Sample
"PORNOGRAPHY" (MLA format)
Sample
"PORNOGRAPHY" (Chicago / Turabian format)
Running Head: PORNOGRAPHY
Pornography
[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Pornography
Helen Longino states a lot of influences of pornography that harm
the society or are in some way or the other, disabling the equality
of women. Her article, Pornography, Oppression and Freedom, defines
pornography as “it is defamatory and libelous toward women,
that it condones crimes against women, and that it invites tolerance
of the social, economic, and cultural oppression of women.”
which I do not agree with.
Probably the strongest case is the first amendment, which might
be a cliché by now but is a foundation on which our society
stands. “
“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress
of grievances.” [First Amendment, Bill of Rights of the
United States Constitution]
While Longino tries to handle
this issue by stating that the right to freedom of speech is not
an absolute one. She claims that many forms of speech including
the solicitation of crimes are not protected by the law, but there
is a big difference in inducing or planning out a murder and watching
a pornographic magazine in the privacy on their own home by their
own free will.
Changing times have brought a huge difference in social and ideological
values. As generations are growing, new mindsets are emerging
which are very different from those our parents have had. Independence,
freedom of speech and thought, equal rights, and individuality
have evolved in the recent times as a result to increased education
and awareness levels.
The fight for equal rights has evolved for the past many decades
but now has taken a completely new perspective in the form of
female liberation and equality issues. Women are supposed not
only to take on the roles of men but are also expected to perform
them with the sophistication and perfection inherent in the sex.
In her article, Landino forgets that it is not only the pornographic
scene where this kind of exploitation is taking place but has
somehow become synonymous with media in general as any television
show or a super model pageant can declare on its own, but media
or a magazine subscription can not change the mindsets of generations
as they are only a cultural representation and not the culture
itself. As with the regulation of sexually explicit, racist, or
other illegal content, questions of freedom of speech and the
practicality of regulating content are the major areas of concern
in adopting content regulatory approaches.
United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Larry
Flynt in a slander action brought against the Publisher by Jerry
Falwell, who was the subject of a tasteless parody in Hustler
Magazine. What Mr. Falwell and all those who thought that he would
prevail failed to understand is that the mere existence of Hustler
Magazine is its redeeming quality; the magazine stands as a reminder
that in our nation, freedom of speech is extended to everyone,
even those we find disgusting. Indeed, some would say, especially
to those we find disgusting.
The issue of violence and oppression is much deeper than pornography.
Most people are not in favor of pornography; however, the public
should not be in favor of censoring pornography. Freedom of speech
is more logical than censorship because of the lack of a definition
of pornography, individual rights and the claim that pornography
causes violence against women.
If abuse would stop because of the censorship of pornography,
then by all means, censor pornography. This of course, is not
the case. If censorship were in place, abuse would still occur.
"The claim that pornography causes rape greatly oversimplifies
the problem of sexual violence" (Kaminer 216). There are
many issues to deal with concerning women's oppression. It is
not plausible to suggest that censorship is the solution to the
many facets of violence against women. The best protection women
have in this sexist country is freedom of speech. Women's interests
are best protected by women themselves. They are the voice of
change. Women need to express their opinions about sexuality,
abuse, and oppression. "A large and growing number of women-especially
feminists who are writers, artists, scholars, critics and intellectuals
are scornful of suggestions that censorship is the remedy for
violence against women, or for discrimination against them"(Katz
132).
References
Helen Longino PORNOGRAPHY,
OPPRESSION, AND FREEDOM: A CLOSER LOOK, on the web at: http://www.brysons.net/teaching/102/longino.pdf
First Amendment bill of rights
of the United States constitution, current copy
Katz, Leanne. "Pornography
Does Not Promote Violence Against Women.U Swisher and Wekesser
131-134.
Kaminer, Wendy. "Pornography
Should Receive Free Speech Protection." Leone 213-223
