Porn and violence just don’t mix

Erotica and pornography has always been an industry in which women were objectified or used in some way. It is the public perception of many people that pornographers take advantage and use woman for whatever purposes they need them for. While the popularity of the industry is helping to erase these stigmas, we still see examples of violent pornography and violent sexual behavior in these films. In reading William Fisher and Azy Barak’s article entitled Internet Pornography: A Social Psychological Perspective on Internet Sexuality, I found the authors asked profound questions relating to this subject.

 

                        “Is it the case that what the researcher designates as violent pornography is spontaneously perceived and interpreted by the average male as an endorsement of the utility and normativeness of violence against women? Is it the case that what the researcher designates as erotica is spontaneously perceived and interpreted by the average female as a nondegrading sexual portrayal?” (Page 116, Barak and Fisher).

 

            It is interesting to examine these different types and levels of pornography as they relate to how society perceives each. It is also important to take into account personal beliefs and views in examining how people look at different types of pornography. Culture plays a huge part in how people interpret the behaviors of others. While some might see certain sexual acts as violent, degrading or unacceptable; another person might see it as erotica or intimate. Also, in looking at this from a cultural perspective we can see that in many countries pornography is looked at in a totally different light. In many European nations pornography, sex and nudity are more intertwined with the culture. Sex and nudity is more prevalent on television and pornography is more a part of the culture rather than dirty little secret. However, in the last ten years we have seen porn become more mainstream and as a result, the treatment of women within the industry has vastly improved.

                       

I feel that because of the attention being brought to pornography as the industry is becoming more popular then ever, there will also be more clear and defined standards for categorizing porn. As the industry has gained popularity it has also allowed more women to become involved with the porn industry. As a result sexual violence towards women has been consistently decreasing. The greater attention upon the industry is forcing this change, as production values and publicity for the pictures increase. The popularity of pornography is taking the industry away from the violent objectification of women. As society has changed and women’s rights have expanded, the images and messages of pornography must also change. As a result less violence towards women is occurring in porn films. The more public this issue becomes, the more steps can be taken towards ending the violence in pornographic films.