NCJ Number
91086
Date Published
1982
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Both pornography and woman battering legitimize the pain inflicted on the women by considering women to be objects for possession rather than humans.
Abstract
In addition, many women are raped and verbally assaulted while being battered, in a combination of sexual, verbal, and physical assault. The media contain many examples of the objectification of women and the glamorizing of the combination of sex and pain. Although a clear causal relationship between pornography and the physical abuse of women has not yet been documented, violent pornography is highly suspected of influencing the abuse of women in real life. Pornography, especially as it is legitimized in mainstream advertising and visual media, socializes some men into thinking that the maltreatment of women is erotic, sexually desirable, desired by women, and a necessary proof of virility. Pornography should become a humanist issue. Women and men must examine the role that pornography plays in their lives and consider what it says about women. We must also educate young people so that females are not socialized to be dependent and males to be dominant. We also need to change public opinion so that pornography is no longer viewed as socially acceptable. Also needed are research from a feminist perspective, support for groups which oppose pornography and violence against women, and boycotts of pornographic materials. Twelve references are listed.