Feminists what are your views on porn?

[Rianna103]

I understand that most feminist find porn bad because it often shows women as an object and men as the subject. So women are the ones being acted upon rather than the ones having sexual desires. This is also true in that fact that men are encouraged to watch porn and women are discouraged.

So I get that porn as it is at the moment is thought of a problematic but is it accepted that it doesn't have to be this way. Or is it still the whole nature of it considered bad as it could be argued that both the men and women are being objectified i.e. viewers are just using just the porn stars bodies to get off.

So essentially what I'm saying is that do feminists consider it as bad thing that can never be ok as people are always objectified and being seen just for their bodies OR is it that it would be ok if women were treated as the subject more?

This should cheer you all up ;) Basically, my Dp has watched porn in the past. A couple of years ago we had an unexpected visitor (our mutual friend) and I was sitting on the sofa in my PJ's, with no bra. Now, whilst my nightwear was not 'see through' the outline of my breasts and nipples were visible. My partner kept glancing at my boobs and making a weird head gesture. He then whispered 'Go and get a bra on'. So I went upstairs, waited a couple of minutes....then re-emerged topless!! He then received an almighty bollocking from moi! He didn't talk to me for a while. I did however, get my point across regarding objectifying my body in such a way, and also pointed out he has happily watched porn, yet my poor breasts with lack of bra were deemed inappropriate.

im a feminist and whilst I have big problems with the sex industry, I dont think all porn or sex work is terrible in itself

You guys are still talking about porn. Cams are the new porn...

But regarding porn, all I can say is I found some great inspiration, after my gf told me to be more hard* with her, that she loves.

*She is Spanish mother tongue, so I think the translation is not fully accurate.

I think it was Martin Amis who said (and I paraphrase), 'once women assent to porn then that's it. Game over.'. Then a culture of sexual objectification and utilisation will have ultimately triumphed.

There are worrying signs that is happening. I speak to more and more younger women who think that porn is fine and normal, subscribing to the stupid, dangerous idea that women can be empowered, discerning, consumers of it. They can't.

Porn is nothing less than the objectification and degradation of women by a predatory capitalist industry. It seems odd to me that people who position themselves on the left and usually call for more intervention in capitalist markets leap to the defence of carpet-bagging porn barons - all on the basis that stopping people watch any filmed prostitution (for that is what it is) is an infringement of their rights.

Dworkin, Dines and others are absolutely right about the absolute, destructive horror that is porn; as are Christian conservatives - even though they're right about absolutely nothing else.

I would ban it all if I could.

If anyone is a staunch feminist here,and you don't like the porn industry,then don't watch anything to do with this.. It will always be here,as you well know. Porn, hard core porn,is very popular these days, and I know at least three women who perform as such,and they love it so it seems. I don't think the women and men are being degraded at all, they all just like to earn a bit of money doing what they do, and who knows what happens to them all,when they are well past all this,and who care's anyway..!

Guess they are asking are you a prude.

You should read this book - good for mother to read and the kids... I don't know anything about porn but I am concerned that my teens will see it - very concerned given how it is early available on the internet. It degrades women and will undoubtedly effect their relationships if they are watching it too young. Please review after reading to encourage others to open this topic up with their children. Here is the link to the book on Amazon - hard to find such books out there: ]]

Tbh porn just celebrates women's sexuality and highlights their pleasure, surely that's a good thing?

1. We all know human trafficking feeds into the pornographic industry. Even if a woman isn't a trafficked, if she's doing it as a last resort, it's not really consensual.
2. If you want to keep your son from playing too many hours of violent video games, you should also be concerned with how most pornographic titles sound like titles in a newspaper.

@PetulaGordino

tbh while the objectification and portrayal of women is of course a huge concern, i'm greatly concerned about the porn industry itself and the coercion and problematic consent issues involved

Theres a huge misunderstanding over the word objectifying. Of course women and men are objectified. We'd be pretty pissed if we werent. We are objects of sexual desire just as men are objects of sexual desire to us. That doesnt mean thats the only thing we are.

Also when we say we're seen as an object, you do realise that doesn't literally mean that your partner sees you as no different from that of a microwave or a chair. It doesn't mean your an inanimate 'object' literally.

I don't like porn, but it's not made for my pleasure, but for men's.
So I don't watch it.
I wouldn't be able to get over the fact I'm probably watching a woman being raped.

Christ, reading this thread - Andrea Dworkins must be rolling in her grave. So much ground lost for women. I thought this was a feminist theory chat...it's more like ' women are so much more empowered when they are being trafficked and raped by the industry'...for god's sake wake up and take back our children and the few real men who are left. Women can change the world with their outrage. Why can't we grasp this and decide enough is enough.

This thread has been running for years...thing have gotten worse for women and children. Please a call to arms...a call to get radical (see Dines, Dworkins, feminist current..many more)..

Feminism aside, I think porn has a detrimental effect on men. Many men self identify that they are addicted to pornography, cannot masturbate without pornography etc. They say watching it makes them depressed/struggle to have sexual relationships etc. It is known to cause PIED (porn-induced erectile dysfunction).

Porn is bad, not just because it gives men a skewed idea of what sex is, and

@ginastill

Feminism aside, I think porn has a detrimental effect on men. Many men self identify that they are addicted to pornography, cannot masturbate without pornography etc. They say watching it makes them depressed/struggle to have sexual relationships etc. It is known to cause PIED (porn-induced erectile dysfunction).

Porn is bad, not just because it gives men a skewed idea of what sex is, and

😭 I posted accidentally.

But to continue, men get this skewed idea about women, the wrong impressions concerning what women want from sex, how women want sex to be initiated and this strange notion of what women think about sex.

Porn is at best unrealistic and cartoonish at this point, at worst it acts out elaborately violent and disgusting rape scenes. I don't think it's causing men to rape, I don't think it's making men hate women, but it's not having a positive effect on anyone. It's definitely negative.