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Pornography and Sexual Morality

Author: Helen E. Longino

• Professor of Philosophy and Women's Studies at Rice University

• Offers a critique and definition of pornography focusing on its harmful impacts on women.

Definition of Pornography

• Longino’s Definition: Pornography endorses degrading or demeaning treatment of women. This endorsement is what makes it morally wrong.

• Not all sexually explicit material is considered pornography.

Consequences of Pornography

• Distorts societal views of women.

• Reinforces oppression and exploitation of women.

• Encourages violence against women.

Traditional Views vs. Longino's Perspective

• Traditional Condemnation:

  • Condemned as immoral due to prurient interest and lack of redeeming social value.

  • Classifies based on explicit descriptions that induce sexual pleasure.

• Sexual Revolution:

  • Shift toward acceptance of diverse sexual mores, separating sexual mores from morality.

  • Morality defined by harm to others, not by sexual behaviors themselves.

Sexual Morality and Consent

• Sexual interactions involving consent are not immoral unless they cause harm.

• Examples of immoral sexual behaviors include:

  • Sadistic or abusive sex.

  • Adultery (due to betrayal of trust).

• Respectful Sexual Encounters:

  • Characterized by mutual respect and dignity.

  • Educational materials without degrading depictions are not pornographic.

Features Defining Pornography

• Depicts women as passive and reliant on men, serving as mere sexual objects.

• Violent pornography exacerbates this dynamic by portraying women in abusive and degrading scenarios for male pleasure.

• A work becomes pornographic when it endorses and recommends abusive sexual behavior.

• Context is crucial:

  • Representations that acknowledge dignity are not pornographic, even if they show abusive behavior.

  • Contextual endorsements solidify the material's pornography status.

Cultural Impact of Pornography

Distortion of Reality

• Pornography lies about women’s sexuality, suggesting that their pleasure lies in serving men’s desires.

• This distortion contributes to societal beliefs that justify violence against women.

Social Reinforcement

• Entrenched in various media, pornographic messages saturate public consciousness.

• Generates harmful self-images for women and encourages male dominance.

Connection to Violence

• Research indicates correlations between exposure to pornographic material and acts of sexual violence.

• The normalization of violent acts in pornography fosters a culture of permissiveness regarding actual violence against women.

• Society's tolerance for pornography maintains attitudes that support the oppression of women.

Conclusion

• Essential Arguments:

  • Pornography is defamatory, supports crimes against women, and reinforces sexist attitudes.

  • Challenges the normalization of pornography in society and emphasizes its role in perpetuating gender inequality.

Appeals for Action

• Combat the production and enjoyment of pornography as part of the feminist movement for equality.

• Efforts to counter pornography must address the underlying sexist attitudes it reinforces.