Introduction For the past 30 years, pornography has been a subject that has divided many North Americans as the topic became increasingly controversial with time. The subject makes for a very significant ethical issue mainly because it’s an issue that has the capability of altering our freedom of expression and because it’s a topic that invokes many conflicting values and competing ideas of right and wrong. Furthermore, pornography is also a major ethical issue because many of those that are against feel as though it infringes on societies’ morals as many believe that “viewing even mildly explicit pornography leads to an interest in increasingly deviant material” (McNaught and Renneboog). That said, this essay will illustrate why …show more content…
Argument 2: Pornography Has Its Medical and Social Benefits The Meese Report is a legal document that was released July 9th, 1986. It was intended to promote a higher level of restriction towards obscenity laws and to expand on definitions of obscenity (“The Meese Commission on Pornography”) in order to “encourage the abolition of sexually explicit materials” (“The Meese Commission on Pornography”). Even that document acknowledged several areas where the uses of sexually explicit materials have been put towards positive purposes (Strossen 163). For example, “the treatment of sexual dysfunctions and the diagnosis and treatment of some paraphilias”, or in other words, the addiction of strange sex practices (Strossen 163). Furthermore, many experts, namely doctors, have strong faith in the notion that it can “improve the sex lives of many couples” (Strossen 163). Evidence of this is through Patti Britton, Ph.D., a board-certified clinical sexologist who states “[…] it is common knowledge in my field that sexually explicit films and videos are often recommended as a mode of treatment for couples or individuals with clinical sexual problems” (Strossen 163). Not to mention that even individuals with no significant sexual problems can easily benefit from pornography to also “spice up” their sex lives. As a result, many doctors have stated that explicit materials add strength to many relationships, consequently solidifying them (Strossen 164). As
Anne McClintock’s “Gonad the Barbarian and the Venus Flytrap”, focuses a lot of attention on how from the beginning of history, women have been denied some of the basic rights and freedoms that have been essential to the way that men live. Starting back from the times where they couldn’t vote and when women were basically seen as property when wedded. Women today and even in the earlier days could not express their sexuality and could not show that they were sexual beings. Anne McClintock gives the idea that women should be able to have the things that men have and they should be able to express it in the same way as men. In this essay, I will analyze how Anne McClintock views pornography as a form of pleasure that is mostly consumed by men and how women are incorporated into the employment of the industry and even in the home setting.
It today’s society, pornography is a fast-growing epidemic that is evident in families, marriages, and teenage lifestyles. Supporters of pornography claim that it can be used as a tool to teach students about sex education. However, critics claim that pornography is unjust, influential, and dehumanizing. Pornography is unjust because it has the potential to break down intimate relationships and marriages. It can also have negative effects on children in particular young boys. More and more young boy’s minds are being influenced by pornography which is leading to misinterpretations about how to have a healthy sexual relationship. Most importantly, pornography dehumanizes women and it exploits children. Women and children are being victimized for the sheer pleasure of someone viewing pornography.
Professor’s Comment: This powerful essay contrasts the views of two feminist, Catherine MacKinnon and Sallie Tisdale, each of which perceives pornography in widely divergent ways. While MacKinnon's 'Not A Moral Issue' explains the adverse impacts of pornography to women and society as a whole, Tisdale's 'Talk Dirty to Me: An Intimate Philosophy of Sex' is receptive to pornography despite these adverse impacts, suggesting in fact that the solution to the problems associated with pornography is a greater role of women in production of that pornography.
UELAC - web pages for Loyalists. Thank you for your suggestions. I've cc'd Anne so she can pass them on. The small group that manages the Website has only one Webmaster, who inputs the data (too many Chiefs causes havoc). Each branch has the proofs and the buy in for publishing their (current or past) members proofs is like pulling teeth.... So, even having an enthusiastic student doing the input; scanning, modifying and linking the physical pages is a daunting task. Once the information is ready to publish on the Web, they need to have someone verify the accuracy. I know, for Anne has found inaccuracies within our own ancestors and has corrected them. Unfortunately, when the form is updated the information is appended and the old/incorrect
Good sex is considered to be legal and healthy, whereas bad sex is criminalized and dangerous. In contrast to MacKinnon’s view on pornography, Rubin argues that pornography is a means of sexual exploration and can be liberating. Sexual activities are a means through which sexuality can be explored. Rubin argues that anti-pornography movements exaggerate the dangers of pornography as destructive and negative. Anti-pornography movements depict pornography as harmful and degrading to women, but this in itself is harmful for it does not account for consensual and desired sexual activities. Through classifying sexual activities, such as BDSM and sex work, as good and bad, the state effectively limits sexual exploration to certain acceptable societal norms. This is further illustrated through R v. Price, in which the judge ruled that there was no evidence that BDSM videos cause harm (Lecture Slides: February 9). Conforming to cultural norms subsequently ensures that the patriarchal system of sexual value, in which MacKinnon argued is male dominated, is adhered to. Even though pornography can perpetuate sexual objectification, the oppression of sexual desire by the state limits any form of positive sexual exploration. The state and law should not penalize possibilities for positive sexual experiences because of social stigmas. The disapproval of society and the state of particular sexual
Was Imperialism Good or Bad for the World? Overall imperialism was bad for the world because of wars and how badly people were treated. Imperialism in my opinion was bad for the world for all sorts of reasons. People during Imperialism didn’t want to deal with this and because they were all in the middle of the war between different countries.
The Hebrews sent a message to Sihon the Amorite king, If they could respectfully pass through his land. Sihon refused and pushed them back into the wilderness eventually engaging in battle. The Hebrews won the battle and took over all of the Amorite land including Jazer. They settled in the towns.
MacKinnon argues that pornography defines male treatment of women, and is the clearest demonstration of male dominance. Her perspective is radical, but valuable because it forces one to reexamine his or her view of pornography. She says that, “male power makes authoritative a way of seeing and treating women that when a man looks at a pornographic picture... the viewing is an act of male supremacy” (130). This form of expression dictates the way in which men view women as a class. The uneven distribution of power in this system makes pornography a form of discrimination. “Pornography causes attitudes and behaviors of violence and discrimination that define the treatment and status of half the population” (147). Not only women are subject to this form of oppression. “Pornography is the
In recent years, the term pornography has been primarily associated with that which is accessed and streamed over the internet, rather than the literal definition of, “obscene writings, drawings, photographs, or the like, especially those having little or not artistic merit.” This form of visual pornography is a popular and successful business as it is viewed for fulfilling pent up sexual desires, however it promotes the act of having multiple sex partners without the need of any commitment. Although it is for this reason that this business is permitted, there are many overlooked, long – term affects that have become topics of controversy. Not only does pornography affect those who indulge in it, but it can influence those who divulge
Thesis – Multiple outlooks have been taken on the ethics of pornography, and the means by which it may either negatively influence power in sexuality, or actually provide some sort of social value and worth. These different ethical perspectives display the flaws in the industry and what it represents; yet they also end up proving the fact that it can be modified with positive influence and that pornography is not something to be deemed utterly unethical.
Pornography is commonly used in many cultures across the world. Within the United States, alone, roughly 40 million people regularly visit porn sites (Streep, 2014). And yet, despite its growing popularity, only a handful of studies have explored pornography’s potential effects on sexual satisfaction for those in exclusive relationships (Bridges & Morokoff, 2011; Daneback et al., 2009; Maddox et al., 2011; Stewart & Szymanski, 2012; Stulhofer et al., 2010; Zillmann & Bryant, 1988). As using pornography can potentially have negative effects on both the user’s and their intimate partner’s sexual satisfaction, it is important to
From the Utilitarianism view point, pornography is seen as morally right because it provides the greatest benefit of happiness for the greatest good. The Utilitarianism suggest that there is an obvious solution that is fair, and it may be one that appeals to common sense” and that “one should choose to do that which produces a better outcome for the largest number of people.” (Mosser, K. 2013, Ch. 1.6). under Utilitarianism, pornography offers benefits in marriage because couples can revive their marriage by using pornography as a new tool to explore each others intimacy and satisfy their sexual relationship. Some
The pornification (or alternatively pornographication) of the social world has created lasting effects in the lives of people that they must deal with every day (Dines 1998, p. 164). Pornification is the process by which the social and cultural world is sexualised. This occurs through the expansion of media technology and the pornography industry, as well as changes in media regulations and restrictions which allow pornographic imagery to intrude into public spaces (Tyler 2011, p. 79). This essay will offer explanations for why the pornification of the social world is occurring, how the phenomenon differs from a freedom of expression issue and is instead considered a sociological issue, what consequences and harm arise from these explanations, and will offer social measures that can be adopted in order to deal with the issue. Pornification has occurred in almost every realm of the social world, including in its unaltered form on the Internet, social media, marketing, advertising, music, fashion, sport, and art. However, this expansion of easily accessible pornified content is a stark and confronting challenge for our social world.
Pornography is an ethical dilemma that affects men and women from all walks of life. In TJ’s case, porn is photographs or videos that depict of erotic subjects with the intension to titillate the audience (Pornography, 2017). Making an ethical decision is difficult for TJ because of his options: continue to practice his freedom rights to privately watch and giving up the pleasure he receives from watching porn. Continuing will put himself at risk but by quitting he will no longer be supporting the pornography business. If TJ is a Christian, he could look to the core beliefs to help him decide.
In recent years, pornography has established itself as perhaps the most controversial topic arising out of the use of the Internet. The easy availability of this type of sexually explicit material has caused a panic among government officials, family groups, religious groups and law enforcement bodies and this panic has been perpetuated in the media.