Posted on 12/18/2010 8:01:19 AM PST by IbJensen
Pornography has invaded the world’s imagination. It is everywhere: On the Internet, in films, in movies, in rap music videos. Five-year-old girls dress and are taught to behave like pornography stars in order to win beauty contests. Ten- to twelve-year-old girls both dress and behave like the pornographic images that surround them—and they provide sexual services to young boys.
Opera—high culture—has also been increasingly “sexed up.” I have seen productions of “Carmen” and “Lulu” in which the lead diva was half-naked and in which she, too, sang the role as if she was a contemporary pornography star and prostitute.
No, I do not like any of this.
Yes, I take it all very seriously—as many Second Wave feminists and our Christian and conservative allies once did.
No, I do not think that hiding women beneath burqas is, therefore, any kind of solution. In fact, both pornography and prostitution are booming businesses in most Muslim countries.
Before we go any further, let’s play twenty questions. I really want your answers.
1. Is pornography “work” or is it a violent crime?
2. Is pornography “free speech” in action or is it a violent, often murderous crime?
3. Is pornography really a “victimless” crime?
4. Are pimps, johns, traffickers, and landlords being victimized? If so, why are they not complaining?
5. Are the people, mainly men, who buy and watch pornography being victimized? If so, why are they not complaining? Is anyone forcing them to consume pornography?
6. Are the seductive, taunting, smiling, naked girls and women who are being paid “good” money–victims? If so, why don’t they complain, leave, find some other job?
7. Isn’t working in pornography a job just like any other job–like any other acting job?
8. Aren’t pornography actors there of their own free will—for the easy money, the attention, the “stardom?”
9. Isn’t our right to see and read whatever interests us essential to our fundamental liberty?
10. Doesn’t the First Amendment guarantee us this right? If we criminalize one kind of “free speech,” where will it end? Who will decide what information or images we are allowed to see? Won’t state or religious censorship chill our rights, even our very thoughts?
11. On behalf of “free speech,” and privacy rights, didn’t Second Wave feminists avidly collaborate with pornographers to ensure that pornography remained a civil right?
12. Didn’t Second Wave feminists launch the battle against violence against women, which included sexual harassment, rape, incest, domestic battering—as well as the most serious battle against pornography and prostitution? Weren’t they vilified for collaborating with Christians and conservatives on the issue of pornography and prostitution?
13. How many women from wealthy and prominent families, or with advanced educations, “choose” to work in pornography or as prostitutes?
14. Did you know that, by definition, pornography is that which has to do with “prostitutes.” “Porne” in Greek is a “prostitute.” The so-called actresses in pornography are treated as if they are–and usually soon are–also “working” as prostitutes.
15. How different is being a prostitute from being a stripper, massage therapist, or a nurse?
16. How many prostituted girls and women are actually free to leave, walk out, give it all up?
17. Where might they go? Where might they call “home?” Who will help them get off drugs and alcohol, restore their ravaged health, support them as they deal with the sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, with which johns have infected them?
18. Do you have any idea of what the average age of a pornography actress/prostitute is?
19. How long a shelf-life does a “working girl” (prostitute, pornography actress) actually have?
20. Why does pornography “turn” people on?
I lived through the great feminist Sex Wars. I was both a participant and an eye-witness, as well as a confidante to feminists who were on both sides of this War. But before I share memories and analysis, I really want to hear from you. Your answers will help me understand how to share a vast body of knowledge and history with you in the most productive way. Here’s a hint to help you think through these questions.
Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry, right up there with guns and drugs. It is enormously profitable but not to the “workers,” most of whom are girls and women who have been sold by their parents, captured in war, kidnapped off the street, forced by their husbands, or who have been driven by poverty, racism, incest, and the most violent sexism into the arms of pimps, traffickers, landlords, advertisers, law enforcement officers, and johns.
Phyllis Chesler, Ph.D is an Emerita Professor of Psychology and Women's Studies at City University of New York. She is an author, psychotherapist and an expert courtroom witness. She has lectured and organized political, legal, religious and human rights campaigns in the United States and in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. A popular guest on campuses and in national and international print, television, radio and online media, she has been an expert commentator on the major events of our time. She has lived in Kabul, Afghanistan, and in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. She currently resides in Manhattan.
For being a PhD, she asks a lot of questions with simple answers.
” 19. How long a shelf-life does a “working girl” prostitute, pornography actress) actually have?”
About the same as a professional sports athlete?
She has been trying to make sense of things for decades. She was one of "feminism's" original seven sisters but after growing up realized that the "movement" is full of bullshit and hypocrisy.
She has put herself out there on the muslim/sharia issue more publicly and courageously than anyone else you can name...right up there with Gaffney.
But, you are right, she is not easy on the eyes and that's all that matters.
Guns.
Two brains, not enough blood for both - Robin Williams.
And Wilberforce accomplished his goals by using government force. A person who puts porn on the same level as slavery is likely to sanction the use of government force to accomplish her goals. I’m not quite ready to see a civil war with over six hundred thousand deaths happening over porn, are you?
Its probably because they’re having sex on it
No thanks. In fact, NFW!
I guess some social conservatives will have to choose between the Constitution and morality, not an easy one.
I know one who would say that “porn” leads to marxism. So does throwing out the right to free speech.
In the Citizens United case, a movie was considered free speech. I know what I would choose.
LOL, you sound like a social liberal that is part of the post 1960s America, stop conservatism, fight Christianity, fight traditional American conservatism, crowd.
Porn was not allowed until the left tookover America.
“I’m not quite ready to see a civil war with over six hundred thousand deaths happening over porn, are you?”
Which is why Britain had a civil war over this. Oh wait, no they didn’t. Land of Lincoln, who did use force to try to convince people who didn’t want abolition.
Wilberforce acheived his goal through legislation over the course of his entire career, eventually managing to pass the bill. How is that coercion? Coercion would be passing the bill without the support of the people, and the people of Britain eventually came around to his way of thinking. This is the ideal way a democracy ought to work.
Or you can do what Lincoln did. Your choice.
I dont think all legislation is legislating morality. The actual functions of government - defense, law, infrastructure are morality neutral. We should leave morality to the people, not the government. Otherwise, one day some Congress we dont like will come along and legislate their morality.
Chessler is one of the ONLY women to come out of the Femminist Movement of the 60’s or 70’s who is now vey conservative and also criticizes left wing liberal “feminnists”...
Conservatives—men and women—should be supportive of her.
So hold off on your making the case for the Libs, that conservatives are just anti-women, pro pronography and just make fun of women who are not “attractive”.
And wonder where the Christian Freepers are on threads like this? Pornography , I guess is just oky doky with Christian conservative men and their wives.NOT.
Dr. Phyllis Chesler
Gratitude and Humility
Not to mention
Chastity, Empathy, Fidelity, Love, Loyalty,
Prudence, Purity, Restraint, Self-Discipline,
Self-Respect, Sincerity, Temperance, and Wisdom
The injuries to self and others are multitudinous and insidious
They feed into our Obsessions, and starve the Spirit
Pornography is wholesale prostitution. Is prostitution illegal? ... Making pornography is as illegal as prostitution. At least one state (Harry Reid’s state of course) has legalized prostitution. However, a Nevada prostitute is not protected to do her trade if she goes to Tennessee. If porn is produced in Nevada, it would be illegal to sell it or distribute it in Tennessee. So, pornography is a states issue, not a federal issue. Some states have an affinity for the debasing behaviors of humankind, because they make money for government programs off of it.
"guns as causing murder, meat as cruelty to animals, tobacco/alcohol as causing health issues, CO2 as killing the planet, etc, etc, etc." you just described the PRO-PORNOGRAPHY crowd, way to go.
For centuries, naturally conservative America, could control those leftists, but now some of them even hang out with conservatives while promoting liberalism.
That sheep looks disturbingly happy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.