My name is Wilder Deitz, and I am a student at UW-Madison. As much as I appreciate your bringing the issue of pornography to light, there were several aspects of the recent opinion piece that I take issue with. There is much foolishness and posturing present on both sides of the pornography debate, so I will try to be as direct as possible.
While I am glad that in the article, “Pornography becoming normalized in society,” you brought attention to the stigma and shame that surround many aspects of sexuality in our society, I disagree with the insinuation that both the production and consumption of pornography is a healthy expression of sexuality. I agree that it is essential to eliminate personal feelings of shame regarding one’s natural sexuality. However, it is imperative that we conserve the elements of intimacy and privacy that are inherent to a healthy, consenting sexual relationship. These elements are nonexistent in pornography, which by definition is voyeuristic and public.
Beyond this broad moral objection, I have a few specific concerns. Firstly, widespread use of pornography indicates that it is a mainstream phenomenon, and nothing more. Normalcy does not universally translate into a positive social effect.
Secondly, pornography is less an “art form” than an industry (with both legal and illegal incarnations) with questionable, to say the least, working conditions for its laborers. This is especially true in the further reaches and underground of the Internet. I would not be comfortable endorsing pornography as a general phenomenon until clearly demonstrable political and social steps have been taken to prevent human rights abuses across the industry. To promote pornography as it stands, especially in the name of one’s own “healthy” sexuality, seems self-indulgent.
Thirdly, a sizable amount pornography glorifies the objectification, degradation, and humiliation of women, in particular through dramatic depictions of rape, gang-rape, child abuse, and other forms of sexual assault. I am not at this point comfortable with positing a connection between this phenomenon and American “rape culture”. However, the fact that we live in a culture that is already so at peace with sexual assault makes me uncomfortable. I am not in favor of any further celebration or endorsement of this illegal, unconscionable act.
Even if these points do not invalidate your argument, I do believe they merit mentioning in any conversation regarding pornography or modern American sexuality.
How do you feel about the pornography industry in the United States? Should there be harsher workplace regulations to improve safety? Please send all of your feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
