Letters to the Editor
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Can feminism and porn coexist?
Yup.
Next!
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I don't see why not
Watching two people having fun having sex doesn't have to be degrading to anyone, I don't think.
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Uh, yes
I don't see why a pleasure in viewing sexual acts is off-limits to liberated women. I think my main concern as a feminist would be for the health, safety and fair treatment of the participants.
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This is an old idea that should be cast aside as soon as possible
The day that second-wave, anti-sex feminism dies will be a good day for feminists and a good day for everyone else. We need to separate things that are inherently anti-feminist with things that are only usually anti-feminist in practice. I'm aware that in the real world, where men tend to have an unfair share of power, women in porn are often treated well and what's produced tends to be degrading, unrealistic, and boring. Sure. But what basic tenet of feminism prohibits the video-taping of sex for entertainment? For that to be prohibited, it seems that sex would have to be prohibited. Sometimes I'm concerned that there is a significant portion of feminists that simply find sex degrading. I just can't figure out any other explanation.
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The real question is,
Can any medium "tell us something new about female sexuality"?
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If
If people are determined to watch porn, they are going to watch porn. Slapping a "feminist" label on it doesn't make much difference and I don't think it's going to fool anyone.
Anti-porn isn't anti-sex. The people that fear an atmosphere that doesn't allow them guilt-free access to filmed prostitution like to dredge up that old canard. Do you really think that feminists are going to be insulted by calling them prudes? Maybe they'll run out and join the adult industry to prove to you they aren't "frigid"? That is the strategy of a hard-up junior high school boy.
If you can't tell the difference between porn and sex, you are the one with problems, not the feminists.
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Why not?
It would be sexist to assert that an entire gender cannot enjoy something, or must necessarily be injured or offended by something, based solely on gender.
Obviously there are depictions of sex that can be considered anti-feminist, just as there are genres/kinks that can equally be considered pro-feminist, like female domination. I would also argue that submissive female fantasies scripted and acted out by women who have recognized and embraced their submissive tendencies are, by definition, pro-feminist: they're about such women exploring what they enjoy.
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I would think that porn would be a perfect forum for feminism...
Porn is an ever changing genre of film that, I feel, has never been fully explored and embraced by women. As feminists, I feel that they and I have a responsibility to own our sexuality and, for those of us who are more artistic, explore our sexuality on film and video.
If porn is less interested in the female POV, its because primarily it isn't made for or by women. So the role of feminism should be to flesh out the roles of women in porn in order educate, in the most pleasurable way, everyone about the wide ranges of female sexuality.
I have long wished that I had the energy to make porn. Not soft and gauzey porn where women sigh and cry underneath or on top of male models. Instead I've wanted to make rough and tumble porn, the partial focus of which is on women's furious attempts to feed animalistic sexual urges. I want to see an equal level of interest and enjoyment in sex, not just a woman being a vessel.
I think its about time. Porn as a genre is getting pretty boring. Its in dire need of some innovation. I think that feminists with an eye for strong storytelling and boundary-less kink sensibilities can transform porn into something almost artistic and more realistic.
I just hope that feminists can let go of this idea that porn isn't for them. If you are a sexual and sensual person, its for you too!
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At what point does it become evil?
"Do you really think that feminists are going to be insulted by calling them prudes?"
Here's what I really think: when progressives I want to agree with (feminists) agree on an issue with Bible-thumping conservatives I despise, the alarm bell goes off. Every time.
I think I made clear the difference between porn as what it could be and porn the way it often is now. If you think think the difference between porn and sex is obvious, please enlighten my challenged self: at what point is the atrocity committed? Is it when a person and their partner tape themselves? When the watch it? When they agree to distribute it? Sell it?
Where's the line?
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“the notions that porn is degrading to women”
I’m often board by porn, and sometimes surprised by what other people are up to, but I don’t find watching it degrading. I think most adults can separate their bedroom interests from how to behave in the real world.
The argument against porn that is more convincing is the ‘actors’ in these films are really prostitutes and are often taken advantage of. I do think there is probably some truth to that – but I’ve also seen enough amateur porn to know that some people really get off on knowing they’re going to be watched by other people. It can be kind of an ‘I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine’ kind of situation. Like anything else you’ve just got to shop around for the thing that suites you.
I’m not about to go looking at porn at work so I can’t really comment on the stuff we’re specifically talking about. But I have a pretty good feeling feminist porn is not my thing. But cheers that a community that otherwise wasn’t enjoying it now is.
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Alarm bells
Here's what I really think: when progressives I want to agree with (feminists) agree on an issue with Bible-thumping conservatives I despise, the alarm bell goes off. Every time.
Are you pro-murder, then?
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Tired Tired Tired
Isn't this particular debate about 25 years old now? Hasn't just about everything that can be said on the topic, been said?
And the question, not if porn is good or bad or feminist or sexist, but whether it should be legally banned, been pretty much settled?
So what is the point?