Feminism and Pornography
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| Also listed in: Campus Progress Blog |
"Can feminism and porn coexist?" asks Sarah Hepola at Salon's Broadsheet blog. Maybe I'm out of my element here, acting as I am as the token male commenting on a feminist issue, but my immediate reaction is, Why not? It's one of those overly broad, provocative questions designed mostly to spark discussion, but the answer seems simple enough and I'm having trouble thinking of a counterargument. Since Hepola's not asking "Can feminism and porn made by men coexist?" or "Can feminism and porn-as-we've-known-it-since-the-1960s coexist?," why couldn't feminism and porn coexist, so long as we admit certain things about most porn would have to be altered or excised?
Much the same way as I can be opposed to BumFights videos, and still appreciate a Tony Jaa fight scene.
most of porn objectifies women and displays them horribly subordinate and submissive.
why not get feminists involved? imagine if feminists took over the porn industry --that might be a big leap -- but really, the more feminists get involved and embrace pornography the more they can change it.
An M/f power dynamic in porn is not automatically reflective of the evils of the patriarchy. It can be fantasy, a story - and consensual at that.
Feminism should be about giving women the freedom to enjoy their porn as much as anyone else.