By Hennie Weiss
Edited by Melinda Tankard Reist and Abigail Bray, Big Porn Inc: Exposing the Harms of the Global Pornography Industry is a compilation of essays by researchers, experts and activists concerning the harms of pornography. All and all there are 40 written pieces divided into five categories; pornography cultures, pornography industries, harming children, pornography and the state and resisting big porn inc.
Overall, the notion is that pornography has found its way into everyday cultures all over the world. The pornification of culture and the normalization of (increasingly violent) porn is contributing to a society where pornography, even the most brutal forms, are in many ways sanctioned, defended as well as protected through legislation. For example, in the United States the notion of freedom of speech (also called freedom of expression) helps protect the production, distribution and purchasing of porn. The stronghold that porn has tends to be contributed to the enormous profitability and influence of the porn industry. As noted in the book, it is difficult to resist and battle the porn industry as a whole, even though small grassroot movements opposing pornography have made significant gains over the last few years. Yet, more knowledge about the industry, the way it harms women and children (as well as men), and the lasting effects of the pornification of sexuality and culture are important (many articles discusses how porn is the same as prostitution).
Even though the many different contributions tend to deal with various aspects of pornography (within the five categories), there are some statements that are generally agreed upon and reiterated throughout the book. In one way or another all contributions contest the notion (most often used by those in the porn industry and those who are pro-porn) that porn does not cause harm and is a form of fantasy. When discussing prostitution, strip clubs, PTSD, sexual and physical assaults, rape, intrafamilial rape, the sexual objectification of women and the spread of child pornography, it should prove to be difficult for anyone to look at porn like mere fantasy, especially since real women and men are involved in the making of pornography. What the different categories of Big Porn Inc brings to light is the fact that the porn industry is not glamorous, as high-paying as many believe, and that women are sexually objectified, dominated, demeaned and degraded. Pornography has also become increasingly violent, and most scenes or movies include physical violence, rape, or the threat of violence. The notion that women are sex objects who like to be degraded and thrive on physical violence is based on a patriarchal backlash to women’s overall gains towards equality.
Besides stating that pornography is mere fantasy, proponents of pornography also often refer to a lack of evidence, or link between pornography use and overall behavior. But the book has that too. Pornography does not only lead to an increase in acceptance of rape culture, but people who watch pornography are less likely to view sex as an intimate act and more likely to engage in gendered violence. Diana E.H Russel writes in the article “Russel’s Theory: Exposure to Child Pornography as a Cause of Child Sexual Victimization”, that watching child pornography can help cultivate sexual interests in children in several ways. It predisposes men to objectify children, it intensifies already existing desires, undermines social inhibitions and internal inhibitions as well as undermines children’s abilities to avoid, resist, or escape sexual victimization.
It is important to note that many of the contributions include explicit language, profanities and words that describe various ways in which women are demeaned, humiliated and abused when discussing different aspects of pornography. Many contributions also discuss notions of rape, group rape, incest or intrafamilial rape, sexual assault, violence and even the killing of animals. Therefore, readers should note that the material might be triggering to some. Even though the language is often explicit in nature, it is easy to understand the links between harm, prostitution, the degradation of women, patriarchy, power and sexual assault made by the contributors. The personal accounts of Stella and Amy (Stella was a stripper and Amy the victim of intrafamilial rape) contribute to a greater understanding and awareness of the harm of pornography and how women are mentally, physically and emotionally impacted by porn culture.
The intended audience could be anyone, both women and men, who are interested in the consequences and harms of the global pornography industry. With its sharp analysis and research, the book can also contribute to changing, or challenging legislature in terms of discussing the harms of pornography, especially when using the findings that makes connections between watching pornography and overall behavior. The book can also be used in the classroom (even though it might be more suitable for students that are a little older) in gender studies, men and masculinity studies, women’s studies and sociology.
What the book does so well is to capture, discuss, analyze and provide evidence for the many ways that pornography is harmful to women and children. We know that pornography is based on profit, capitalism and a patriarchal worldview and is therefore complicated to combat, but when reading the book it becomes difficult to understand why pornography is legal in the first place.
© 2013 Hennie Weiss
Hennie Weiss has a Master’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Sacramento. Her academic interests include women’s studies, gender, sexuality and feminism.
Published in Metapsychology Online Reviews, February 5, 2013
Big Porn Inc. available here
2 Responses
Congratulations Melinda on an excellent review.
Patriarchy is a descriptive term and missing are the active agents who maintain ‘our patriarchal system.’ Patriarchy would not exist if men did not promote/condone/maintain this system whereby men accord themselves the right to view/treat women and girls as males’ disposable sexual service stations.
Pornography would not be malestream were it not for the male buyers’ and their insatiable demand to view filmed male sexual violence against women and girls.; Therefore males cannot be harmed to the same extent as women and girls are by mens’ insatiable demand for endless filmed male sexual violence against women and girls. Males created pornography not women.
Yet we are supposed to ignore the ‘active male agents’ because it is ‘a patriarchal worldview’ which is the cause of pornography, not mens’ pseudo male sex right to female bodies in whatever way men demand, including males viewing/making filmed male sexual violence against women and girls.
Diana Russell is correct that males who view malestream pornography swiftly internalise the view all females including female children are mens’ disposable dehumanised sexual service stations. It is no coincidence that increasing numbers of male sexual predators are targeting younger and younger females including female children.
However, the myth of ‘deviant paedophile’ remains dominant within our male supremacist society because ‘joining up the dots’ and recognising that ‘paedophilia’ is a ploy used by male supremacist system to deflect attention away from how swiftly males viewing malestream pornography, internalise and accept mens’ lie that all females are ‘disposable sexual service stations.’ Pornography promotes mens’ misogynistic lie women and girls are ‘sex’ not human beings and females’ sole reason for existence is to serve males sexually in whatever capacity males demand.
Therefore paedophilia does not exist but predatory male sexual behaviour is commonplace and it is justified because pornstitution industry is a very powerful propaganda tool used to justify/excuse/condone/naturalise male pseudo sex right to female bodies.