in general is the problem. I will agree that some pornographic materials can be and are negative in some way, whether it be distorting notions of relationships or degrading. However, some religious views are negative in those very same ways, in that SOME provide unhealthy notions of the relationships between people and SOME go so far as to degrade women (If you need specific examples I would be happy to provide). This does not mean religious belief is inherently bad, just the same as all pornography is not just bad or immoral or degrading.
The comment : 'Just saying something is “degrading” doesn’t make it so', is a true statement. However, I cannot see that it is at all applicable here. The fact of the matter is that pornography is not fine art, it has become integrated into pop-culture, which brings with it many implications. Pornography, as a function of pop-culture, plays a large role in shaping the ideologies around sexuality, gender roles and interpersonal relationships. It goes beyond the realm of fantasy, and has a profound psychological impact on how the population as a whole perceives the male and female gender roles, how the population perceives inter-personal relationships and ultimately the act of sex. Pornography has, by virtue of it's pop-culture status, contributed to the perversion of sex. It has enormous ideological effect, just as any mass-media or pop-cultural content does.