Yesterday, I received a tweet from @worksandays, who said, “@purifyinggrace why is porn so horrible? is porn bad in itself, or is it bad because you have a compulsion? do u think it’s ok for some ppl?” (here) and again today, “do u want to stop using porn b/c it’s bad for YOU, or b/c you believe it’s bad for EVERYONE? do u have a real problem w/ it?” (here).
First, before this question can be answered, we must define pornography. Without entering the debate right now, let’s survey some definitions.
From WordNetWeb from Princeton.edu, Porn is “creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire.” From Wikipedia (caution: contains a picture of Adult Magazines), Porn is “Pornography or porn is the depiction of explicit sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexually exciting the viewer. Pornography makes no claim to artistic merit, unlike erotica which does.” From MyFolio, Porn is “With the exclusion of the tasteful use of nudity in artwork, images depicting pornographic acts including intercourse, masturbation, abuse or bestiality, and/or links to pornographic or offensive websites will not be tolerated under any circumstances.” From Crisis Pregnancy Centers’ glossary (and ChoicesAZ), Porn is “Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.” Merriam-Webster defines pornography as “ the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement.” The Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy writes four definitions. They are:
- “Pornography is any material (either pictures or words) that is sexually explicit.”
- “Pornography is sexually explicit material (verbal or pictorial) that is primarily designed to produce sexual arousal in viewers.”
- “Pornography is sexually explicit material designed to produce sexual arousal in consumers that is bad in a certain way.”
- “Some non-sexually explicit material might also turn out to be bad in the relevant way.”
From Charles Hogg writes,
Pornography is easily recognized but is often difficult to define concisely. The word pornography originates from the Greeks who defined it as writing about prostitutes (Easton 1998, 605). The Canadian Dictionary of the English Language defines pornography as “sexually explicit material that sometimes equates sex with power and violence.” (1997). This definition, by specifically including the concepts of power and violence, is perhaps too restrictive. Pornography has also been defined as “sexually explicit material that subordinates women through pictures or words” (Easton 1998, 605). This definition, by strictly associating pornography with the subordination of women, may also be too narrow. The broadest way to define pornography is as a sexually explicit depiction.
From an academic perspective, I agree with Charles Hogg when he says, “Pornography is easily recognized but is often difficult to define concisely.” Or in the words of Justice Potter Stewart, who in 1964 tried to explain “hard-core” pornography, or what is obscene, said, “I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced . . . [b]ut I know it when I see it . . .” (Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184, 197 (1964), see here too). So there is pornography (sexually explicit depiction) and there is erotica (sexually explicit art). Then there are anatomy books that depict sexual body parts for educational purposes (intent) and those are not considered pornographic (by most). However, should intent or use be part of the definition? Many, as we have seen above, include intent into the definition; however, intent can be masked and hidden behind “art.” But this appears to be the normative use of pornography. However, people use erotica (and even anatomy books for some addicts) as pornography. Some addicts would even use some non-sexually explicit material that potentially is arousing (ie. Victoria Secret catalog or other magazines). From a practical perspective, I tend to err on the “safer” side. I’d rather call something pornographic and deter myself and others from it than not. So if something can potentially be used to produce sexual arousal, then to me (and hopefully for addicts) it is pornographic. So intent fades (though still considered) while use is brought to the light. So to an addict I might say that the Victoria Secret catalog is pornographic, while to a normal person I may withhold that comment (though I guess not any more!).
So really by any definition of pornography, pornography in its most restrictive definition (“Pornography is sexually explicit material designed to produce sexual arousal in consumers that is bad in a certain way”) it is inherently bad. However, with my definition, the materials may not be inherently bad (ie. anatomy books, retail catalogs, etc) but can be utilized in a bad way. Let’s get practical for a second. Take a 6 year old boy. Would it be okay to place a pretty naked woman in front of him? Would he lust or take a special interest? Take a 12 year old boy. Would it be okay to place a pretty naked woman in front of him? Would he lust or take a special interest? Take a teenager (under 18). Would it be okay to place a pretty naked woman in front of him? Would he lust or take a special interest? American society and the law says it is not ok, and that there is something wrong with that.
So what is so horrible about pornography? Now, I do not know the statistics on the relationship of pornography to sexual abuse or to rape (or even if there is an official scientific correlation, which I believe there is), but recently the Hoover Institute at Stanford University published in the Policy Review an article called, “Is Pornography the New Tobacco?” where “Mary Eberstadt, who has written a truly insightful and thought-provoking paper on the similarities between the acceptance of pornography in today’s culture and the acceptance of smoking in the fifties” (source). Furthermore, while I also do not know the statistics of the relationship of pornography to divorce, TIME Magazine wrote,
At the 2003 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, two-thirds of the 350 divorce lawyers who attended said the Internet played a significant role in divorces in the past year, with excessive interest in online porn contributing to more than half of such cases. “This is clearly related to the Internet,” says Richard Barry, president of the association. “Pornography had an almost nonexistent role in divorce just seven or eight years ago.” (Other sources: here, here, here, here)
So there is a massive impact of pornography on society, especially with its impact on marriage. I personally have compiled about 33 negative consequences of the use of pornography, which I’d like to get down lower through creating solid, pregnant sentences and consequences. These consequences are both tangible and intangible. Some of these consequences include,
- Loss of fellowship & intimacy with your spouse.
- Loss of your mind, sleep, time, energy, and money.
- Loss of pure sexual desire, exchange for dysfunctional, perverted desire.
- Loss of friends, family, and co-workers (as with any addiction).
- Loss of the ability to relate (thus isolation and personal detachment).
- Loss of personal responsibility or culpability.
- Loss of personal respect & confidence (resulting in guilt, shame, & depression).
- Loss of proper respect towards the opposite sex (the objectification of women [or men]).
- Loss of your job and your dreams.
- Loss of moral sensitivity (and spiritual sensitivity).
Now are there some benefits? [I originally wrote, "Sure, and that's why it is so attractive! But I would argue that these benefits give way to the 33 negative consequences over time." However, after further contemplation, here is what I mean:] No! There are no benefits. Whatever benefits that one can see are either future consequences/costs or myths. And both these consequences/costs and myths need to be understood. While there is the “benefit” of immediate gratification, that is no real benefit whatsoever. Instead that too is a consequence/cost. So I have come up with about 27 myths about pornography which again I am trying to lower. But some of these include:
- Pornography does not affect us.
- Pornography does not impact or hurt those around you.
- Pornography only uses women who consent.
- There would be no pornography without the women.
- Women are paid extremely well in pornographic shots or videos.
- Pornography promotes a healthy (even liberated) sex life.
- Pornography helps my marital sex life.
- Pornography is not addictive.
- Pornography is an inescapable trap.
- Pornography is an unforgivable sin.
- Pornography is enjoyable—surely God wouldn’t make something so enjoyable so sinful.
- “God made me this way.”
