Pornography is known throughout the world as sexually explicit material which is often viewed online but can also be seen in magazines and peep shows, though less common, which are a similar representation of a live pornographic film. Pornography is a term that is introduced at an early age through the media as it is interpreted frequently displayed in movies and television shows, or in some cases explained by an older sibling. Due to its introduction at an early age, inaccurate representations of what “real sex” is become confused with embedded nonviolent sexual and embedded violent sexual material.
As described by Frank Schneider, Jamie Gruman, and Larry Coutts (2012) embedded sexual material involves content that is sexual in nature but is embedded within a story such as erotica, nonviolent pornography, and violent pornography. Whereas embedded violet sexual material is found in an R-rated film that shows a sexual scene immediately followed by graphic violence (p. 149). A characteristic of violent pornography is male dominance and female subservience. Subservience is the female’s willingness to obey the male’s dominance which is often very physical but also verbal. According to Coutts et al. (2012) women in such pornography are “degraded and demeaned” (p. 149). In pornography as such there is consent by both parties as to what will occur. However, in violent pornography how can one understand the difference between “no” and “no”. Does this type of pornography alter the way in which a male or female interprets the word “no” during sexual intercourse? In violent pornography a female may be shown saying the word “no” while being slapped or talked down upon which may translate into the real world as enjoyment. In the real world there is no contract as there is on a pornography set.
If a male or female view such pornography over the course of many years, does this become their new norm as to what is ok and safe during sexual intercourse? If a male says “no” while being dominated by a female, does the female interpret this as the other sexual partner enjoying it as this is how it is often displayed in some pornographic videos? Coutts et al. (2012) state that the effects of exposure to violent sexual material on males include increased rape fantasies, decreased sensitivity to violent sexual acts, increased acceptance of rape myths and of violence towards woman, and an increased tolerance toward rapists (p. 152). So long-term viewing of violent sexual pornographic material translates to an increase in sexual violence and lowering of the value of a woman.
Law and Order SVU episode 5 of season 16 is titled Pornstar’s Requiem. Requiem is an act of remembrance and in the Roman Catholic Church it is a Mass for the “repose of souls of the dead” or acceptance that a soul has gone to heaven to be with God. This episode is based off of the true story of Belle Knox, though I am sure her story is not the only one out there. Knox was a college freshman at Duke University who worked as a porn star and was sexually assaulted by a classmate. As it occurred in real life for Knox and is interpreted in the episode, this classmate confused the fantasy displayed in the pornographic video with real life. In this episode two college roommates come across a pornographic video of a girl they make out to be their classmate, whom they later invite to a party. Evie Barnes, who portrays Knox is lured and sexually assaulted by two boys in the bathroom of where the party is held. When the two boys were questioned they stated that, “it was consensual, and Evie liked it when guys roughed her up. Evie’s “18 with a Bang” video was much more hardcore” (Wolf, 2014). During the trial it was discussed if what happened in the porn video meant that Evie/Knox wanted it in real life, or if porn has no bearing on what occurs in a real-life situation of sexual intercourse. Evie continues on the stand by stating, “I’m not a slut. They think just because I do porn they can do anything they want to me” (Wolf, 2014). How does one convince a jury that a porn star who performs in rape fantasy videos can also be a victim of rape? The Assistant District Attorney (ADA) actually has to ask if the jury believes “if any woman, even a port star, can deny sex?” (Wolf, 2014). In cases as such and as I am sure there are many others out there, it is not the porn and struggle to pay one’s tuition that brings on sadness and depression, but the sexual assault and lack of understanding and respect.
References
Schneider, F. W., Gruman, J. A., & Coutts, L. M. (2012). Applied Social Psychology: Second Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Wolf, D. (Writer). (2014, October 22). Pornstar’s Requiem [Television series episode]. In Law & Order SVU.