Why Porn? Why This Porn? Why So Little Concern?

“I want to explore this conclusion by asking why pornography is so prevalent, why themes of domination and subordination are so prevalent in pornography, and why so many people defend or celebrate it, even in progressive and feminist circles.”

In my book The End of Patriarchy: Radical Feminism for Men, which was published in 2017, I suggest that when we evaluate a political project or a social practice we should ask a simple question: “Is this likely to help people create and maintain stable, decent human communities that can remain in a sustainable relationship with the larger living world?” As we deal with today’s multiple, cascading social and ecological crises—including, but not limited to, global wealth inequality and climate change, the kinds of problems that make the fate of the human species uncertain, even in the short term—we should challenge ourselves with that question.

Of course the world is complex, and we have limited capacity to predict the consequences of our actions, so there rarely are easy answers to that question. It can be hard to figure out which political activities and social practices will benefit society and ecosystems over the long term and which will cause unacceptable harm. However, in some cases, it is easier than others to make that assessment. For me, it is straightforward when evaluating contemporary pornography, the graphic sexually explicit material that saturates our culture.

What do I mean by pornography? Some discussions get off track early by treating pornography as an abstraction and using overly expansive categories such as “sexual expression.” So, to be clear, today we are talking about the graphic sexually explicit material that:

• Is easily accessible online by almost anyone of any age;
• Serves as a masturbation facilitator for many boys and men;
• Is the de facto sex education curriculum for many boys and girls; and
• Over the past five decades has become steadily crueler and more degrading to women, as well as more overtly racist.

Is this pornography helping people create and maintain stable, decent human communities? Is this pornography fostering the kinds of relationships, both intimate and communal, that help people cope with the challenges of everyday living?

My unequivocal answer is no.

I want to explore this conclusion by asking why pornography is so prevalent, why themes of domination and subordination are so prevalent in pornography, and why so many people defend or celebrate it, even in progressive and feminist circles.