Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!decwrl!munson@squirt.DEC From: munson@squirt.DEC Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: erotica/pornography Message-ID: <3700@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 13:17:16 EDT Article-I.D.: decwrl.3700 Posted: Fri Aug 16 13:17:16 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 01:33:35 EDT Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., Palo Alto, CA Lines: 44 A couple of days ago I came across a mail that said that (some, all???) feminists were opposed to erotica. I, being a feminist, would like to respond to this statement. I am not opposed to erotica, but I am opposed to pornography. To my mind, the difference is in the way that gender roles are portrayed. In erotica, both male and female are portrayed as consenting, equally involved adults. Pornograghy depicts females (and, in some cases, children) as being subject to the sexual desires of a male, whether he is in the picture or not. I think the best way to clarify the difference (as I perceive it), is to cite a few examples. The drawings in my copy of _The Joy of Sex_ show a couple in various positions; both are obviously consenting, and having fun. (For those of you who aren't sure, sex can be fun!) On the other hand, the pictures I've seen in Penthouse (which, I grant, is very small sample), invariably place the sex object (she certainly isn't portrayed as a person) in an extremely vulnerable position. (Vulnerable, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, office edition, means 1) capable of being harmed or injured, 2) susceptible to danger or attack.) Does this mean that we should abolish the 'mish posish', and/or that the only 'politically correct' position is female superior??? Nope, it means we need to look carefully (i.e. skeptically) at pictures which are aimed at arousing sexual feelings. When in doubt about whether a particular picture is erotica or pornography, the following exercise may be tried: get into (or out of) clothing until you are as covered or uncovered as the person in the picture (not the 'dominant' one, if there are two), get into the position s/he is in, and see how you feel. If you feel vulnerable (as opposed to sexy), the picture is probably pornographic. In short, I think that erotica is about sex, and pornography is about dominance, and that pornography goes a long way towards keeping people locked up in the stereotypic gender roles, roles which are as stultifying for males as they are for females. Further, I think any picture (including advertisements, but that's another mail) which demeans or dehumanizes any person should be eschewed. As always, Joanne E. Munson P.S. I know my heterosexual bias are showing. I think, however, that analogous statements can be made about homosexual erotica and pornography.