Pornography Causes Harm to Women

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As defined by MacKinnon, pornography does indeed cause harm to the women. In her argument, MacKinnon successfully demonstrates how pornography displays male supremacy over women, and how women are mere sex-objects. For the purpose of this paper I will further elaborate on MacKinnon’s argument of pornography depicting women as simply sexual objects and also displaying women as being sub-human to men, almost slave-like. Lastly, I will discuss how pornography lacks literary, artistic, political, and scientific value. First, it is obvious that pornography displays male supremacy. For example, the majority of the porn portrays women as being the submissive character, rather than the character who is in control of the situation. Throughout time, the stereotypical woman has always been considered to be attractive if she embraced the submissive role. Pornography further suggests that women are considered to be sexy or attractive if they pursue the role of being passive. The thought of a masculine or dominating woman may seem like something repulsive to the porn industry. Therefore, there is an obvious misrepresentation of the image of being a woman in terms of the woman being a sexual object; thus, suggesting to men the sexual fantasy of the subordination of women and the dominancy of men. To paraphrase MacKinnon, pornography is a type of sexual politics, which defines men as being superior to women just like the higher class dominates the working class. Pornography creates a type of sexuality which eroticizes male dominance and the submission of women (306); consequently suggesting that a woman’s role simply consists of keeping her husband or partner happy. “Making sex with the powerless ‘not allowed’ is a way of ‘keeping it’ defined ... ... middle of paper ... ...nclusion, violent pornography should not be protected by the constitution because this obscene practice inhibits the free speech of women; essentially making the woman invisible in the political power structure. Violent pornography degrades women because it makes them subject to becoming second-class citizens again. For example, the woman always the one receiving the domination from the man while she is in the submissive role; furthermore, a woman’s speech is only valuable when she is reciting a sexual speech, consequently, causing the woman to have little to no power in the situation. Works Cited Feinberg, Joel. "Obscenity as Pornography." Philosophical Problems in the Law. . Reprint. Boston: Clark Baxter, 2013. Print. MacKinnon, Catharine. "Pornography: On Morality and Politics." Philosophical Problems in the Law. . Reprint. Boston: Clark Baxter, 2013. Print.

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