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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Pornstar Sasha Grey reads to primary school children.

170 replies

weddy · 15/10/2014 00:31

You just can't make this shit up!! I wonder how the school introduced her to the children. link: www.laweekly.com/informer/2011/11/11/sasha-grey-reads-to-compton-kids-failing-school-district-embarrasses-itself-again

The worlds gone mad - and porn is very much mainstream.

Pornstar Sasha Grey reads to primary school children.
Pornstar Sasha Grey reads to primary school children.
OP posts:
Pennymopster · 16/10/2014 11:41

Yes but AliceDoesnt Some of SG's oeuvre goes a tad beyond taking your clothes off and doing some sexy poses, as those you mention did. Some of it is beyond description actually. I Just googled her up and am trying to erase it from my mind. I know how OP feels.

That said, I agree SG shouldn't be punished forever for what she was. As much as I'm disgusted by what she did, It seems to me that she's driven by a desire to help and care for underprivileged kids. Maybe some mainstream media celebrities etc could do likewise?

Pennymopster · 16/10/2014 11:42

I meant 'more' media celebrities etc could do likewise?

HaroldsBishop · 16/10/2014 11:55

Wow - this is the last place I expected to come across woman hating...

So what IS and EX adult film actress allowed to do?

SevenZarkSeven · 16/10/2014 12:07

I'm not sure that the word "punished" is quite the right one when people are questioning whether someone is appropriate to go and read to primary school children or not Grin

Punishment implies a huge loss and to not be allowed to spend 30 mins going to talking to some kids on a voluntary basis is more of an annoyance surely than a punishment?!

SevenZarkSeven · 16/10/2014 12:12

I am also unsure as to her drivers in doing this.

She would have known that it would garner a huge amount of publicity and debate, none of which does anything to help children.

Maybe a less visible role in an organisation that assists with children/reading would have been a better choice?

I can imagine that people/parents would remove their support for this initiative because of this - not saying I agree with that - but clearly it might well have that effect.

SevenZarkSeven · 16/10/2014 12:14

Ah OK looking at the article:

"I am an actor. I am an artist. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a partner. I have a past that some people may not agree with, but it does not define who I am."

She seems to be saying that her "right" to join in with this is one that she will exercise even if it has negative consequences for the organisation/initiaitive itself.

I am not sure that using a charity to assist with children's literacy in order to validate yourself in this way is something I feel great about.

FloraFox · 16/10/2014 13:17

I agree seven if she was just introduced as Sasha from the community. The article linked in the OP said this school previously had a child actor and voice actors from Sponge Bob as readers, which suggests it wasn't just a random parent type read. I also agree that there are a lot of people I wouldn't want to see reading in school and I'd be quite happy if no famous people read to them. Our kids are inundated in fame-obsessed culture as it is. Also agree re an inappropriate place for validation and tweeting pictures of the kids she read to is also inappropriate.

Tondelay "scarlet letter" is another lazy trope to deflect feminist criticism. Phrases like that, "pearl-clutching", "fallen from grace" etc have been co-opted co-opted by liberal men and "sex positive feminists" to shame women into ignoring their boundaries and to normalise unacceptable sexual behaviour. By using words associated with religious or cultural suppression of women against women with a feminist analysis of the commodification and objectification of women and the violence against women inherent in filmed prostitution, they try to categorise feminist criticism together with oppressive religious or cultural forces with a view to minimising it. It's easier than actually engaging with the issues.

Maya Angelou "should definitely attend the next presidential inauguration"? Why would you even say that?

FreudiansSlipper · 16/10/2014 13:18

Preferring a rapist who is also a sporting hero or women hating where do you get these idea from

The children SG read to then talked about on twitter (well very little it was more about her but that is celeb culture) are not falling over famous people as soon as they walk out of the door (while there are many actors many out of work in LA there are not everywhere it's a huge very diverse city) they come from a very deprived area one that is changing and they desperately need good role models.

At the time SG was fully promoting the porn industry how it was not harmful to her now I understand her stance has changed this was also a nice bit of celeb work for her that is why she posted on twitter

I have no issue saying I would prefer Jessica Ennis to come and read to ds at school than anyone from towie and yes he would be asking questions about them

Can not really understand why Maya Angelou was dragged into this debate

sourdrawers · 16/10/2014 13:32

The school in question did have a voiceover actor read who did Spongebob, as well as child actors, so the person reading's background is going to be relevant to the children. For that reason SG isn't appropriate for this role IMO, not this time.

Though I fully concur she shouldn't be excluded from charity/community work. I reckon having a background of making unspeakably abusive porn is enough of a curse for anybody to carry around.

SevenZarkSeven · 16/10/2014 13:35

FloraFox I enjoyed this tremendously

"Phrases like that, "pearl-clutching", "fallen from grace" etc have been co-opted by liberal men and "sex positive feminists" to shame women into ignoring their boundaries and to normalise unacceptable sexual behaviour. By using words associated with religious or cultural suppression of women against women with a feminist analysis of the commodification and objectification of women and the violence against women inherent in filmed prostitution, they try to categorise feminist criticism together with oppressive religious or cultural forces with a view to minimising it. It's easier than actually engaging with the issues."

Very nicely put, agree with every word.

FreudiansSlipper · 16/10/2014 13:41

Totally agree Seven great post from Flora

Has Mary Whitehouse been mentioned yet Hmm

HaroldsBishop · 16/10/2014 13:48

Not that you'll care, but I find your demonisation of this woman vile and misogynistic.

Because as we all know, it's impossible to google anything vaguely pornographic unless you've had children's stories read to you by an ex-actress, right Hmm

FloraFox · 16/10/2014 13:53

What you seem to know about misogyny is this:

.

FreudiansSlipper · 16/10/2014 13:55

Oh really

Must go and check what demonisation and misogynistic really means

SevenZarkSeven · 16/10/2014 13:58

Harold I think from reading the thread that this actresses films were particularly extreme and so googling her might result in exposure to things that would not be presented on googling "porn" or "naked women" or whatever young children put into search engines.

HaroldsBishop · 16/10/2014 14:00

What you seem to know about misogyny is this:

Maybe, but you're sure teaching me a lot about it in this thread Biscuit

SevenZarkSeven · 16/10/2014 14:01

Are you familiar with her work?

I must admit I'm not and am going by what has been posted here.

HaroldsBishop · 16/10/2014 14:05

Harold I think from reading the thread that this actresses films were particularly extreme and so googling her might result in exposure to things that would not be presented on googling "porn" or "naked women" or whatever young children put into search engines.

Ok let's assume this is true - by that logic you are saying anyone with her name, or anything close to it (thanks to google's algorithms), should be excluded from doing anything where there name would be read/heard by children, lest they google it and see some porn that SOMEHOW they can't reach by googling any other term.

FloraFox · 16/10/2014 14:09

Haroldsbishop GTF with that shit. Feminism isn't a cheerleading group for every woman everywhere doing everything. You may be confusing feminism with a shampoo advert.

HaroldsBishop · 16/10/2014 14:17

Oh yes, because feminism is about keeping a woman down because of her past, is that it?

I'll leave you to it. Fortunately most of the feminists in this thread aren't as eager to judge as you.

FloraFox · 16/10/2014 14:30

I don't need you to tell me how to do feminism but thanks for the demonstration that men approve of feminism that doesn't get in the way of porn.

HaroldsBishop · 16/10/2014 14:46

Reading to children is porn now? Hmm

FloraFox · 16/10/2014 15:06

Introducing children to porn performers in the classroom normalises porn. This has already been covered.

Damsilli · 16/10/2014 15:16

It seems very sexist that there's no equivalent of 'willy-waving pissing contest'. There really should be some appropriate term for people vying to be the bigger feminist.

Anyway, let this woman be cast from society, for she hath sinned against her own.

FreudiansSlipper · 16/10/2014 15:24

Another jump to another dramatic conclusion what a surprise