Discussion Blog Eight
A common argument that anti-pornography supporters use is that pornography leads to the exploitation and sexual abuse of women. They believe that it is the cause of numerous accounts of sexual violence. However a counter argument used by pro-sex feminists is that pornography does the exact opposite. It in fact creates a sexual outlet for men who have violent urges toward women and allows them to channel their frustration.
Let’s pretend it’s the year 2200. America has seen five women presidents, the morning after pill is over the counter, and women are finally viewed as equals to men in the business world. Prostitution has been legalized and completely cleaned up; no more abuse or children involved. America views it as a legitimate and respectful job. Eight-teen year old girls work as prostitutes to pay for college. Even one of the former women presidents was a prostitute in her younger years. Pornography is as main stream as any romantic comedy out in theaters. It has even received a category at the Oscars. Society is finally embracing that they are sexual beings and it’s only natural to except and embrace their desires as humans. This fantasy may seem far fetched, but could this be a possibility someday? In just the past decade our world has become increasingly more infatuated with sex. After all, sex sells! Almost every advertising campaign today uses sex to sell. The porn industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. We are evolving into a society that is more opened and obsessed with sex with every passing year. Do you think some time in the far future prostitution will be legalized or looked at from a positive perspective? Will porn ever have a category at the Oscars? Where will women’s rights and our society’s sexual standards be in the future? Finally, if this was to ever become a reality, how would you feel living in a world like that?
Women and children are being sold into sexual slavery everyday. According to Donna Hughes' article in WVFV (pg. 456-460) the internet is fast becoming the easiest and most efficient method of buying and selling women for sexual purposes. In particular, mail order bridal agencies have sprung up all over the web (do a Google search for "mail order bride"--it's shocking). Do you think that these women, who are often very young, are forced into literally selling themselves into marriage with someone they have never met? Or is it possible that they are trying, in the only way they know how, to make a better life for themselves?
Take the case of Nataliya Fox who sued the owner of the bridal agency that arranged her marriage after her husband abused her, and won. What's with men who are drawn to mail order brides in the first place? Do you think they are just after someone to cook, clean, and have sex with or are they really after a true, loving relationship with these women? Are these unions destined to be partnered with violence? A bill is currently in the works that would allow potential wives to have access to their fiances' criminal backgroud. Do you think that this is enough to protect these women? What else can be done?
After reading Susan Shaw's "Women's Voices' Feminist Vision" The same question kept coming up. Is prostitution degrading to females or does their power consist of their ability to set the terms of their sexuality (Alexander. p376)?
The concept of prostitution has been dated way back to when society openly accepted prostitution as a form of business. Do you believe that legal prostitution protects women's rights as well as their health? As mentioned in the text, legal prostitution system is concerned with the health of females by providing check ups and contraceptives? Femenist seem to be concerned about the abuse of women but don't you think that women should also have that option of becoming a prostitute if that is what they want? It's not like they're are forced into being treated this way, it's more of an option that they choose to go forth with. Are our human right protected by legalizing prostitution? While creating your blog you might want to take into consideration pages 376-379 in the WVFV book.
