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Sexual Images (Porn)
I came upon a very though provoking article on the net on the real problems with pornography. You can read it at:
http://feminism.eserver.org/pornography-and-damage.txt
It uses big words, is hard to read and a bit preachy, but I think it is worth the work.
In an attempt to make it a bit more reachable, I've tried to re-write, summarize and condense it into something that one might actually get the average guy to read. Please let me know if you think this works or if I've missed anything or gotten it wrong.
In a patriarchal (male dominated) society, women are abused, devalued and damaged in many ways. In some ways, perhaps women even abuse men. The porn industry is but one of many where these problems are expressed. In some number of cases, the violence against women in the porn industry may be greater or more overt than in other industries, and in some number of cases the women may have gained control, power, and in rare cases, more money than in other industries. And there is a tiny but growing industry of porn for women. But no matter what the obvious effect, the treatment of those who are directly involved with porn is not the major damage that is done.
The real problem with porn is the way it changes the expectations, behavior, and capacity of those who consume it, who view it. And, in time, the way those people treat the very real humans who they encounter in their very real lives. No, I'm not trying to say that looking at porn will make you a rapist. But looking at porn will: Cause you to be disappointed by real people who do not have the benefit of the airbrush, diffusers, surgery, and professional hair and makeup artists. And it will cause you to expect real people to immediately drop the protective barriers they must employ against the dangers of this world and expose their sexual attractiveness without your having to prove that you will respect and care for their tender vulnerability.
And that damage comes not only from the hardcore porn industry, but also from too many billboards, runways, movies, tv shows, advertisements and magazine covers in our world today. Real men and women should be found attractive and feel safe to show it.
We have too many false idols and too little respect for reality.