Pornography

Introduction

The debate whether pornography degrades or liberates the society is a contentious subject having divergent viewpoints. Conservatives, especially religious individuals of the society have always held the position that pornography only goes far to degrade the society. On the other hand, liberals, who view themselves as progressives, have held the opposite position that pornography is a form of expression whose freedom must be maintained. In fact, supporters of pornography argue that pornography is an integral part of freedom of expression, just like other freedoms such as speech, and every person has the right to respect this freedom. AIDitionally, the extensive use of pornography by married couples in developed nations seems to have assisted the couple express themselves. This leads to the conclusion that the availability of pornographic materials is an indicator of a free society, implying that pornography is a liberating force that is relieves the society from political repression; therefore, pornography is helpful in eliminating repression in society, and has been an important element of human civilization. There is a long discussion concerning the impacts of pornography to the society that require a critical assessment in order to conclude whether pornography is a liberating or degrading the society. This paper will review both sides of the argument under pornography and in the end will provide a personal viewpoint regarding the side of the discussion that appeals most.

Pornography as a Force That Degrades and Undermines Civilizations Itself

Several scholars and professional associations have undertaken a number of studies in an attempt to understand the degrading nature of pornography. A study performed by the American Psychiatric Association has expressed the most degrading nature of pornography on the society (Desmond, 2010). The report argues that the present societal discourse facilitates the penetration of pornography in many western societies to a very deeming length. The influence and the pervasive nature of pornography on the American society have allowed this practice into the internet and other such concepts of media. However, just like any other pervasive practice, there is the need for more satisfaction from the practice. In the process, children and minors have been pulled into the practice. Nowadays, child pornography has been introduced into the media, a most foul outcome of pornography (Desmond, 2010). Concurring with this finding, Alexy, Burgess & Prentky (2009) illustrate the nature in which child pornography has flourished. In their study, they found that 21% of all searches relating to pornography are related to child pornography. AIDitionally, this practice has spread to other minors and young adults. College students and students in late years of high school education have been found to be most affected by pornography.

A different analysis that emerges from the negative effect of pornography is criminal character in terms of sexual violence. Different scholars have made the assertion that sexual violence is in most cases a product of prolonged exposure to pornography. A study to review aggressive patterns of sexual offenders pointed out that most of the offenders were extensive consumers of pornography (Cline, 2011). In this respect, the likely offenders got their ideas from pornography and attempted to implement them on victims. Other studies affirm that child molesters are “significant consumers” of pornography (Monto & McRee, 2005).

A third problem arising from pornography that degrades the society is prostitution. In an international study performed over the prevalence of prostitution, the findings revealed that nearly 50 percent of all prostitutes had participated in the production of pornographic material (Alexy, Burgess, & Prentky, 2009). Other prostitutes who took part in pornographic production had the main objective of marketing themselves to a wider range of clientele. The same study reported prostitutes getting strange requests from clients about sexual positions that they had seen in pornographic films. The concept under review here was that consumers of pornography attempt to gain new ways of sexual expression. This need to express sexual freedom may not be practiced in conjugal precepts. For this reason, prostitution flourishes. The very nature of prostitution, which entails attaining sexual satisfaction in exchange money, degrades the moral and ethical norms established by the sanctity of sex. Therefore, pornography is somewhat a degrading force to the society (Desmond, 2010).

Finally, the view that pornography degrades the society stems from the social perception that exists about women who take part in the production. Farley (2007) asserts that women used in these productions are frequently viewed as sexual objects; thus, children and minors grow up with minimal respect and admiration for women. Instead, they view women as sexual objects whose role is just to provide sexual fulfillment in the society. This demeaning consequence on women is perhaps one of the main reasons for asserting that pornography is a degrading force that undermines human civilization.

Pornography as a Liberating Force

Proponents of pornography and explicit material have based their argument on two basic fronts. The first view of pornography as a liberating force draws on the concept of freedom. In this respect, advocates for pornography argue that sexual expression is an equal measure freedom, just like other freedoms such as expression, free speech and association. This argument is based on the perceived oppressive nature of marriage under most traditions. Several social studies have found that sexual expression in marriage was not permitted. In general, the society expects women in marriage to be submissive and only follow the advances of the male partner (Mitchell & Jolley, 2001). Early opponents of a slavery-mode of marriage argued that explicit material was a form of free expression among women, and a principal tenet of human civilization. In asserting this view, Cline (2011) illustrates the nature in which pornography has penetrated conservative societies such as Muslims and Asian communities. Pornography has managed to penetrate these communities beside the effort by leaders to stem the practice. Women in these communities are increasingly consuming pornography in an effort to find avenues of sexual expression within their limited scope as defined by traditional marriage setting.

In political terms, there is superficial evidence illustrating the advantages of pornography to the society. Cline (2011) argues that the debate about pornography, whether to embrace it or not, has since taken a political twist. In essence, restriction on sexual explicit content on any form of media has seen a measure of political freedom of the society. In general, Desmond, (2010) asserts that nations that are highly restrictive of explicit content are associated with nondemocratic regimes. In most cases, such countries do not respect the position of women in politics. This oppression has also been seen to thrive in the church other forms of religion.

The third argument that emanates from proponents of pornography as a liberating force has been associated with its use young married couples. There is a general view that young people in marriage are constantly searching ways to express themselves sexually, which are different from the conservative methods. In this case, pornography has provided an enlightened means by these couples can make their bedtime of a different nature. In other precepts, lack of expressionist ways of dealing with sexual need has been associated with most divorce cases in Western nations. Cline (2011) asserts that the nature of expressionism has flourished under careful and measured used of pornography. In theory, pornography can be used appropriately to tackle one of biggest issues in conjugal lives of the twenty-first century.

Personal Viewpoint

The debate into whether pornography is of any good or not is a matter of individual concern. From a personal point of view, pornography is perhaps the most demeaning nature on the human society. The idea where sexual character and vile acts are publicly displayed, then the moral fabric of the society falls to the grim. Pornography has penetrated the society in all facets from ordinary home television shows to commercial internet use. This has led to children to innocent age to be exposed to extreme ends of social misfits. Child pornography has also flourished a phenomenon that never existed some twenty years ago.

A second personal view that has depicts the degrading nature of pornography is the extent to which prostitution can be blamed on pornography; this is because sexual immorality in the society can stems from ideas gained from the consumption of pornographic material. As earlier stated, nearly half of the prostitutes are in the businesses due to the large number of consumers that wish to practice what they gain from pornography. Thus, pornography can be seen to be demeaning and degrading a society in many aspects. However, there is a positive side to this discussion. Pornography has already penetrated our society to the extent that getting rid of practice may not be possible. Nevertheless, if the current content is to be used for good purposes such as enhances marriages, then it could find it good uses.

Conclusion

The world that we live in is under constant revolution both socially and technologically. Modes of sexual expressions have always been an issue of discussion for many years. Pornography presents one such aspect of debate and it morale impacts of the society. Other kinds of sexual expression such as gay marriages have also presented different angles of the debate. In general though, aIDressing such issues from a subjective point of view will provide fruitful discussion. Therefore, this paper concludes that pornography degrades the society and undermines civilization itself.

References

Alexy, E. M., Burgess, A. W., & Prentky, R. A. (2009). Pornography use as a risk marker for        an aggressive pattern of behavior among sexually reactive children and adolescents.         Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association , 14 (6), 442-453.

Cline, A. (2011, May 5). Weekly Poll: Does pornography liberate or degrade society?        Retrieved May 17, 2012, from Atheism: http://atheism.about.com/b/2011/05/05/daily poll-does-pornography-liberate-or-degrade-society.htm

Desmond, J. F. (2010, December 5). New report confirms pornography’s ‘devastating impact’       on society. Retrieved May 17, 2012, from National Catholic Register:   http://www.ncregister.com/daily            news/new_report_confirms_pornographys_devastating_impact_on_society/

Farley, M. (2007). Renting an Organ for Ten Minutes: What tricks tell us about prostitution,         pornography, and trafficking. In Pornography: Driving the Demand in International Sex        Trafficking. Boston, MA: Captive Daughters Media.

Mitchell, M., & Jolley, J. (2001). Research Design Explained. New York, NY: Harcourt.

Monto, M., & McRee, N. (2005). A Comparison of the Male Customers of Female Street  Prostitutes With National Samples of Men. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 49 (5) , 505-529.