Don't worry, none of this feels like an attack on me and I am happy to respond! Your idea about 'looking at it as people' is a very good one. And yes, I noticed in the book how 'pornography' automatically meant violent porn that degraded women. I wanted to ask the author, what about lesbians, and what about women who get off on gay men? A lot of (extreme?) feminist ideas on the subject of porn don't ask these questions. I love the quote about unpredictable creatures. Very true. It's odd... in some ways I can see why porn (straight porn) upsets some women. I was reading my brother's friend's Loaded magazine, and there was a strong atmosphere of 'if you're not a pretty girl, you are worthless and we will mock you' - I guess in some ways that's the equivalent to 'only hot bishies should have sex!' from the yaoi fanbrat quarter... it's not so much that men find naked women attractive, as that porn does seem to be saying 'women are only good for sex' - but then the feminists come along and say 'how dare you even imply that women are sometimes good for sex! Men should not see women in a sexual way AT ALL!' I think, like you said, if people tried to see other people as people, then things might be better. As I said, I can see where feminists who hate porn are coming from... but I don't think they consider other aspects of the issue. If you do cover the relationship between gender and crime in Criminology, I'd be interested to know what is said and what conclusions you reach - because what I know at the moment does seem to support the idea that 'men are intrinsically violent, women are not'. I point out people such as Rosemary West and Myra Hindley in response to this notion, but the more-men-in-prison thing does support it. So yeah! I think I'm suddenly realising how thorny all these issues are... guess that's part of growing up ^_^
no subject
Your idea about 'looking at it as people' is a very good one. And yes, I noticed in the book how 'pornography' automatically meant violent porn that degraded women. I wanted to ask the author, what about lesbians, and what about women who get off on gay men? A lot of (extreme?) feminist ideas on the subject of porn don't ask these questions.
I love the quote about unpredictable creatures. Very true.
It's odd... in some ways I can see why porn (straight porn) upsets some women. I was reading my brother's friend's Loaded magazine, and there was a strong atmosphere of 'if you're not a pretty girl, you are worthless and we will mock you' - I guess in some ways that's the equivalent to 'only hot bishies should have sex!' from the yaoi fanbrat quarter... it's not so much that men find naked women attractive, as that porn does seem to be saying 'women are only good for sex' - but then the feminists come along and say 'how dare you even imply that women are sometimes good for sex! Men should not see women in a sexual way AT ALL!' I think, like you said, if people tried to see other people as people, then things might be better. As I said, I can see where feminists who hate porn are coming from... but I don't think they consider other aspects of the issue.
If you do cover the relationship between gender and crime in Criminology, I'd be interested to know what is said and what conclusions you reach - because what I know at the moment does seem to support the idea that 'men are intrinsically violent, women are not'. I point out people such as Rosemary West and Myra Hindley in response to this notion, but the more-men-in-prison thing does support it.
So yeah! I think I'm suddenly realising how thorny all these issues are... guess that's part of growing up ^_^