I definitely consider myself a proponent of sex positivity and I think that the most important thing about sex positivity is enjoying fulfilling, healthy sexual relationships with oneself (if one chooses) and others. This doesn’t mean that one has to be in a relationship to have healthy, fulfilling sex and it doesn’t mean that kinks cannot be healthy sexual expression. However, I have a problem with the porn industry. Not because I think less of women who choose that career or that there is something inherently wrong with having sex on camera; What I take issue with has a lot to do with the violence promoted, the absurd ideas of sex that they perpetuate, the dehumanization, the physical and emotional abuse behind the scenes, the often illegal and exploitative means of getting women to participate (especially those women who are not “in” the industry or represented). I believe that most of these problems are so major because it is such a male dominated industry. I think that part of being a feminist is trying to equalize the number of women and men in charge in EVERY industry, and the porn industry seems in dire need of women to set limits on treatment, standards for what is acceptable, new cinematography and photography to satisfy niche markets and “kinks” without causing harm or abuse to actors and proper regulations to make sure no one on set is being bullied or intimidated.
Just some thoughts, after reading some essays and papers on the subject. I think that like everything, there is a right and wrong way to approach potentially problematic practices and it seems that not much is being done to right the awful wrongs occurring in the porn industry, especially when the worst problems created by it are saturating what is an overwhelmingly Porn-based culture in America.
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