“One of the more insidious attacks against women...

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One of the more insidious attacks against women who oppose pornography accuses them of being prudish and uncomfortable with their own sexuality, “insecure,” and “jealous.” Terrified of being labeled “anti-sex,” “humorless,” or “feminists,” many women have neglected to stand up to pornography. Yet to be opposed to porn in no way means a person is opposed to sexuality in all of its healthy and positive forms. Women who are the most secure and confident, who have the temerity to stand up to such fallacious claims, are surely stronger than the women held in sway by the pornified culture’s myths. Moreover, the idea that a woman can’t “own” or “explore” her own sexuality without incorporating pornography into her life (as “sex positive” pro-porn feminists would have it) is insulting, and an extraordinarily narrow and limiting view of sexuality.

Pamela Paul (via starlingswarm)

I still feel pretty neutral about pornography in general, but what’s pushed me away from that neutrality is the extreme hostility, even in left-wing spaces, directed towards anyone who says anything less than positive about porn. The viciousness with which the left turns on women who say even moderate things like, “I do not want my male partners to consume pornography” or “I feel that pornography is degrading” gets treated like she’s some far right extremist.

(via galesofnovember)

I don’t like that this quote claims that women who “stand up” to porn are “stronger” than women who don’t (it kind of reeks of that “you’re buying to patriarchy” kind of argument) but overall it really resonates with me. I’m not “anti-porn” per se but I’m pretty critical of it and don’t hold any illusions about there ever being unproblemtic porn in a misogynist, homophobic, transphobic society.

Also I’ve seen these attitudes in a lot of queer circles too, especially if you dare criticize “queer” or “feminist” porn. I do love Crash Pad but it isn’t perfect, nor do I think it can operate in some kind of vacuum outside of what society has made porn to be.

(via galesofnovember)

06/4/12