Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site iham1.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!iham1!smann
From: smann@iham1.UUCP (Sherry Mann)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Pornography and Censorship, a woman's view
Message-ID: <446@iham1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Sep-85 11:59:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: iham1.446
Posted: Wed Sep 18 11:59:57 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Sep-85 05:53:45 EDT
References: <439@drutx.UUCP> <445@iham1.UUCP> <434@mhuxr.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 29

> > What I'd like to see, is an increase in awareness among the
> > people in our society that pornography is degrading to women
> > and promotes sexist attitudes, is exploitive of women, etc.,
> > so that individuals in our society no longer condone
> > pornography.  It is the change in attitudes that is
> > important.
> > 
> Would you care to back up these assertions with some facts?

OK, having cited Gloria Steinham, I'd first like to refer
you to her article for the definition of pornography I was
using.  

I keep forgetting the nature of this media (and the people
using it).  Where I speak from feelings, the people in this
environment want facts.  No, I'm not going to back up my
assertions with facts.  Instead, for you, I am going to
label my assertion differently.
I believe, and I think many women feel this way, that
certain pornography is degrading to and exploitive of women
and promotes sexist attitudes.  I believe that there is an
attitude in our society that condones this pornography and
does not believe it is harmful.  I would like to see this
attitude change.  The way I think it can change is for
society to begin to understand how many women feel about
pornography and to accept their feelings as valid.

I do not want to censor pornography.  I want it to become
less socially acceptable.