<h2>Connecting the Sex Industry</h2><p><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">By Elle King
Everything in the sex industry is connected. Whether it's porn stars who have been trafficked, or prostitutes who came out of domestic violence, all of these topics work together in a way that hurts and degrades the people involved.
Click on a topic below to learn more about what it involves and why it might be different than you think.</p>
[[the porn industry]]
[[strip clubs]]
[[prostitution]]
[[human trafficking]]
[[domestic violence]]
Along with the above topics, please feel free to visit the [[resources]] page to find find educational resources, as well as ways you can get involved.
Also see the [[works cited]] page for a master list of all sources used in the Twine.
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</head><h3>The Porn Industry</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
The porn industry is a multi-billion dollar business, receiving "more regular traffic than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter combined //each month//" (1). The industry used to revolve around //Playboy// and simliar print formats, but since the invention of the Internet, porn creation and consumption has exploded.
Pornography teaches the viewer that sex is on demand, tailored, and flawless, but it's not real life. In fact, most porn isn't even sex. It's acting.
Because we now have a generation of children growing up believing pornography is real sex, these children will become adults who could have unrealistic, unattainable expectations of their real-life partners. These unrealistic beliefs have been associated with rape and [[sexual assault]]. (2)
Many people are beginning to speak up about [[porn addiction]], mainly addressing hardcore, [["mainstream" porn]], but sometimes including subgenres like [[feminist porn]]. In order to speak effectively about porn's influence on today's generation, these speakers often refer to [[the history of porn]], explaining how it formed, and why it's such a problem in today's technologically-driven world.
[[Home]]
**Sources:**
(1)http://fightthenewdrug.org/10-porn-stats-that-will-blow-your-mind/
(2)http://pornharmsresearch.com/2013/12/talking-points-porn-sexual-violence-research/
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</head><h3>Prostitution</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
In its most basic form, prostitution is defined as, "the act or practice of engaging in sexual intercourse for money" (1).
In this video, ex-prostitute Rachel Moran discusses the various aspects of prostituion, including her argument between legalization and decriminalization, a link between prostitution and [[human trafficking]], and the reality of the argument that prostituted people are there by choice, among others.
Warning: the video includes images of prostituted women
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2S2pE-Uoh6I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Prositution is a hotly-debated topic in that while some people believe it to be exploitative, others believe prostitution is perfectly fine, since the women are [[there by choice]]. Note that this belief of choice also applies to women in [[the porn industry]] and [[strip clubs]].
There's also the current debate about whether to [[legalize or decriminalize]] prostitution in the U.S. As of now, prostitution is mostly illegal, but some people believe it should all be legal, while others believe prostituted women are victims, and that only the buyers and pimps should be criminalized.
Despite either of the above arguments, prostitution often involves degradation and violence, regardless of the prostituted woman's "status" (i.e. whether a street prostitute or a "high-class hooker," all prostituted people are subject to violence by the very nature of the business).
[[Home]]
**Sources:**
(1)http://www.dictionary.com/browse/prostitution?s=t
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</head><h3>Human Trafficking</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
<span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
<img src="https://kitchentabletheologians.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/end-slavery.jpg?w=624">
Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world, coming second only to the sale of drugs. According to <a href="https://polarisproject.org/facts" target="_blank">The Polaris Project</a>, an anti-human trafficking organization, "The International Labour Organization estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking globally.
- 68% of them are trapped in forced labor.
- 26% of them are children.
- 55% are women and girls."
Human trafficking is comprised of labor trafficking, child soldiers, child brides, and sex trafficking. The focus here will be on [[sex trafficking]].
[[Home]]
**Sources:**
(1) https://polarisproject.org/facts
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</head><h3>Strip Clubs</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
A strip club can be defined as "a bar where the main entertainment is performers removing their clothes while dancing to music" (1). The general attitude about strip clubs, particularly in the U.S., is that stripping is no big deal. The strippers enjoy what they do, they often don't have to touch the customers, and they make good money.
According to Jack Fischl of mic.com, however, "whether strippers freely choose to work at the clubs is a key issue here, and an extremely grey one at that. Stripping is often a gateway into [[prostitution]] and [[human trafficking]] as well as [[the porn industry]]. Since there is no Angie's List of strip clubs, no easily accessible way to vet whether or not the strippers are treated with dignity (or even legally), how can you really know if the women in front of you are there of their own will?" (1)
Much of the "sex work" that exists today comes down to the problem of whether the worker is [[there by choice]]. If a person attends a strip club regularly, they probably make enough money for a decent living; they've been given that option. But many of these women come out of [[domestic violence]] or are runaways, and *stripping is their only option*. That doesn't sound like much of a choice.
[[Home]]
**Sources:**
(1) http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/strip-club
(2) https://mic.com/articles/74329/it-s-time-for-men-like-me-to-stop-going-to-strip-clubs#.bT6WgPClj
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</head><h3>Domestic Violence</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
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"Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence" (1).
When thinking of domestic violence (DV), most people think of the physical - bruises, cuts, burns, etc. But DV goes much deeper, expressing itself in psychological abuse, economic abuse, and [[sexual assault]] as well.
Although this video shows signs of physical abuse, what else does the video show? What else might she be afraid of?
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Z_zWIVRIWk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Domestic violence is included as part of the sex industry because many women who end up in [[prostitution]], [[strip clubs]], or [[the porn industry]] are in or came out of domestic violence relationships, such as an abusive family, boyfriend, etc.
One thing to note is that although the focus in this Twine is on women, men also suffer from domestic violence, usually at the hands of an abusive woman or a gay male partner.
[[Home]]
**Sources:**
(1)http://nomore.org/how-to-help/resources/
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</head><h3>Porn Addiction</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
Our brains are amazing things, and one aspect of the brain that helps explain addiction is called neuroplasticity. In summary, neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to create new pathways and rewire itself based on the information or material a person is consuming.
So when it comes to porn, "just like other addictive substances, porn floods the brain with dopamine. That rush of brain chemicals happening over and over again rewires the brain's reward pathway ultimately changing the make up of the viewer's brain. This can result in an increased appetite for porn" (1).
Porn can become addictive in the same way that drugs are addictive. The overwhelming release of dopamine depletes the brain's dopamine receptors, leaving a beaten path in the process (2).
And along with that, porn addiction doesn't discriminate between genders. Research shows that men are addicted to porn, but new statistics show that [[women are addicted]] as well.
That being said, neuroplasticity works both ways. In the same way that neuroplasticity allows a person to become addicted to porn, once the person stops (habitually) watching porn, the brain begins to create new pathways, and eventually, most people can quit porn altogether.
In fact, a young man who was addicted to [["mainstream" porn]] created an online group called [[NoFap]] that now has millions of visitors seeking help for addiction, as well as sharing their stories of recovery.
Here's a cool Tedx Talk about the effects of porn on the brain.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSF82AwSDiU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
For further research, this <a href="http://www.feedtherightwolf.org/2011/07/history-of-pornagraphy-and-how-it/" target="_blank">article</a> provides a fascinating explanation of the "narrowing process" of the brain in a healthy marriage (sex with a real person) versus in a relationship with porn.
**Sources:**
(1)http://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-changes-the-brain/
(2)http://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-become-addictive/
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</head><h3>Female Porn Addiction</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
Although recent statistics vary, 30-40% of women are currently addicted to pornography, and as porn companies continue to cater to women, that percentage is only rising. (1)
In the following video, Jessica Harris tells her story of growing up as a woman addicted to porn, and in the process, she sheds lights on the porn industry as a whole, as well as gives women who are addicted hope in knowing they're not alone.
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/202570211" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
In the above video, Harris explains that [[the porn industry]] realized it was missing half the world's population, and has started creating porn for women. If the industry has catered to men for a long time, and children are pulled in through the Internet, women are the final frontier. She explains that “we are standing dangerously close…to the edge of a generation of women who have been raised to [[human trafficking<-traffick]] themselves” (Harris, 18:16).
Along with Harris, many other women have shared their experiences with [[porn addiction]]. Crystal Renaud wrote a book called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Girls-Clean-Crystal-Renaud/dp/0802463002/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493649417&sr=8-1&keywords=dirty+girls+come+clean" target="_blank">*Dirty Girls Come Clean*</a> where she shares both her own story and others' stories.
<img src="https://ellemariah.github.io/dgcc.jpg">
YouTube is also a popular place for women to share their stories. To hear one women talk about her battle with porn addiction, visit <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRKpRkgRfmQ" target="_blank">Brittany's Story</a>.
**Sources:**
(1)http://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/2016/05/women-porn-addiction/
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</head><h3>Feminist Porn</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
<img src="https://ellemariah.github.io/speakers-2135823_640.png">
Birthed in the 1980s women's movement for gender equality, feminist porn aims "to present women as equal sexual partners with men rather than sexual conquests of men" (1). Feminist porn differs from hardcore [["mainstream" porn]] in that " Actors are treated with respect, paid fairly, given choice and ethical working conditions, empowered in their work...Directors collaborate with and incorporate the actor’s own sexual desires and fantasies...[It] challenges stereotypes especially of women and marginalized communities... [and] realistic pleasure is depicted" (2).
However, while feminist porn is a step in the right direction, it still has its drawbacks. In other words, all pornography stimulates a rush of dopamine in the brain, and after a while, the viewer can become desensitized, leading to [[porn addiction]]. Thus, while once again, feminist porn is positive in that it promotes choice and gender equality, it could also be a gateway into the "mainstream" hardcore porn that objectifies and degrades women.
**Sources:**
(1) https://books.google.com/books?id=DxLUDQAAQBAJ&pg=RA3-PA56&lpg=RA3-PA56&dq=feminist+porn+history&source=bl&ots=pBaH9xchau&sig=VrJFt9VZQTDKbC_fF-Owjr7C7-A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiws7XRh8_TAhWFYyYKHTkBDw4Q6AEIQTAF #v=onepage&q=feminist%20porn%20history&f=false
(2) http://www.feministpornawards.com/what-is-feminist-porn-2/
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</head><h3>"Mainstream" Porn</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
When discussing mainstream porn, two types exist: softcore and hardcore. Softcore porn is generally defined as porn that "shows or describes sex, but not very violent or unpleasant sex, or not in a very detailed way" (1) (e.g. *Playboy* magazine), while hardcore porn "shows sex in a very detailed way, or shows very violent or unpleasant sex" (2).
Unfortunately, with the advent of the Internet (ease of creation, ease of access), hardcore pornography has become mainstream, and is now often considered "normal."
This normalization is dangerous because it teaches the millions of people who view porn that degradation and violence, particularly toward women, are normal aspects of sex. This normalization can encourage [[domestic violence]] and [[sexual assault]], and is often related to [[sex trafficking]].
Also, this is the first time in history that children are growing up with such easy access to pornography, which many are referring to as "the largest unregulated social experiment in human history" (3). And these children are learning that mainstream (violent) porn is what sex is supposed to look like (4).
Fight the New Drug is an emerging organization that aims to challenge mainstream porn. Their tagline is "Porn kills love," and they challenge teens to "fight for love." In the below video, teens talk about technology and [[porn addiction]] in today's Internet culture, and hit home the point that what's "normal" is actually not okay.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xO_mW2LYXRo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Note that [[feminist porn]] is one alternative to the violence inherent in mainstream porn.
**Sources:**
(1) https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/soft-core
(2) https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hard-core
(3) http://pornharmsresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/REVISED_OCTOBER_2014_ WEB_VERSION_ONLY_CAJ_vol12_no1_Hughes_2vForWeb10_2014-1.pdf
(4) http://pornharmsresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/MIM_Peters_ Children.pdf
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</head>The History of Porn
<span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
Following is a brief timeline of the evolution of porn in recent history, beginning with softcore images, and moving to what is now hardcore or [["mainstream" porn]] on the Internet.
This timeline (except 2017) is taken from my notes at the 2016 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Conference. The video of the talk is below:
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Please note that pornography can be traced back thousands of years. However, I begin with the last 100 years because it's the first time we see pornography distributed on a mass market scale.
**1953**: Hugh Hefner released the first issue of *Playboy* magazine. It cost 50 cents and sold out in two weeks.
With the release of this magazine, Hefner made softcore pornography mainstream, normalizing the objectification of women.
**1969**: *Playboy's* rival, *Penthouse*, sold its first issue, which included full-frontal nudity. It cost 75 cents.
**1974**: *Playboy's* other rival, *Hustler*, was released, going further than its predecessors by including hardcore themes, such as penetration with objects and group rape.
**1976-80**: "The height of porn culture." The Mitchell Brothers built an empire of adult porn, which glamorized and legitimized porn.
**1980s**: Porn moved to video and computers.
**2017**: Pornography is easily accessible in every shape and form throughout the Internet.
Note that as pornography grew, so did [[opposition]]. Feminists and women's movements rose up in an attempt to make people aware of the dangers of porn. Now, men have joined that fight, creating Internet groups like [[NoFap]] where they can speak up about how they've been negatively affected by porn.
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</head><h3>Porn-Induced Ed</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
What the heck is porn-induced erectile dysfunction? Apparently, "ED is no longer an issue that primarily affects men over 50. It’s now affecting men in general, regardless of age. And the common thread when there does not appear to be an age-related or medical cause appears to be excessive use (some might say abuse) of pornography" (1).
In the below video, author Matt Fradd provides a brief, but in-depth, explanation of porn-induced ED.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-gdYiC-DSaU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
As Fradd mentioned in the video, PIED is strongly connected to the rush of dopamine and desensitization that occurs in [[porn addiction]]. Also, many members of the [[NoFap]] forum have reached out for help due to porn-related ED.
Interestingly enough, men have found that if they abstain from porn for a period of time (such as a few months), their brains reset, and "their sexual performance returns to baseline. In other words" (1), they're able to successfully have sex with a real person.
Also note that PIED does not occur with every male who watches porn.
For more information on PIED, visit <a href="https://yourbrainonporn.com/erectile-dysfunction-question" target="_blank">yourbrainonporn.com</a>.
**Sources:**
(1) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-weiss/all-about-porninduced-ere_b_9220706.html
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</head><h3>Sex Trafficking</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, sex trafficking is defined as, "the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion. or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age" (1).
<a href="https://polarisproject.org/sex-trafficking" target="_blank">The Polaris Project</a> provides a helpful overview of what sex trafficking involves:
"Sex traffickers use violence, threats, lies, debt bondage, and other forms of coercion to compel adults and children to engage in commercial sex acts against their will...
The situations that sex trafficking victims face vary dramatically. Many victims become romantically involved with someone who then forces or manipulates them into [[prostitution]]. Others are lured in with false promises of a job, such as modeling or dancing. Some are forced to sell sex by their parents or other family members...
Vulnerable populations are frequently targeted by traffickers, including runaway and homeless youth, as well as victims of [[domestic violence]], [[sexual assault]], war, or social discrimination..."
Unfortunately, trafficking often goes beyond the stereotype of an outright kidnapping, and therefore, despite what many people realize, [[sex trafficking and porn]] are intimately connected.
**Sources:**
(1)https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/orr/fact_sheet_human_trafficking_english.pdf
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</head><h3>Sex Trafficking and Porn</h3>
<span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) states that "if any force or coercion is used to compel a woman to engage in a sex act that is filmed for commercial purposes, that meets the legal criteria for violation of federal law" (1).
The above statement applies to siutations much simpler than many people might initially think. In her paper on sex trafficking's relation to porn, Donna M. Hughes recounts the story of a girl named Madelyn who entered [[the porn industry]] and was then forced involve herself in terrifying pornographic acts. But upon threat of a lawsuit, she felt she had no choice. Hughes describes Madelyn's situation as "coercion. Even if a victim initially consents to sexual activity, she always has the option of withdrawing her consent and the activity should stop. If her wishes are ignored, [[sex trafficking]] is occurring" (1).
Hughes writes about girls in the porn industry, but even "homemade" porn can involve trafficking. In this video, survivor Anna Malika tells the story of how she began dating a man, only to find out he had kept thousands of photographs of her in sexual positions, some of which he sold.
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Although the trafficker in Anna's story used print photos, many traffickers today rape and abuse girls on film, and then upload the films to pornographic sites. Traffickers can also use a girl's pornographic photos to blackmail her into [[prostitution]]. All three situations are considered sex trafficking.
**Sources:**
(1)https://www.academia.edu/4847671/Sex_Trafficking_of_Women
_for_the_Production_of_Pornography (pp. 1-2)
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</head><h3>Sexual Assault</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
While [[domestic violence]] relationships often involve sexual assault, domestic violence in itself is not always sexual. Therefore, please note that sexual assault can be a part of domestic violence, but often stands on its own outside of DV relationships (1).
Sexual assault can look like "unwanted sexual touching, forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, and rape (1)", including date rape or marital rape.
And contrary to popular opinion, sexual assault happens more often between people who know each other than between strangers. (2)
<mark>TRIGGER WARNING</mark>
The video below shows various instances of rape and sexual assault. Please view at your own discretion.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZmWBrN7QV6Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
**Sources:**
(1)http://blog.sapars.org/the-differences-between-sexual-violence-domestic-violence/
(2)https://www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault
(3)http://ncadv.org/files/Domestic%20Violence%20and%20Sexual%20Abuse%20NCADV.pdf
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</head><h3>There by "Choice"</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
"Choice" is a complicated issue. In the below video, Harmony Dust, founder of Treasures, sheds some light on why the sex industry, including strip clubs, might be different than what people see up front.
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As mentioned in the video, a lot goes on behind-the-scenes. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation addresses the choice argument by visiting it in a few ways (1).
First, why do we only focus on the choice of the stripper or the prostituted person - the person who has the least power? What about "the choices of those with the real power — sex buyers, pimps, corporate interests, and governments"? In the above video, Dust explains that the sex industry is supply and demand. If there's no buying, there's no selling.
Second, choosing something doesn't mean that choice is healthy. NCOSE offers the examples of cigarrettes, fast food, and handling a loaded gun. Those are choices made by individuals, but they're not always good choices.
Finally, for many people who end up in the sex industry, their "choice" is actually no choice at all. While people do enter the sex industry to make extra cash or simply to have sex, most do not. Dust mentions that 70% of people in the sex industry have been [[human trafficking<-trafficked]] in. And beyond that, people - women especially - often enter the industry out of a need to survive. They're single moms who can't pay rent on minimum wage, or they're young girls who are lured in by promises of someone to care for them.
Overall, the choice argument goes much deeper than what is stated here. Also note that "choice" here focuses on [[prostitution]] and [[strip clubs]], but absolutely ties into [[the porn industry]] and [[domestic violence]] since the same information applies in those contexts.
**Sources:**
(1) http://endsexualexploitation.org/prostitution/
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</head><h3>Legalize or Decriminalize?</h3>
<span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">As stated on the [[prostitution]] page, the U.S. is currently in a debate about whether to partially decriminalize or fully legalize prostitution.
The Joint Committe on Justice, Defense, and Equality in Ireland compiled a massive document, entitled "Report on the Review of the Legislation on Prostitution" (1). Within this document, the authors provide a simple yet thorough explanation of the "approaches to legislation," including total criminalization, partial decriminalization, and full decriminalization.
**Total Criminalization** is the model the U.S. currently uses (except in certain areas of Nevada). Under this model, "all aspects of prostitution and associated activities are offences."
<blockquote>- For: It shows that society disapproves of prostitution and helps prevent some disease and crime.
- Against: It denies individual rights, increases the stigma toward prostituted people, and forces those who do wish to participate in prostitution into hiding.</blockquote>
**Partial Decriminalization** actuallly involves two approaches. The first "decriminalises commercial sex between consenting adults in private but criminalises certain related activities such as public soliciting, advertising or brothel-keeping.
<blockquote>- For: "Deter[s] public nuisances" and is essentially a "harm-reduction approach."
- Against: Increases social stigma and isolates prostituted people, reduces bargaining power, prevents prostituted people from gaining access to health and safety services, and increases exposure to risky activity.</blockquote>
The second approach, also known as "The Swedish Approach," or the Nordic model, claims that "the sale of sex is not unlawful but its purchase is." Under this view, "prostitution is inherently exploitative, dangerous and degrading, and incompatible with gender equality." And therefore, the goal is to eliminate prostitution entirely.
<blockquote>- For: Prevents the "alientation or stimatisation" of prostituted people, reduces demand by prosecuting buyers, "fosters a social norm that regards buying people's bodies is unacceptable, and engenders a better understanding of consensual sexual relations."
- Against: It "denies women "independent agency or control over their own sexuality," and forces prostituted people to be "more dependent on pimps and dangerous clients."</blockquote>
Finally, **Full Decriminalization** "involves the repeal of all laws prohibiting the buying or selling of sexual services by consenting adults," although "violence and exploitation through pimping or trafficking remain illegal."
<blockquote>- For: Claims prostitution won't die out due to prohibition, understands prostituted people's right to work how they want, "promotes the ability of sex workers to report criminal activities such as pimping, violence and trafficking, as well as their access to health and social support services," and frees up police resources to deal with other crime.
- Against: "It effectively condones prostitution," lack of police surveillance will allow "underage prostitution, violence, exploitation and [[human trafficking<-trafficking]]," and the "social nuisances" of prostitution would grow.</blockquote>
The above views on prostitution are currently in heated discussion. As of 2016, <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/amnesty-international-publishes-policy-and-research-on-protection-of-sex-workers-rights/" target="_blank">Amnesty International</a>, a famous human rights organization, published a policy in support of the full decriminalization of prostitution (2). <a href="http://endsexualexploitation.org/prostitution/" target="_blank">The National Center on Sexual Exploitation</a>, however, strongly opposes that policy, and stands in favor of the second approach to partial decriminalization (3). For more information on either organization's views, visit the higlighted links above.
**Sources:**
(1) http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/justice/1.Part-1-final.pdf
(2) https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/amnesty-international-publishes-policy-and-research-on-protection-of-sex-workers-rights/
(3) http://endsexualexploitation.org/prostitution/
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</head><h3>Anti-Porn Feminism and the Women's Movement</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
Anti-pornography feminism was born out of a desire to oppose sexual violence in U.S. culture in the 1960s-80s, also known as second-wave feminism (1). Activists "believed that the glorified images of sexual violence evident in [the] mainstream...taught women to accept brutal treatment as their due, and taught men that rape, battering, and other forms of physical [[domestic violence<-abuse]] were a normal and expected part of male sexuality" (1). Please note that activists were opposing sexual violence and [[sexual assault]], *not* sex.
"Over time, however, it became more difficult to communicate this multilayered theory involving gender, media effects and human rights." And out of this, "movement leaders made a strategic choice to focus on [[the porn industry<-pornography]]" (2).
Involved in this movement were women like Gloria Steinem, Andrea Dworkin, and Catherine MacKinnon. Steinem, a pioneer feminist, fought actively for women's rights, writing articles and books, founding *Ms.* magazine, and more (3).
Dworkin promoted women's rights by writing, protesting, and giving lectures. In Dworkin's second book, she "made a case for pornography being a violation of women's civil rights" (4). She also worked closely with Catherine MacKinnon.
Finally, MacKinnon fights for women's rights, including attempting to change U.S. legislation concerning pornography "by framing it as a form of sex discrimination and, more recently, a form of [[human trafficking]]" (5).
Although the anti-pornography movement is only one facet of women's rights, it's now a large part of the fight against the violence that's often perpetuated upon women in modern U.S. culture. And the three women listed above have played vital roles in stopping that violence.
**Sources:**
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-wave_feminism
(2) http://www.cambridgeblog.org/2011/08/the-origins-of-anti-pornography-feminism-by-carolyn-bronstein/
(3) http://www.biography.com/people/gloria-steinem-9493491
(4) http://www.biography.com/people/andrea-dworkin-38425
(5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharine_MacKinnon
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</head><h3>NoFap</h3><span style="font-size: 24px; color: black; ">
<a href="https://www.nofap.com/" target="_blank">NoFap</a> is a website dedicated to helping porn-addicted men "get a new grip on life." Founded by Alexander Rhoades, NoFap came out of a Reddit thread that he created to find help in overcoming his porn addiction.
The creation of this site is revolutionary because it reveals that thousands of men are recognizing the dangers of porn and are willing to seek help. The website includes testimonials, information about [[porn addiction]], and even a panic button for men who want to quit, but might be relapsing or need motivation.
Many of the stories on NoFap have revealed that men in their 20's are suffering from [[porn-induced ED]]. In other words, massive porn use is teaching men to be stimulated by pixelated images of women, and therefore, they aren't turned on by sex with a physical woman. (1)
The NoFap website also lists related resources that can help people overcome porn addiction. The resources include: <a href="https://fightthenewdrug.org/" target="_blank">Fight the New Drug</a>, <a href="http://www.feedtherightwolf.org/" target="_blank">Feed the Right Wolf</a>, and <a href="https://www.xxxchurch.com/" target="_blank">XXXChurch.com</a>, the latter of which offers help to men and women who have left [[the porn industry]], [[strip clubs]], and [[prostitution]].
**Sources:**
(1)http://time.com/4277510/porn-and-the-threat-to-virility/?iid=toc_033116
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</head><h3>Resources</h3>
**Pornography**
- <a href="http://beggarsdaughter.com/about/" target="_blank">Beggar's Daughter</a>, founded by Jessica Harris, is an organization that helps women find freedom from porn addiction.
- The <a href="http://endexploitationmovement.com/" target="_blank">Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation</a> "is focused on bringing a variety of people together to solve and end the complex social issue of sexual exploitation, including the public health crisis of pornography, sex trafficking, prostitution, child exploitation, sexual violence, and more."
- <a href="http://www.covenanteyes.com/" target="_blank">Covenant Eyes</a> is an accountability software to help both children and adults stay safe online.
- <a href="http://fightthenewdrug.org/" target="_blank">Fight the New Drug</a> is an anti-porn, pro-love organization that encourages young people to throw away porn and fight for love.
- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Pornography-Harms-John-Foubert/dp/148971023X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483033156&sr=8-1&keywords=how+pornography+harms" target="_blank">//How Pornography Harms//</a> by John D. Foubert.
- <a href="https://www.nofap.com/" target="_blank">NoFap</a> is an excellent resource for someone who is addicted to porn and needs a community of other people who have shared the same experience. The website is also a great place to learn more about porn addiction in general. I've also written a Twine page with a general description of [[NoFap]].
- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pornland-How-Porn-Hijacked-Sexuality/dp/0807001546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493906302&sr=8-1&keywords=pornland" target="_blank">*Pornland*</a> by Gail Dines is one of the most extensive books written on the topic of gonzo and hardcore pornography. In her book, she discusses the porn industry, the experiences of porn stars themselves, and the ways in which porn is currently affecting media and culture.
- In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Porn-Myth-Exposing-Reality-Pornography/dp/162164006X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493905742&sr=8-1&keywords=matt+fradd" target="_blank">*The Porn Myth*</a>, Matt Fradd uses each chapter to address a myth about porn, including myths such as "To be anti-porn is to be anti-sex" and "Only religious people oppose porn." His writing style is simple to understand, and is supported by both professional research and personal testimonies.
- <a href="https://protectyoungminds.org/" target="_blank">Protect Young Minds</a> provides resources to both protect children from porn, as well as teach parents how to respond if children have seen porn.
- <a href="https://www.xxxchurch.com/about-us" target="_blank">XXX Church</a> works through awareness, prevention, and recovery to show love to people in the sex industry, as well as helps people recover from porn addiction and betrayal trauma.
- <a href="https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/" target="_blank">Your Brain on Porn</a> provides a variety of scientific articles and resources about the ways porn rewires the brain. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Porn-Pornography-Addiction/dp/099316160X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493906302&sr=8-2&keywords=pornland" target="_blank">*Your Brain on Porn*</a> is also the title of a book by Gary Wilson, author of much of the website content.
**Strip Clubs**
- Harmony Dust, an ex-stripper, runs an organization called Treasures, where she helps girls and women who desire to leave the sex industry. To learn more about Harmony or Treasures, visit her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TreasuresXGirls" target="_blank">Treasures</a> YouTube channel, or her website, <a href="http://iamatreasure.com/" target="_blank">iamatreasure.com</a>.
- <a href="http://www.stripchurch.com/" target="_blank">Strip Church</a> offers trainings and resources in order to help people caught in the sex industry.
**Prostitution**
- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Johns-Sex-Sale-Men-Who/dp/1611450128/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491851270&sr=8-1&keywords=johns+sex+for+sale" target="_blank">*Johns: The Sex For Sale and the Men Who Buy It*</a>
- <a href="http://endsexualexploitation.org/prostitution/" target="_blank">The National Center on Sexual Exploitation</a> offers a wide range of information about prostitution, including various scholarly articles. They also address many of the common questions about violence, choice, etc.
"The Best Work By Anyone On Prostitution Ever" is the tagline on Rachel Moran's book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paid-My-Journey-Through-Prostitution/dp/0393351971/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493906843&sr=8-1&keywords=prostitution" target="_blank">*Paid For*</a>. Moran not only discusses her own experiences as a prostitute in Ireland, but also offers incredible insight into the issues surrounding prostitution, including: "Legalisation and Decriminalisation," "The Myth of the Happy Hooker," and "Integrating Myself into Society."
**Human Trafficking**
- The <a href="http://www.a21.org/" target="_blank">A21 Campaign</a> is an organization that aims to "abolish slavery everywhere, forever." They have offices in 12 countries, but work across the world. If you're interested in becoming a part of the A21 Campaign team, click <a href="http://www.a21.org/content/get-involved-landing/gnohyh" target="_blank">here</a>.
- <a href="https://thechildrensrescue.org/" target="_blank">The Children's Rescue Initiative</a> works to free children and families from slave labor, including women and children who have been trafficked into sex slavery.
- <a href="http://www.inplainsightfilm.com/" target="_blank">"In Plain Sight" Documentary</a>
- The <a href="https://www.notforsalecampaign.org/" target="_blank">Not For Sale Campaign</a> uses social intervention, research and development, and scalable ventures in order to make a lasting impact.
- Mentioned elsewhere in this Twine, the <a href="https://polarisproject.org/" target="_blank">Polaris Project</a> is a global organization that aims to eradicate modern day slavery.
- <a href="http://www.womenslaw.org/gethelp_national_type.php?type_id=1063" target="_blank">Womenslaw.org</a> crosses paths with prostitution, providing a list of resources for people who have been victims of prostitution or sex trafficking.
**Domestic Violence**
- Lundy Bancroft has written a variety of books on domestic abuse, including *Why Does He Do That?*, *Should I Stay or Should I Go?*, and *When Dad Hurts Mom*.
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline <a href="http://www.thehotline.org/" target="_blank">(thehotline.org)</a> provides help to people who need to discuss or leave domestic violence situations. They also offer resources and information about healthy relationships.
- The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence <a href="http://ncadv.org/" target="_blank">(ncadv.org)</a> offers information and help for people who experience DV, as well as for people who want to raise awareness about the harms of domestic violence.
[[Home]]
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</head><h3>Works Cited</h3>
- All background images are public domain, found on Pixabay.com
- <a href="http://fightthenewdrug.org/10-porn-stats-that-will-blow-your-mind/" target="_blank">"11 Mind-Blowing Porn Stats That Will Shock You"</a>. *Fightthenewdrug.org*. 2017. (From [[the porn industry]] page.)
- <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/amnesty-international-publishes-policy-and-research-on-protection-of-sex-workers-rights/" target="_blank">"Amnesty International Publishes Policy And Research On Protection Of Sex Workers’ Rights"</a>. *Amnesty.org*. 2016. ([[legalize or decriminalize]])
- <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/andrea-dworkin-38425" target="_blank">"Andrea Dworkin"</a>. *Biography.com*. ([[opposition]])
- <a href="http://endsexualexploitation.org/prostitution/" target="_blank">"Bright Light on the Red Light: The Truth About Prostitution"</a>. *Endsexualexploitation.org*. ([[legalize or decriminalize]])
- Bronstein, Carolyn. <a href="http://www.cambridgeblog.org/2011/08/the-origins-of-anti-pornography-feminism-by-carolyn-bronstein/" target="_blank">"The Origins of Anti-Pornography Feminism"</a>. *Cambridgeblog.org*. 2011. ([[opposition]])
- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharine_MacKinnon" target="_blank">"Catherine MacKinnon"</a>. *En.wikipedia.org*. 2017. ([[opposition]])
- Citriglia, Nick. <a href="http://blog.sapars.org/the-differences-between-sexual-violence-domestic-violence/" target="_blank">"The Differences Between Sexual Violence And Domestic Violence"</a>. *Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Services*. 2012. ([[sexual assault]])
- <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hard-core" target="_blank">"Definition of 'hard core'"</a>. *Collinsdictionary.com*. ([["mainstream" porn]])
- <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/soft-core" target="_blank">"Definition of 'soft core'"</a>. *Collinsdictionary.com*. ([["mainstream" porn]])
- <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/strip-club" target="_blank">"Definition of 'strip club' - English Dictionary"</a>. *Dictionary.cambridge.org*. ([[strip clubs]])
- Department of Health and Human Services, USA. <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/orr/fact_sheet_human_trafficking_english.pdf" target="_blank">*Human Trafficking*.</a> *Acf.hss.gov*. ([[sex trafficking]])
- <a href="https://polarisproject.org/facts" target="_blank">"The Facts"</a>. *Polarisproject.org*. ([[human trafficking]])
- Fischl, Jack. <a href="https://mic.com/articles/74329/it-s-time-for-men-like-me-to-stop-going-to-strip-clubs#.bT6WgPClj" target="_blank">"It's Time For Men Like Me To Stop Going To Strip Clubs"</a>. *Mic.com*. 2013. ([[strip clubs]])
- <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/gloria-steinem-9493491" target="_blank">"Gloria Steinem"</a>. *Biography.com*. ([[opposition]])
- Gregoire, Sheila. <a href="http://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/2016/05/women-porn-addiction/" target="_blank">"Top 10 Things To Know About Women And Porn Addiction"</a>. *Tolovehonorandvacuum.com*. 2016. ([[women are addicted]])
[[works cited page 2]]
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</head><h3>Works Cited, Page 2</h3>
- Harris, Jessica. <a href="https://vimeo.com/202570211" target="_blank">The Rise And Risks Of Female Porn Use</a>. 2016 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Summit: National Center on Sexual Exploitation, 2017. ([[women are addicted]])
- Harwell, Adrienne. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DxLUDQAAQBAJ&pg=RA3-PA56&lpg=RA3-PA56&dq=feminist+porn+history&source=bl&ots=pBaH9xchau&sig=VrJFt9VZQTDKbC_fF-Owjr7C7-A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiws7XRh8_TAhWFYyYKHTkBDw4Q6AEIQTAF%20#v=onepage&q=feminist%20porn%20history&f=false" target="_blank">"Pornography"</a>. *Women in American History: A Social, Political, and Cultural Encyclopedia and Document Collection*. 2017. Vol 4. 56. ([[feminist porn]])
- <a href="http://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-become-addictive/" target="_blank">"How Porn Can Become Addictive"</a>. *Fightthenewdrug.org*. 2014. ([[porn addiction]])
- <a href="http://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-changes-the-brain/" target="_blank">"How Porn Changes the Brain"</a>. *Fightthenewdrug.org*. 2014. ([[porn addiction]])
- Hughes, Donna M. <a href="https://www.academia.edu/4847671/Sex_Trafficking_of_Women_for_the_Production_of_Pornography?auto=download" target="_blank">*Sex Trafficking Of Women For The Production Of Pornography*</a>. Citizens Against Trafficking, 2010. *Academia.edu*. ([[sex trafficking and porn]])
- Hughes, Donna Rice. <a href="http://pornharmsresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/REVISED_OCTOBER_2014_WEB_VERSION_ONLY_CAJ_vol12_no1_Hughes_2vForWeb10_2014-1.pdf" target="_blank">"The Internet Pornography Pandemic"</a>. Christian Apologetics Journal 12.1 (2014). PDF. ([["mainstream" porn]])
- <a href="http://nomore.org/how-to-help/resources/" target="_blank">"Know the Facts"</a>. *Nomore.org*. ([[domestic violence]])
- Layden, Mary Anne. <a href="http://pornharmsresearch.com/2013/12/talking-points-porn-sexual-violence-research/" target="_blank">"Talking Points: Porn & Sexual Violence Research"</a>. *Pornharmsresearch.com*. 2013. ([[the porn industry]])
- Luscombe, Belinda. <a href="http://time.com/4277510/porn-and-the-threat-to-virility/?iid=toc_033116" target="_blank">"Porn And The Threat To Virility"</a>. *Time* 2016. ([[NoFap]])
- The National Center on Sexual Exploitation. <a href="https://vimeo.com/202564574" target="_blank">*In Modern Bondage: A Brief History Of The Development Of 21St Century Exploitation And The Fight To Eradicate*</a>. 2016 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Summit. 2017. ([[the history of porn]])
- NCADV. <a href="http://ncadv.org/files/Domestic%20Violence%20and%20Sexual%20Abuse%20NCADV.pdf" target="_blank">*Facts about Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse*</a>. *Ncadv.org*. 2015. ([[sexual assault]])
- Peters, Robert. <a href="http://pornharmsresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/MIM_Peters_Children.pdf" target="_blank">"Harm to Children from Online Exposure to Hardcore Adult Pornography"</a>. *Pornharmsresearch.com*. PDF. ([["mainstream" porn]])
- <a href="http://www.dictionary.com/browse/prostitution?s=t" target="_blank">"Prostitution"</a>. Dictionary.com. ([[prostitution]])
- <a href="http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/justice/1.Part-1-final.pdf" target="_blank">*Report On Hearings And Submissions On The Review Of Legislation On Prostitution*</a>. Houses of the Oireachtas, 2013. *Oireachtas.ie*. PDF. ([[legalize or decriminalize]])
- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-wave_feminism" target="_blank">"Second-wave feminism"</a>. *En.wikipedia.org*. 2017. ([[opposition]])
- <a href="https://www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault" target="_blank">"Sexual Assault"</a>. *Rainn.org*. ([[sexual assault]])
- Weiss, Robert. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-weiss/all-about-porninduced-ere_b_9220706.html" target="_blank">"All About Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction"</a>. *Huffingtonpost.com*. 2016. ([[porn-induced ED]])
- <a href="http://www.feministpornawards.com/what-is-feminist-porn-2/" target="_blank">"What is feminist porn?"</a>. *Feministpornawards.com*. ([[feminist porn]])
- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO_mW2LYXRo" target="_blank">*What Teens Really Think About Porn*</a>. Fight the New Drug, 2014. YouTube. ([["mainstream" porn]])
[[works cited]]
[[Home]]
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