How Pornography Impacts Our Society
Pornography continues to be one of the most contentious topics of today’s society. The sheer volume of content available through the internet combined with its ubiquity means that it is being consumed by a large portion of today’s population. But its consumption comes with a unique set of ethical and legal concerns, depending on the person’s age, their environment, and the type of content being viewed. In this article, we’ll discuss the impact of pornography on our society, the benefits and drawbacks associated with viewing porn, and what makes it so controversial.
What Is Pornography?
Pornography is defined as “the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexual arousal”. It encompasses a wide range of content, though usually it refers to videos, photos, or writing that depicts sexual activities. Depending on the jurisdiction, what constitutes pornography may be restricted and is regulated differently, so it’s important to take note of.
Benefits vs. Drawbacks of Watching Porn
Benefits
1.Empowerment of Sexuality: Many people who watch porn find that it can be an effective tool to explore and discover new sexual interests. It can be a safe and judgment-free way to discover what you may or may not be interested in.
2.Normalization of Sexual Relationships: Porn can help to normalize different sexual scenarios and can help break the stigma of “traditional” sexual relationships.
3.Better Sex: Some people find that watching porn helps them to have better sex, either by learning different sexual techniques or by introducing them to new ideas.
Drawbacks
1.Objectification of Women: One of the major criticisms of porn is that it often objectifies women and ignores female pleasure. This can create a culture wherein women are seen as only sexual objects and not people with emotional needs.
2.Risky Behavior: Porn can also sometimes lead people to take risks that may be unsafe. Examples of this include trying to recreate porn scenarios without protection or engaging in risky behavior, such as drug or alcohol use.
3.Addiction: Porn addiction is a real issue for some people, and can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and social problems.
What Makes Porn So Controversial?
1.Religious Beliefs: In some religions, such as Christianity and Judaism, sex before marriage and outside of monogamous relationships is seen as immoral. Thus, pornography is seen as encouraging behavior that is contrary to their religious beliefs.
2.Societal Attitudes: Despite the more accepting attitude of more recent generations, there can still be a strong stigma against those who view porn, both men and women alike.
3.Child-Exploitation: One of the most concerning issues surrounding porn is the 10-15% of porn that features children. Despite industry efforts, such as the implementation of age-verification technology, there is still a large amount of child-exploitation being used in the production of porn.
Pornography is a unique issue for society today, with people of vastly varying opinions on the matter. Some see it as empowering to explore different aspects of sexuality without judgement, while others view it as deeply immoral and encourage its suppression. At the end of the day, the decision to watch porn rests on the individual – though it is important to be aware of the potential ethical and legal issues that come with it.
