Anti-pornography movement
Encyclopedia
The term anti-pornography movement is used to describe those who argue that pornography
has a variety of harmful effects, such as encouragement of human trafficking
, desensitization
, pedophilia
, dehumanization
, sexual exploitation
, sexual dysfunction
, and inability to maintain healthy sexual relationships. People involved in the anti-pornography movement include religious groups, feminists
, ex-porn stars, psychologists, and individuals who feel that pornography plays a major role in the breakdown of marriages and relationships.
effects which he characterizes as unfavorable, including a decreased respect for long-term, monogamous
relationships, and an attenuated desire for procreation. He describes the theoretical basis of these experimental findings:
Additionally, some researchers claim that pornography causes unequivocal harm to society by increasing rates of sexual assault
, a line of research which has been critiqued in "The effects of Pornography: An International Perspective" on external validity grounds, while others claim there is a correlation between pornography and a decrease of sex crimes.
There is no direct prohibition of pornographic media in the Bible. Pornography was neither as prevalent or as well developed during the time period in which the Bible is set. Instead, Christians can rely on exegesis of Matthew 5:27,28 (part of the Expounding of the Law
) to find biblical prohibitions against pornography.
The Roman Catholic Church
considers pornography grave matter, meaning that its use and production are mortally sinful
if done with full knowledge of its gravity and full consent:
(Jewish written law) has a great many prohibitions regarding sexual behaviors, pornography is not specifically mentioned. However, traditional Jewish laws of modesty (tzniut
) require Jewish women to be modestly dressed (thereby forbidding pornographic modeling or pornographic acting for women). The halakhah states that sexually arousing images are to be avoided.
That opposition between this "porn-use" attitude with the "fitra
" (reverence instinct toward Allah, that all humans have, whether they are aware of it or not), creates a state of tension that lead to the destruction of the soul, leading to sadness and depression, and loss of self-esteem. That is why, in Islam, porn is seen as a fundamentally destructive force to eradicate from one's life and from society
The Qur'an had stated in Surat An-Nur;
24:30:
"Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do."
24:31:
"And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed."
misconduct, which includes watching, participating or involving in the creation of pornography. Any sentient being involved in watching, participating or are related to pornography, creates a karmic
imprint or seeds in the mind
, which when ripens under the right causes and conditions, will react or return to the sentient beings with harm and suffering. If no further controls of mind is undertaken to subdue the cravings for sex, the karmic seeds will ripen and in turn lead to further sufferings such as Sex or Porn addiction
, buying sex, sex crimes such as rape, sex torture, bestiality, sex slavery etc. In the Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
, it was mentioned that a sentient being involved in sexual misconduct will be reborn into the realms of hell. This sutra is one of the anti-dotes to relieve all sentient beings from the suffering of sexual misconduct. In the Universal Article of Guanyin (观世音菩萨普门品), a chapter under Lotus Sutra
, it was mentioned that if a person, who has a strong craving for sex, continuously chant "Namo Guanshiyin Pusa" (南无观世音菩萨）, will be relieved and liberated from such strong cravings and sufferings.
, both in its production (where they charge that abuse and exploitation of women performing in pornography is rampant) and in its consumption (where they charge that pornography eroticizes the domination, humiliation, and coercion of women, and reinforces sexual and cultural attitudes that are complicit in rape
and sexual harassment
). They charge that pornography contributes to the male-centered objectification of women and thus to sexism.
However, many other feminists are opposed to censorship, and have argued against the introduction of anti-porn legislation in the United States - among them Betty Friedan
, Kate Millett
, Karen DeCrow
, Wendy Kaminer
and Jamaica Kincaid
.
, it is illegal to be found in possession of prohibited goods which include "Indecent and obscene material such as pornographic books, magazines, films, videos, DVDs and software".
in 2002, when state censors issued guidelines requiring all websites remove any pornographic material. Enforcement of anti-pornography laws included the arrest of the owner of an online strip club
in 2004. Since 2008, the production of pornographic movies has been banned by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television
, and directors, producers, and actors involved in pornographic movies are barred from competing in film competitions. Any movie studio
found in violation may have its license revoked. Possession of pornography is punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of 20,000 yuan, or even execution for large underground distributors.
upheld an anti-pornography law. The Bill against Pornography and Pornoaction
enjoyed a huge majority in the Indonesian parliament and received much of its support from Islam
ic groups. The broadness of the law has concerned practitioners of sensual regional traditions such as the nightclub
s in Bali
, West Java
n jaipong dance
, and New Guinea
n penis gourd
wearing.
have attempted to implement internet filters to block access to pornography.
bans all forms of pornography due to Islam's opposition to pornography. In 2000 Saudi authorities said that they were 'winning the war against pornography on the internet. '
. Real child pornography involves the use of real children involved in sexual conduct while virtual child pornography is made up of a number of different types of erotic material that do not involve the use of actual children (including paintings, cartoons, sketches, digitally-created images and written descriptions as well as depictions of adults represented as under the age of 18). A recent submission to the South African Parliament argued that real child pornography ought to be prohibited while virtual child pornography ought not to be prohibited. The submission process, which involved discussion between members of the public, non-governmental organizations and members of parliament, was recorded by the Parliamentary Monitoring Group.
in 2009, when Victor Yushchenko, then president, signed the new legislation. The new law has been approved overwhelmingly by the Verkhovna Rada
(the Ukrainian parliament), it was signed by the president in July 2009. The possession, distribution, sale and manufacture of pornographic materials are illegal. Pornography is defined by the law as "vulgar, candid, cynical, obscene depiction of sexual acts, pursuing no other goal, the explicit demonstration of genitals, unethical elements of the sexual act, sexual perversions, realistic sketches that do not meet moral criteria and offend honor and dignity of the human by inciting low instincts. ” Pornography for 'medical purpose', however, remains legal.
" is illegal, in accordance with Part 5, Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
.
, the Supreme Court
held in 1969 that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as made applicable to the States by the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from making mere private possession of obscene material a crime. This caused President Lyndon B. Johnson
and Congress to appoint a commission to study pornography.
http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
has a variety of harmful effects, such as encouragement of human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
, desensitization
Desensitization
Desensitization can refer to:* Desensitization * Desensitization * Desensitization * Desensitization of explosives, see Phlegmatized...
, pedophilia
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
, dehumanization
Dehumanization
Dehumanization is to make somebody less human by taking away his or her individuality, the creative and interesting aspects of his or her personality, or his or her compassion and sensitivity towards others. Dehumanization may be directed by an organization or may be the composite of individual...
, sexual exploitation
Sexual exploitation
Sexual exploitation may refer to:*Sexual slavery*Sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian response...
, sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or sexual malfunction refers to a difficulty experienced by an individual or a couple during any stage of a normal sexual activity, including desire, arousal or orgasm....
, and inability to maintain healthy sexual relationships. People involved in the anti-pornography movement include religious groups, feminists
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, ex-porn stars, psychologists, and individuals who feel that pornography plays a major role in the breakdown of marriages and relationships.
Sociological objections
Dolf Zillmann asserts that extensive viewing of pornographic material produces many sociologicalSociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
effects which he characterizes as unfavorable, including a decreased respect for long-term, monogamous
Monogamy
Monogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
relationships, and an attenuated desire for procreation. He describes the theoretical basis of these experimental findings:
The values expressed in pornography clash so obviously with the family concept, and they potentially undermine the traditional values that favor marriage, family, and children... Pornographic scripts dwell on sexual engagements of parties who have just met, who are in no way attached or committed to each other, and who will part shortly, never to meet again... Sexual gratification in pornography is not a function of emotional attachment, of kindness, of caring, and especially not of continuance of the relationship, as such continuance would translate into responsibilities, curtailments, and costs...
Additionally, some researchers claim that pornography causes unequivocal harm to society by increasing rates of sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
, a line of research which has been critiqued in "The effects of Pornography: An International Perspective" on external validity grounds, while others claim there is a correlation between pornography and a decrease of sex crimes.
Christianity
Expounding of the Law
The Expounding of the Law is a highly structured part of the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament...
) to find biblical prohibitions against pornography.
You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
considers pornography grave matter, meaning that its use and production are mortally sinful
Mortal sin
Mortal sins are in the theology of some, but not all Christian denominations wrongful acts that condemn a person to Hell after death. These sins are considered "mortal" because they constitute a rupture in a person's link to God's saving grace: the person's soul becomes "dead", not merely weakened...
if done with full knowledge of its gravity and full consent:
Judaism
Though the TorahTorah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
(Jewish written law) has a great many prohibitions regarding sexual behaviors, pornography is not specifically mentioned. However, traditional Jewish laws of modesty (tzniut
Tzniut
Tzniut is a term used within Judaism and has its greatest influence as a concept within Orthodox Judaism...
) require Jewish women to be modestly dressed (thereby forbidding pornographic modeling or pornographic acting for women). The halakhah states that sexually arousing images are to be avoided.
Sikhism
Sikhs argue that pornographic books and films, prostitution and lust lead to adultery. Pornography, according to Sikhism, is said to encourage lust (Kaam), which is a concept described as an unhealthy obsession for sex and sexual activity. Kaam is heavily discouraged for Sikhs, as this "can build barriers against God in their lives".Islam
Pornography is in direct opposition with Islamic teachings, which is focused on how to gain a better self-control in order to increase spiritual awareness and prepare the soul to accept Allah (God). To understand why, we must remember that typically, this is the spiritual aim of practices like Ramadan (the fasting one month a year) or night prayers (which are not compulsory, as only the five daily prayers are) or "zikr" in state of concentration. One of the aims of such practices (but its not the only one) is to learn self-control at a level that allows us to be less centered on our own needs, and hence, be more open to the needs of others. It kills selfishness and teaches mercy and forgiveness, preparing our soul to pray for the mercy and love of Allah. When a Muslim looks at pornography, he fails to control himself, so he becomes the prisoner of his own physical needs at the lowest level. It increases selfishness and locks his heart to mercy toward other people. It directly contradicts the spirit of IslamThat opposition between this "porn-use" attitude with the "fitra
Fitra
Fitra, or fitrah , is an Arabic word meaning ‘disposition’, ‘nature’, ‘constitution’, or ‘instinct’. In a mystical context, it can connote intuition or insight...
" (reverence instinct toward Allah, that all humans have, whether they are aware of it or not), creates a state of tension that lead to the destruction of the soul, leading to sadness and depression, and loss of self-esteem. That is why, in Islam, porn is seen as a fundamentally destructive force to eradicate from one's life and from society
The Qur'an had stated in Surat An-Nur;
24:30:
"Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do."
24:31:
"And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed."
Buddhism
The Buddhism teachings (the Dharma) are against pornography . The Five Precepts indicated that a Buddhist should refrain from sexualHuman sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
misconduct, which includes watching, participating or involving in the creation of pornography. Any sentient being involved in watching, participating or are related to pornography, creates a karmic
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
imprint or seeds in the mind
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
, which when ripens under the right causes and conditions, will react or return to the sentient beings with harm and suffering. If no further controls of mind is undertaken to subdue the cravings for sex, the karmic seeds will ripen and in turn lead to further sufferings such as Sex or Porn addiction
Sexual addiction
Sexual addiction is a popular model to explain hypersexuality—sexual urges, behaviors, or thoughts that appear extreme in frequency or feel out of one's control...
, buying sex, sex crimes such as rape, sex torture, bestiality, sex slavery etc. In the Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
The Sūtra of The Great Vows of Bodhisattva is one of the more popular Buddhist sutras in Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism. The sutra tells basically of how became a bodhisattva by making great vows to rescue other sentient beings, and a description of how he followed filial piety in his past lifetimes....
, it was mentioned that a sentient being involved in sexual misconduct will be reborn into the realms of hell. This sutra is one of the anti-dotes to relieve all sentient beings from the suffering of sexual misconduct. In the Universal Article of Guanyin (观世音菩萨普门品), a chapter under Lotus Sutra
Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
, it was mentioned that if a person, who has a strong craving for sex, continuously chant "Namo Guanshiyin Pusa" (南无观世音菩萨）, will be relieved and liberated from such strong cravings and sufferings.
Feminist objections
Some feminists are opposed to pornography, arguing that it is an industry which exploits women and which is complicit in violence against womenViolence against women
Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women...
, both in its production (where they charge that abuse and exploitation of women performing in pornography is rampant) and in its consumption (where they charge that pornography eroticizes the domination, humiliation, and coercion of women, and reinforces sexual and cultural attitudes that are complicit in rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
). They charge that pornography contributes to the male-centered objectification of women and thus to sexism.
However, many other feminists are opposed to censorship, and have argued against the introduction of anti-porn legislation in the United States - among them Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan was an American writer, activist, and feminist.A leading figure in the Women's Movement in the United States, her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique is often credited with sparking the "second wave" of American feminism in the twentieth century...
, Kate Millett
Kate Millett
Kate Millett is an American lesbian feminist writer and activist. A seminal influence on second-wave feminism, Millet is best known for her 1970 book Sexual Politics.-Career:...
, Karen DeCrow
Karen DeCrow
Karen DeCrow is an American feminist attorney, author, and activist. Beginning her career as a journalist, she joined the National Organization for Women in 1969, and in 1969 she ran for Mayor of the city of Syracuse, New York, becoming the first female mayoral candidate in the history of New York...
, Wendy Kaminer
Wendy Kaminer
Wendy Kaminer is a lawyer and writer. She has written several books on contemporary social issues, including A Fearful Freedom: Women's Flight From Equality, about the conflict between egalitarian and protectionist feminism; I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional: The Recovery Movement and Other...
and Jamaica Kincaid
Jamaica Kincaid
Jamaica Kincaid is a Caribbean novelist, gardener, and gardening writer. She was born in the city of St. John's on the island of Antigua in the nation of Antigua and Barbuda...
.
Botswana
Pornography is banned in all forms in BotswanaBotswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, it is illegal to be found in possession of prohibited goods which include "Indecent and obscene material such as pornographic books, magazines, films, videos, DVDs and software".
China
Internet pornography was outlawed in ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 2002, when state censors issued guidelines requiring all websites remove any pornographic material. Enforcement of anti-pornography laws included the arrest of the owner of an online strip club
Strip club
A strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
in 2004. Since 2008, the production of pornographic movies has been banned by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television
State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television
The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television is an executive branch under the State Council of the People's Republic of China...
, and directors, producers, and actors involved in pornographic movies are barred from competing in film competitions. Any movie studio
Movie studio
A movie studio is a term used to describe a major entertainment company or production company that has its own privately owned studio facility or facilities that are used to film movies...
found in violation may have its license revoked. Possession of pornography is punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of 20,000 yuan, or even execution for large underground distributors.
Indonesia
In 2008 the constitutional court of IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
upheld an anti-pornography law. The Bill against Pornography and Pornoaction
Bill against Pornography and Pornoaction
The Bill against Pornography and Porno-Action was a bill proposed by the Indonesian legislative assembly, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat on February 14, 2006....
enjoyed a huge majority in the Indonesian parliament and received much of its support from Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic groups. The broadness of the law has concerned practitioners of sensual regional traditions such as the nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s in Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, West Java
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
n jaipong dance
Jaipongan
Jaipongan, also known as Jaipong, is a popular traditional dance of Sundanese people, West Java, Indonesia. The dance was created by Gugum Gumbira, based on traditional Sundanese Ketuk Tilu music and Pencak Silat movements.- Background :...
, and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
n penis gourd
Koteka
The koteka, horim, penis gourd or penis sheath is a phallocrypt or phallocarp traditionally worn by native male inhabitants of some ethnic groups in New Guinea to cover their genitals. They are normally made from a dried out gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, although other species, such as Nepenthes...
wearing.
Gaza Strip
In 2008, HamasHamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
have attempted to implement internet filters to block access to pornography.
Saudi Arabia
The Islamic state of Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
bans all forms of pornography due to Islam's opposition to pornography. In 2000 Saudi authorities said that they were 'winning the war against pornography on the internet. '
South Africa
The South African government is reviewing the Films and Publications Act, which prohibits both virtual and real child pornographyChild pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
. Real child pornography involves the use of real children involved in sexual conduct while virtual child pornography is made up of a number of different types of erotic material that do not involve the use of actual children (including paintings, cartoons, sketches, digitally-created images and written descriptions as well as depictions of adults represented as under the age of 18). A recent submission to the South African Parliament argued that real child pornography ought to be prohibited while virtual child pornography ought not to be prohibited. The submission process, which involved discussion between members of the public, non-governmental organizations and members of parliament, was recorded by the Parliamentary Monitoring Group.
Ukraine
Pornography was outlawed in UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
in 2009, when Victor Yushchenko, then president, signed the new legislation. The new law has been approved overwhelmingly by the Verkhovna Rada
Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is Ukraine's parliament. The Verkhovna Rada is a unicameral parliament composed of 450 deputies, which is presided over by a chairman...
(the Ukrainian parliament), it was signed by the president in July 2009. The possession, distribution, sale and manufacture of pornographic materials are illegal. Pornography is defined by the law as "vulgar, candid, cynical, obscene depiction of sexual acts, pursuing no other goal, the explicit demonstration of genitals, unethical elements of the sexual act, sexual perversions, realistic sketches that do not meet moral criteria and offend honor and dignity of the human by inciting low instincts. ” Pornography for 'medical purpose', however, remains legal.
United Kingdom
In the UK, starting from 26 January 2009, possession of images which depict "extreme pornographyExtreme pornography
Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 is a piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that criminalises possession of what it refers to as "extreme pornographic images". The law was enacted from 26 January 2009...
" is illegal, in accordance with Part 5, Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which makes significant changes in many areas of the criminal justice system in England and Wales and, to a lesser extent, in Scotland and Northern Ireland...
.
United States
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
held in 1969 that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as made applicable to the States by the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from making mere private possession of obscene material a crime. This caused President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
and Congress to appoint a commission to study pornography.
Vietnam
Pornography is illegal in Vietnam and enforcement against it is strict. According to legislatures, pornography harms Vietnamese standard values.See also
- PornophobiaPornophobiaPornophobia refers to an extreme dislike, hatred or fear of pornography. It is a phobia of pornography. Nadine Strossen, former president of the American Civil Liberties Union, stated that pornophobia can be seen among pro-censorship feminists and conservatives in her article The Perils of...
- Pornography addictionPornography addictionPornography addiction, or more broadly overuse of pornography, is excessive pornography use that interferes with daily life.There is no diagnosis of pornography addiction in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , and as with the broader proposed diagnosis of sexual...
- Pornography by regionPornography by regionThe production and distribution of pornographic movies are economic activities of some importance. The exact size of the economy of pornography and the influence that it plays in political circles are matters of controversy...
- Religious views on pornographyReligious views on pornographyReligious views on pornography often discourage people of various religions from viewing pornography, and cause support for legislation restricting its publication. These positions derive from broader religious views about sexuality...
- Right to pornography
- Women Against PornographyWomen Against PornographyWomen Against Pornography was a radical feminist activist group based out of New York City and an influential force in the anti-pornography movement of the late 1970s and the 1980s....
- Women Against Violence in Pornography and MediaWomen Against Violence in Pornography and MediaWomen Against Violence in Pornography and Media was a radical feminist anti-pornography activist group based in San Francisco and an influential force in the larger feminist anti-pornography movement of the late 1970s and 1980s....
Anti-pornography advocacy
- Andrea DworkinAndrea DworkinAndrea Rita Dworkin was an American radical feminist and writer best known for her criticism of pornography, which she argued was linked to rape and other forms of violence against women....
(1979). Pornography: Men Possessing Women. ISBN 0-452-26793-5. - Robert JensenRobert JensenRobert William Jensen is a professor of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin College of Communication. He joined the faculty in 1992 after completing his Ph.D. in media law and ethics in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota...
(2007). Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity. Cambridge, MA: South End PressSouth End PressSouth End Press is a non-profit book publisher run on a model of participatory economics. It was founded in 1977 by Michael Albert, Lydia Sargent, John Schall, Pat Walker, Juliet Schor, Mary Lea, Joe Bowring, and Dave Millikan, among others, in Boston's South End...
. ISBN 978-0-89608-776-7. - Gail Dines/Robert JensenRobert JensenRobert William Jensen is a professor of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin College of Communication. He joined the faculty in 1992 after completing his Ph.D. in media law and ethics in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota...
/Ann Russo (1998). Pornography: The Production and Consumption of Inequality. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-91813-8. - Michael Kimmel. "Men Confront Pornography". New York: Meridian — Random House, 1990. ISBN 0-452-01077-2. (A variety of essays that try to assess ways that pornography may take influence or harm men.)
- Catharine MacKinnonCatharine MacKinnonCatharine Alice MacKinnon is an American feminist, scholar, lawyer, teacher and activist.- Biography :MacKinnon was born in Minnesota. Her mother is Elizabeth Valentine Davis; her father, George E. MacKinnon was a lawyer, congressman , and judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit...
. "Pornography, Civil Rights, and Speech," 20 Harv. C.R.-C.L. L. Rev. 1 (1985) (arguing that pornography is one of the mechanisms of power used to maintain gender inequality). - Brownmiller, SusanSusan BrownmillerSusan Brownmiller is an American feminist, journalist, author, and activist. She is best known for her pioneering work on the politics of rape in her 1975 book Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape, Brownmiller argues that rape had been hitherto defined by men rather than women; and that men use,...
(1999). ISBN 0-385-31486-8. - Shelley LubbenShelley LubbenShelley Lubben is an American former pornographic actress who performed under the stage name of Roxy. After she left the sex industry, Lubben became a born-again Christian and anti-pornography activist...
. Former porn star and self-described "porn missionary" who counsels active porn stars on how to escape the industry. - Dr.Victor ClineVictor ClineVictor B. Cline is a University of California, Berkeley Ph D in Psychology, a research scientist with the George Washington University’s Human Resources Research Office, and a Emeritus Professor in Psychology at the University of Utah...
- Patrick CarnesPatrick CarnesPatrick Carnes, PhD, is an expert in the field of sexual addiction in the United States.Carnes is currently the Executive Director of the Gentle Path program at Pine Grove Behavioral Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi....
- Susanne Kapeller (1986) The Pornography of Representation. Polity Press, Cambridge, UK ISBN 0-7456-0122-7
- Stark, Christine and Rebecca Whisnant; Not for Sale: Feminists Resisting Prostitution And Pornography, Spinifex Press, 2004, ISBN 1-876756-49-7
- Nikki CraftNikki CraftNikki Craft is an American political activist, radical feminist, artist and writer.-Activism:In 1975, she presented the Rockwell International Board of Directors with "...naked doll[s] splashed with blood-colored paint" to protest their B-1 bomber called "The Peacemaker".The same year, Craft...
long-time political, anti-pornography activist and prolific writer on feminist subjects - The Witherspoon InstituteWitherspoon InstituteThe Whitherspoon Institute is a conservative think tank in Princeton, New Jersey.-Overview:Founded in 2003 by Robert P. George and others, the institute is named after John Witherspoon. It shares many scholars with the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. Fellows include Jean...
has recently released a publication entitled "The Social Costs of Pornography: A Statement of Findings and Recommendations", The Witherspoon Institute, ISBN 978-0981491127
http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/
Anti-pornography criticisms
- Susie BrightSusie BrightSusannah "Susie" Bright is an American writer, speaker, teacher, audio-show host, and performer, all on the subject of sexuality....
. "Susie Sexpert's Lesbian Sex World and Susie Bright's Sexual Reality: A Virtual Sex World Reader", San Francisco, CA: Cleis Press, 1990 and 1992. Challenges any easy equation between feminism and anti-pornography positions. - Betty DodsonBetty DodsonBetty Dodson is an American sex educator, author, and artist. Dodson held the first one-woman show of erotic art at the Wickersham Gallery in New York City in 1968. She left the art world to teach sex to women...
. "Feminism and Free speech: Pornography." Feminists for Free Expression 1993. 8 May 2002 - Kate Ellis. Caught Looking: Feminism, Pornography, and Censorship. New York: Caught Looking Incorporated, 1986.
- Susan GriffinSusan GriffinSusan Griffin is an eco-feminist author. She describes her work as "draw[ing] connections between the destruction of nature, the diminishment of women and racism, and trac[ing] the causes of war to denial in both private and public life." She received a MacArthur grant for Peace and International...
. Pornography and Silence: Culture's Revenge Against Nature. New York: Harper, 1981. - Matthew Gever. "Pornography Helps Women, Society", UCLA Bruin, 1998-12-03.
- Michele Gregory. "Pro-Sex Feminism: Redefining Pornography (or, a study in alliteration: the pro pornography position paper) "
- Andrea Juno and V. Vale. Angry Women, Re/Search # 12. San Francisco, CA: Re/Search Publications, 1991. Performance artists and literary theorists who challenge Dworkin and MacKinnon's claim to speak on behalf of all women.
- "A Feminist Overview of Pornography,Ending in a Defense Thereof"
- "A Feminist Defense of pornography"
- Annalee Newitz. "Obscene Feminists: Why Women Are Leading the Battle Against Censorship." San Francisco Bay Guardian Online 8 May 2002. 9 May 2002
- Nadine StrossenNadine StrossenNadine Strossen was president of the American Civil Liberties Union from February 1991 to October 2008. She was the first woman and the youngest person to ever lead the ACLU. A professor at New York Law School, Professor Strossen sits on the Council on Foreign Relations...
:- "Defending Pornography: Free Speech, Sex and the Fight for Women's Rights" (ISBN 0-8147-8149-7)
- "Nadine Strossen: Pornography Must Be Tolerated"
- Scott Tucker. "Gender, Fucking, and Utopia: An Essay in Response to John Stoltenberg's Refusing to Be a Man." in Social Text 27 (1991): 3-34. Critique of Stoltenberg and Dworkin's positions on pornography and power.
- Carole Vance, Editor. "Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality". Boston: Routledge, 1984. Collection of papers from 1982 conference; visible and divisive split between anti-pornography activists and lesbian S&M theorists.
External links
- "Denmark - the first country to legalize pornography"; Kutchinsky, BerlBerl KutchinskyBerl Kutchinsky was a Danish Professor of Criminology at the University of Copenhagen. He became internationally famous for his studies in the public health effects of pornography....
, Professor of Criminology. - "Bibliography on Pornography and Men's Violence Against Women"
- "Secondary Negative Effects on Employees of the Pornographic Industry"
Media
- Andrea Dworkin's Attorney General's Commission Testimony on Pornography and Prostitution
- Andrea Dworkin's Keynote Speech at the January 1985 Pornography Awareness conference at Duke University. (Audio File: 1 hour, 128 kbit/s, mp3)