Is pornography beneficial to women?

[Qball]

You know, I have to deliver this essay on the topic of pornography in a few days... Maybe we could start a discussion here? What do you think?

Some of my arguments that could support the beneficial aspect is that women can make a lot of money from it. Also, some of them are even treated like goddesses in a way... Jenna Jameson is an excellent example, she is a serious businesswoman who runs her own company and achieved what she wanted, whether you approve of it or not. The guy who teaches composition class at my university also said that there are porn fans even among feminists. And, last of all, it is women, not men, who make this business going.

Think about it before you answer. Try to think not only whether pornography is beneficial, but also whether it's beneficial to women - either actresses or viewers.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[Niagra]

Hi QBall, I thought about this sincerly and its true that SOME woman do make alot of money at it, but far more don't. This is imo immaterial to the point of debate because it can be proven that far more woman are not making more than woman in non porn careers. The point is its her choice to do it or not. But how I can see porn helping woman is in the same way it does men. We learn how to do sexual acts for our partners by watching porn. Perhaps giving her more confidence and thereby become more sexually aware of even her own body. I think porn has given woman the understanding that we too have needs and we don't have to live life like our grandparents, never allowing ourselves to enjoy our sexuality. Other points you could use to plead porn has been good for woman could be that for many woman having the outlet that porn provides their men keeps them from bugging them for sex more than they do already and thereby keeps their lives more managable or enjoyable. (Lord knows thats not my thoughts but its still a valid point). I think porn has empowered some woman by way of educating them of the power of pussy! They have learned through porn that men will do most anything for it at one time in their lives at least. And that is a valuable thing for the pure hearted as well as the vixens. If I come up with anything more I will add that later

Some porn has taken advantage of woman and is very degrading. It is up to the consumer to stop this from happening. If we stop funding the ones that make it they wont make it for very long. That point is mute in this world though ... because that would mean that we would actually have to take a stand for something we believe in . God forbid anyone do that.

Personally what I don't like about porn is that it doesn't teach the young men and woman watching it about the intimacy of sex. The emotional side and that may even cause more dysfunction than having it is beneficial. Besides experimentation between two lovers is always the fun part about getting to know each other. Creates bonds emotionally and physically.

As a profound thought to close with, I think its rather interesting that in the points that could be deemed beneficial for woman... we could achieve all of these simply through education. Most all of these things could actually be part of our schooling, or better communication between parents and child of both sexes. I mean how horrible is it that boys are not made to feel that masturbation is normal and common. I think it says alot about the human condition as a whole.

Good luck with your paper... I hope I was able to help.

[Dark Seraph]

I guess it's kind of like being a rock star, or even owning a oil company, you'll make more money, and become famous to those involved with your work, but some people won't understand you, you'll piss alot of people off, and there are alot of negatives involved with the positives. Plus ethics can get in the way. For example, I've heard many porn stars are on drugs in many of the movies (if not most) and child pornography is always a problem. At the same time, porn can be very benificial. It's safer then unprotected sex, it can teach you ALOT about how to make good sex (it has for me) and it's a great stress reliever.
I guess as to whether porn is benificial to women depends on the woman mostly. If she has her head on straight and alot of integrity, she can make alot of money and still have a good life. Or she can try to please everyone and destroy herself in the process. I think most fall somewere in between those extremes.

Anyway, that's my opinion, I'm not stating it as fact.

Oh, and a porn star that I think benifits and enjoys her job, and whom I definatly appreciate is Aria Giovanni

[Les Lover]

I'm the one "No" vote apparently. Porn sets unrealistic expectations for both sexes, the drug rumors, surgeries, obsessive fans, and shame/fear of being found out by loved ones. I'll address each separately for now.

Unrealistic body image is a big problem in all forms of media most apparent in modeling and acting with both men and women feeling the burden.

The drug rumors will probably never be proven. either way. The Industry will NEVER drug test.

Surgeries, Dyes, and Diets are part of the body image problem. Each female pron star has to be shaven, big haired(either blonde or brunette), long legged, and thin. The pressure to keep a job can cause alot of desperation. So it's logical to say that many(if not most) porn stars have had some kind of surgery. And with each surgery more and more serious side effects can turn up.

Obsessive Fans are out there. Don't try to deny it. Even though the main consumers of porn are just Normal Joes/Janes there will always be a minority that will obsess over one specific actor/actress. Some of this minority might try something crazy, just the threat of which is serious enough to warrant security for the major stars.

And assuming that the Porn Star can survive in this and have a family then they will always fear that one of their loved ones would find out. Imagine your a teenager lets say about 13-16, and one day you decide to google your mothers(or fathers, or sometimes even your own) name and find out that your whatever was a Porn Queen/King. Would this not horrify you?

Generally I think that Pornography can be good, but only in small nameless portions. But the industry in general is a self-destructive beast that needs to be feed constantly. But thats just my opinion.

[Mani]

="Les Lover" wrote:

I'm the one "No" vote apparently. Porn sets unrealistic expectations for both sexes, the drug rumors, surgeries, obsessive fans, and shame/fear of being found out by loved ones. I'll address each separately for now.

...

Gosh, with the exception of what happens when friends and family find out, I'd have to say that all sounds just like HOLLYWOOD!

This is some strange society we live in!

[Mani]

QBALL, the following article might be of interest:

http://www.newtimesbpb.com/Issues/2006- ... _full.html

Like everything else, the Internet is changing the porn industry, and it would seem to be a positive development for all concerned.

[PlumpLvr]

So far the discussion has been around benefits to women who are actually IN the films / pics. I thought I'd mention briefly the benefits from the consumers point of view.

My wife and I had an interesting discussion on this subject. She told me she really enjoys her porn, it helped her to get through many lonely weekends over the years (prior to meeting me). She always thought of it as a healthy outlet, fantasies to be enjoyed. Mostly she likes the dirty letter magazines and picture mags as long as there was a guy in the pics as well. She will watch a porn movie from time to time, if it's couples going at it, she doesn't care much for the big orgy scenes. Not intimate enough.

Of course she's a big believer in masturbation, and anything you choose to do while masturbating as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, well go for it.

My ex wife also enjoyed porn, she mostly liked dirty movies, the raunchier the better. She said it was sort of like getting to participate in an orgy or be with a lot of different sex partners, but doing it safely. We often masturbated together watching a movie, or fucked with it going. My ex also had a fair collection of guy mags, most tended to be targeted to a gay audience but she didn't seem to mind, she said as long as it was a hunky guy with a big dick she could imagine whatever she wanted. She also looked at my girlie mags from time to time. Often there'd be nights when we were tired but horny, and would lie side by side, naked, looking at dirty mags and masturbating together.

So there's two women I know of who greatly enjoyed porn, I know of a few others if further examples are desired.

Plump Lvr

[Mr Mastur]

I think porn benefits non-actress women this way

1) If she wants more sex, porn can make her man hornier and willing to have sex more often.

2) If she wants less sex, she can give the husband some porn and a room to himself while she does her own thing.

3) It also protects women in society from unwanted advances from horny men who need something tangible to release his sexual tension.

4) Other than various positions, porn can also give a woman ideas about various locations, setups, role plays, costumes etc.

[Alan]

Obviously, the majority of porn viewers are men. However, there are woman that enjoy "getting off" to porn just like men do. My guess is that many women that do enjoy watching porn do not admit it.

My last girlfriend loved to watch girl/girl porn while she masturbated and/or I performed oral sex on her. The porn was for her benefit, not mine.

[sweet_fetisha]

i love it. hardcore stuff really. i think i get into it more than some guys. i usually watch it when i masturbate. the nastier the better. but im super picky about the girls.

[milkbunny22]

In small doses it does, i prefer when its not too explicit. Then it gets too clinical for me when the camera zooms way in. I like to see the whole of the bodies in motion and the picture of lovemaking. Just the naughty bits gets mundane fairly quickly for me.