Pornography
and Feminism
For
years feminism has squared off against pornography. Its a topic
that sits uneasily with many pro civil rights feminists. The fundamental
tension exists between the right to free speech and a desire to
remove porn because it is considered to be sexist.
Most
people have heard the feminist arguments against porn. To summarise,
anti-porn feminists contend that:
* Porn is a form of violence against women
* The porn industry exploits the women who work in it
* Porn is degrading to women in its depictions
* Porn encourages men to treat women badly.
Perhaps
the most famous of the anti-porn feminists are Andrea Dworkin and
Catharine McKinnon. Both women have aligned themselves with the
religious right in the US in their attempts to ban porn. Dworking
is particularly extreme in her views, and also contends that all
heterosexual contact is some form of violence.
Recently,
other feminists have come out in favour of pornography. They argue
that the female workers within the porn industry are highly paid
and in charge of their own destinies. They point out that these
women have exercised their choice - a right that feminists have
long fought for. Pro-porn feminists also argue that censoring pornography
is an attack on free speech.
In
the last few years, more and more feminists have come out in support
of porn, suggesting that it is a means to sexual liberation for
some women. The growth of erotica for women seems to back up this
point of view.
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