General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I'm The Duke University Freshman Porn Star And For The First Time I'm Telling The Story In My Words [View all]marions ghost
(19,841 posts)It may be more a symptom than a cause. Maybe it's circular and can escalate exponentially. Don't know. The jury is out. This widespread acceptance of degradation of others (even in fantasy) is IMO a new phenomenon.
By the time social psychologists have enough data with strong results to convince educators, parents, whoever else --that there is damage--especially to young adults--you've got a population already living the outcome. As I said, I think this MAY be a symptom of a society where so many feel powerless in their public lives. Just a theory.
I don't accept that it's healthy--maybe as a controlled thing for some personality types to work through some things--but it can easily become abuse, and I question the motives of those promoting this kind of porn, which IMO is all about money, not health. The motives behind it are cynical and exploitative, degrading--not only to these young women--but to the rest of us.
I have no idea what's next--societally speaking. Until there is more study on this--I can't persuade anyone of any solutions. I can only say, Buyer Beware. There are no other routes of opposition because this is a multi-billion dollar business, and nothing I could ever say stops that voracious beast. We are powerless over it. No solutions except for individuals to reject it.
I could see this freshman porn star in a psychologists office one day trying to work out a few things. And maybe even those who participated in her exploitation will do that too--both providers and consumers. Or, maybe everybody is all happy and singing kumbaya by then. I don't know. But I'm cynical about our prospects in general for the immediate future, on our present course.
So tell me--How is this promotion of ritual subjugation of women --any different from religious Fundies who preach "woman shall be obedient servants"? It seems to be the same message wrapped up in a libertarian package.