B2 Features
The Chronicle
XXX-Rated
April 30, 2014
About 60 percent of students have viewed pornography, but many are unaware of the long-term effects it may have. By Alex McNab
Hardcore pornography isn’t Ajmere said. “What they’re protected by the First Amend- learning is demoralizing to ment right to free speech, but the other sex. Teen boys [are] even U.S. Supreme Court jus- learning that it’s okay to subjutices have had trouble defining gate women.” However, three studies citexactly what it is. As Justice ed in Stony Brook University Potter Stewart said in a 1964 sociology Professor Michael case, “I know it when I see it.” The 1973 Supreme Court Kimmel’s male gender studies case Miller v. California de- book “Guyland” found that pornography consumption has alfined obscenity as material that most no effect on the behavior “a the average person, applyor attitude of the consumer. ing contemporary community Ajmere said women are standards would find..., taken more likely to read pornoas a whole, appeals to the pru- graphic books like “50 Shades rient interest b depicts or de- of Grey” because women are scribes, in a patently offensive less visual than men, but that way, sexual conduct... and ... c more girls are starting to lacks serious literary, artistic, watch pornography as it grows political or scientific value.” less stigmatized and more acPerforming arts teacher cessible through tools like cell Ted Walch has his own defini- phones. tion. “As women have gained “If they are actively having more rights and freedoms, sex,” Walch said, “that’s porn.” they’ve exercised these freeAlthough pornography is doms in many different ways, targeted towards adults, 60 not just in the workforce but percent of students reported in also in the sexual arena,” Aja Chronicle poll that they have mere said. “[In the past] it regularly watched pornogra- wouldn’t be considered ladyphy. Many, though, may not be like for a girl to say ‘oh yeah. I aware of the effect their con- watch porn.’” sumption of pornography has But even as more girls beon society, on the performers gin watching pornography, Ajand on themselves. mere thinks the self-esteem of “A big part of the way we teen girls is harmed by male learn and the consumpway teens learn tion, since is by observapornogrational learnphy creates Porn, largely, is ing,” Director i mp ossi b l e fantasy. It’s not reality, of Counseling sexual ideand Psychologials for wombut the teen brain, often cal Services Kaen to conbecause the frontal lobe vita Ajmere said. form to. “Porn, largely, is “I can’t isn’t developed, can’t fantasy. It’s not imagine make that distinction.” reality, but the that girls teen brain, offeel okay —Kavita Ajmere ten because the when their Director of Counseling boyfriend’s frontal lobe isn’t developed, can’t atching and Psychological Services w make that disa bunch of tinction. They’re porn,” Ajwatching pormere said. nography, and they transfer Kimmel’s book says men that to real life.” watch pornography for three Ajmere believes this inabil- reasons: to relieve themselves ity to distinguish between por- of the pressures of an increasnography and real life can be ingly feminist society; as a form very dangerous. of revenge against women, from “It’s not my understand- whom some men believe they ing that when teenagers look don’t receive enough sexual atat porn they’re thinking ‘wow! tention; and to restore male auThat was such an honest thority. and loving relationship,’” All these conflicts mean
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The bare facts: Porn by the numbers
pornography is one of the biggest issues in feminism today, Levi Craske-Curtin ’14 said. Under the direction of English teacher Malina Mamigonian and visual arts department head Cheri Gaulke, CraskeCurtin is writing a paper examining the relationship between women’s rights and pornography as a part of a Gender Studies directed study. The paper will explore the differences between how the radical and liberal feminist movements view pornography. Radical feminism argues pornography is bad because the performers have been conditioned by a male-dominated society to exploit their bodies. Liberal feminism, meanwhile, supports the industry as an outlet for women’s sexuality in which women are praised rather than criticized for being sexually active. Liberal feminists often champion pornographic ventures like MakeLoveNotPorn, a sort of YouTube for amateur pornography that aims to reveal the falsehood of gender and sex myths created by mainstream porn. “[Craske-Curtin’s] really looking deeply into these issues and questioning codes of morality and who defines them,” Gaulke said. The paper, which CraskeCurtin will present in class, will remain neutral, but CraskeCurtin sides more with radical feminism. Craske-Curtin acknowledges the sexual autonomy given to women through pornography, which is a tenament of liberal feminism, but believes it’s still sexualizing. “There’s a problem with the way they go about it because they still call her a slut,” Craske-Curtin said. “But the idea behind it I think is good, because it’s making people more autonomous over their sexuality. This is a society that will see men as a whole being, and see women as more like parts. Women’s bodies will be sexualized. Men are less expected to do [pornography] because they’re less sexualized in society.” Craske-Curtin’s research and analysis confirms Kim-
Media of pornography consumption: 93% watch pornographic videos 10% read pornographic novels
31% of female students have watched pornography
90% of male students have watched pornography
28% look at pornographic magazines
mel’s assertion that men watch pornography to reaffirm their masculinity. “The man is expected to be very dominant, very aggressive, very masculine,” Craske-Curtin said. “[Male consumers of pornography] want to buy into that ideal because they think it can be a reality for them.” Even in pornographic scenes where the woman assumes the dominant role, gender roles are perpetuated because, CraskeCurtin said, the fact that the woman is performing outside her assigned gender role is being sexualized. Pornography, Craske-Curtin discovered, is also physically dangerous for the women involved, although few women are raped or coerced into the industry. In a study involving 177 female pornographic performers by psychologist James Griffith, the largest pornographic research study ever done, Griffith found that only one of the women had been forced into the industry. Pornography is often defended as an art form, but Gaulke believes there’s a distinction between pornography and erotic art. “It seems seamy in comparison to erotic art,” she said. “Can porn be art? Porn, it’s a business. Its purpose is to sell. I don’t think the purpose of porn is to make art. It’s to make money.” Making money off minors in pornographic films is illegal, but the laws concerning the dissemination of pornography to minors vary by state. However, Section 1470 of Title 18 of the United States Code prohibits anyone from attempting to give “obscene matter” to a minor under 16 years old. Also prohibited are any attempts to “deceive a minor into viewing harmful or obscene material.” Gaulke said that from the viewpoint of a mother, she doesn’t think pornography is a good way to learn about sex. “I think it’s important to have a really good sex education,” she said. “I don’t think porn’s the best place to get your sex education. The way that bodies are in porn, it’s unrealistic.”
Among students who view pornography, they began to do so:
15% 67% 18%
in elementary school in middle school in high school
SOURCE: CHRONICLE POLL OF 433 STUDENTS GRAPHIC BY ZOE DUTTON PHOTOS FROM FREEPHOTOS.COM