Rape Culture 101

[BainsBane]

64. There is the theoretical insistence

Last edited Sat Dec 28, 2013, 09:22 PM - Edit history (1)

that rape pron is not actual rape, despite evidence that it sometimes is. Among those who do porn are enslaved women, human trafficked and forced to perform. Linda Lovelace was herself forced to perform at gun point. When watching such depictions, one is watching and subsidizing actual rape. Now I understand some assiduously refuse to accept that fact, but that only shows their indifference to the rape of porn workers.

So I do not accept the framing of the argument in ways that ignore the actual circumstances under which some porn is made. I have repeatedly urged responsible consumption of porn through licensed and regulated companies to minimize the subsidization of human trafficking, but many simply refuse to do that. Even regulations compelling porn producers to maintain safe sex workplaces is an outrage to some around here. Clearly they see the lives and basic rights of those who make porn as insignificant in comparison to their own desires to watch what they want, when they want. Most strangely, they bizarrely conflate porn--which is capitalist commerce--with their own sexuality. I cannot begin to understand that kind of confusion. They are not the ones appearing on screen. Porn workers, some free and some enslaved, are. Regulations are meant to preserve their lives, not interfere with the viewers sexuality. Enslavement of porn workers and death due to STDs is not central to the viewers' sexuality, but it does create profit. My position on privileging profit over human life is consistent. I do not make exceptions for women or any porn worker, as though their lives are somehow less important than those who work in other areas of the economy, and I have no respect for those who do.

This diversion into porn goes back to the familiar territory of what men want because ultimately nothing else matters for too many around here. It is as predicted. The last thing to do is actually think about the lives of rape victims as human beings who matter at all.