In June this year Hugh Hefner opened a new Playboy Club in London. When asked about the feminist demonstrators outside, Hefner said: “Playboy and the Playboy Clubs were the end of sexism.”
The sad thing about this statement is that Hefner probably believes it. Hefner is at one with those postmodern radicals who believe girls are empowered through the exploitation of their sexuality and that participating in the making and consuming of porn is a valid part of that.
The idea of empowerment through sexual licence reached its pinnacle in the case of Natalie Dylan, a 22 year old Californian who, a couple of years ago, auctioned her virginity to the highest bidder. “I understand some people may condemn me,” she said. “But I think this is empowering. I am using what I have to better myself.” In a perfect convergence of “girl power” and pure market thinking, she declared:
“I don’t have a moral dilemma with it. We live in a capitalist society. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to capitalise on my virginity?”
Why not indeed? She said that if he requested it, the purchaser of Natalie’s virginity would be able to authenticate the quality of the product by way of a gynaecological examination, and then consummate the transaction in a brothel. Nice.
October 10th, 2011 at 11:43 am
As a younger woman, I considered that porn was a way of empowering women. Not this woman by any means, but if it was something entered into willingly and respectfully, well then, it was the woman’s choice. I’m all about the woman’s choice, but with a little more maturity and time to reflect, I see that the porn industry being ‘normalised’ has increased the pressure and sexualisation of females of all ages. It does nothing to promote respect for women and even less for promoting men’s attitude toward sexuality in general. It is about making money, a lot of money, the continued objectification of women and girls, and the ‘right’ of men to sex regardless of many of the considerations that should accompany any interaction between consenting adults.
In and of itself, if it is fully equal and consented, and does not involve violence of any nature, pornography is not harmful. It is the environment which it engenders, especially in an unequal world and the proliferation and availability of it that is harmful. Anything that becomes more about greed than it does in expressing healthy adult interaction can only be harmful to all involved and to those (even unwittingly) involved with those involved.