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Yesterday and Today

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PORNOGRAPHY and the Sexual Objectification of WOMEN

 

 Yesterday and Today

Pornography has become more prevelant over the years.

Why?

 

         ...and how does this affect women & sexuality?

My MOM, Beverly, has helped me discover what pornography was like in the 1970s, and how it has changed from yesterday to today

In the 1970's, pornographic companies such as Hustler and Playboy became popular... 

The 70s were the years of society's sexual awakening. People rejected traditional standards that forbade premarital sex. 

 

Pornographic films also became legal...

The popular 1972 film "Deep Throat" was the first pornographic film to contain a plot and high production standards.

The invention of the video cassette player played a prominent role in creating more popularity.

How were women affected by pornography in the past?

Women felt very objectified, therefore, in the late 1970s feminists joined the Campaign against Pornography. This  became know as the anti-pornography movement.

“Pornography is a form of forced sex…an institution of gender inequality … pornography, with the rape and prostitution in which it participates, institutionalizes the sexuality of male supremacy”  -Catharine MacKinnon

Women were rarely depicted as professionals. They were typically shown as a happy housewife or a sexual object. The growing popularity of pornography simply made it worse.
Throughout the 80s, feminists continued to write about how pornography is immoral not in the sexual content, but in the violation of women's dignity.
Madonna's 1990 music video, "Justify My Love" was banned on MTV for its sexually explicit images. It still became one of the top-selling music videos, and ranked as #43 in Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 100 Music Videos.

By the 1990's, Feminism generally shifted away from the anti-pronography principles. Feminism become more "pro-sex," and anti-censorship. This became known as Post-Feminism

Pornography become dominated by Jenna Jameson who appeared in over 100 films in the 90s.

Pamela Anderson became the face of Playboy, and her adult video in 1998 is one of the best selling porographic film of the 20th century.

Every type of pornography imaginable is now only one click away. Almost 95% of pornography consumed on the Internet is from free websites that anyone can access. Pornography has gone mainstream.

 

The evolution of the Internet made pornography more accessible. Today, pornography is one of the most popular internet destination for men.

The Porn Effect: Judy Norsinian

 

 Pornographic images were once hidden in "adult only" stores and were not easily accessible. Today, they can be seen in every store on magazine covers and computer ads.
Pornography has created men to have unrealistic expectations of women- even in relationships:
Women feel they must live up to these standards. Television programs such as "Girls Gone Wild" are more prominent than ever before.

Pornography delevers the same lies that have always been told about women: Women are created for the pleasure of men.

VS.

Today, pornography is more socially acceptable and readily accessible. Women are also more sexualized and feel they need to give into certain sexual needs in order to feel valuable

Despite pornography not being as available or socially acceptable, women were devalued in other ways:

Bev's conclusion: When it comes to the objectification of women in society, things have not changed. The only element that has changed are the stereotypes.

Women were limited when it comes to professions.they were meant to be "housewives."
Which is better? Being exploited through sexuality or feeling inadequate to men professionally?

in my opinion, NEITHER...