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.
Only to the Freepers with a mindset of a 13 yr old boy...
that happens here when anything appears that has the word “sex’ in it...ha.
In regards to porn, the slippery slope argument was your side in the 1950s and 1960s and 1970s, until you got us to here.
You managed to replace American culture with the leftist’s wet dream. You should be reveling in your success.
whoa... I think we have a Libertarian.....nothing wrong with that...
Then go all the way and don’t pick and choose which “moral “ issues you want to avoid. What has pornography that encompasses criminal activity, child porn and human trafficking to do with your right to own a gun or what you read?
If we follow your logical train of thought...it’s none of our business about whether you buy a Playboy or a snuff film...Talk about taking this to the “illogical extreme.” But be my guest...its a free country.
These things concern me a lot more than Homeland Security interecpeting phone calls from Arabia.
Are you sure you are on the right site?
BTW: I see you are refusing to answer whether or not you support the Swiss repeal of incest laws (between consenting adults). Do you or don't you? Are you consistent in your philosophy, or do you still seek to draw some limits in the name of tradition.
It's any easy yes or no question, please answer.
No, I've simply learned to temper my own conservative viewpoints on certain social issues with my Oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.
And the Govt has already run amuck with what authority they've been given. Ceding anything in the arena of morality would be a disaster.
thanks for an insightful and intelligent response.
This is an important issue to discuss, you present valid points..those who do not agree with you seem to either attack the poster personally or just go to an extreme. Therefore , it is hard to have a discussion.
Free societies pay a high price for their freedom. Only in an anarchist or totalitarian society are issues “simple, and cut and dried.”
thanks for taking the time to post your views.
Probably not. A Second Wave Feminist is a lesbian - there's a Rule.
Porn actor have sex, for money, with other porn actors, while someone with a camera records the proceedings.
So somehow the presence or absence of a camera alters the nature of the activity?
Excellant, well thought out and honest response. Thanks for taking the time.
In a free society it is more of a responsibility and difficulty in defining the “law” so that Freedom and liberty are protected, yet we don’t degenerate into a form of anarchy. All societies , except Animal Farm, regulate themselves and doing so is not easy when the laws are not soooo black and white.
Your uncle obviously never met Helen Thomas.
Also, in Roman times, the father had the right to reject a baby. These outcasts were often saved by Christian who believed every life is sacred.
Cheers!
I stand corrected. My main point was that Eisenhower wanted a national road system to help for the defense of the country. In his early career, he was tasked to travel over the country to look at the conditions of America’s roads. When he was in Germany, he was impressed with the autobahn and how it support German, and ironically, allied troops with supplies.
(Go Packers!)
Cheers!
And, the Russians learned the same lesson with the opposite result.
They shunned road building to prevent invaders from easy entry.
Yep.
If it weren't being filmed with an eye to profiting off of the sale / rental of the filmed activity, it's a good bet that the activity wouldn't be taking place *nearly* to that extent.
Also consider the role of "fluffers."
If it were purely for pleasure, as in conventional prostitution, they wouldn't be used or needed.
Cheers!
An excellent article. One other question for the casual viewer of porn: Is it addictive? The answer is Yes.
Here is a fresh thread for discussing the Constitution and "rights".
If you support the homosexual agenda you are anti-constitution and you'll get the zot from FR!
While I personally may not approve of the behavior or activities of some consenting adults, I would equally disapprove of some Govt authority invoking a particular "morality" (Judeo-Christian or otherwise) to limit their rights/freedoms to engage in such behaviour. As an example, I deplore the so-called "War on Christmas" as a direct infringement on the freedom of Americans wishing to openly celebrate the holiday, much the same as any infringement on the Right to keep and bear (openly or otherwise) arms.
With regards to Switzerland, if it were already on the books and I were a Swiss legislator, I'd vote to leave it there. At the same time I applaud that each Swiss household contains an assault rifle.
Less Government, more freedom.
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