Interesting article on the political economy of the Porn industry.

[EmilyPollifaxInnocentTourist]

www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/is_porn_hijacking_our_sexuality_part_2

I'm a huge fan of Gail Dines and am anti-porn as I think porn is misogynist and racist. The harm committed against women defies description and I do believe the industry has hijacked our sexuality to make it all about male pleasure. I think this reflects my feelings on the subject.

interesting - have read the first few paragraphs and saved it for later. very clear explanation of what political economy is and how porn can be seen through that lens. look forward to reading the rest.

Have you read her book? It's quite triggering in places but well worth the read.

Thank you Emily,

I'm off to have a read, I haven't read pornland but I like what Gail dines has to say, it's on my to do list. I think pornography is harmful to society as a whole, esp to women. Interesting thing on R4 this morning about private capital being used to invest in social enterprise. There is a coincidence here, it is about the patriarchy/capitals need to always reinvent itself and find new areas to exploit to make profit.

i haven't read it no emily because there is still a whole shelf of classic radfem books here that i bought and wanted to read but barely make a dent in sadly.

excellent article. i found this,

"The battles are not between generations or waves (as some would argue) but between those who adopt a radical understanding of power, institutions, capitalism, empire, and liberation, and those who seek safety in a more liberal, don?t-rock-the-boat ideology that celebrates individual empowerment over collective social change. No surprise that this appeals to the more privileged group of women, since they have been the ones to benefit mostly from the crumbs thrown to women post-1960s."

a very incisive analysis of the division in feminism. she also makes the very good point that the women calling porn empowering are not the ones likely to be taking it up the arse on camera. i feel sickened by women supporting and defending an industry built on abuse of poor and often pre-abused (ready made) women. i also think it is stunningly obvious that the erotic capital of porn is misogyny - it's hardly subtle - people are wanking over misogyny.

Marking place to read.when I am not in work

It's the same as those who call burlesque "empowering". They aren't the ones working in lap dancing clubs being physically assaulted and denigrated on a daily basis.

And, the old chestnut about people with power not needing empowering is most obvious in the porn industry.