PORNOGRAPHY AND PROSTITUTION

Pornography and Prostitution

Pornography and Prostitution

Pornography or sexual materials are seemingly a part of human culture. From antiquity to the present, many societies have employed forms of sexual materials in writing, images, song, or dance for entertainment and/or sexual enjoyment. Not all cultures approve of such material, nor is there societal consensus regarding them. Over the past several decades, the debate in the United States about pornography has become increasingly salient, with a rise in political attention, in part as a result of increased consumption of pornography due to technological advances in the availability of sexual materials and in part from societal reactions to this greater availability. In response, pornography is the subject of research from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and has become a hotbed of contention both within feminist discourse and outside the academy.

Prostitution is a highly debated term. Its common definition is the exchange of sexual services for compensation, usually in the form of money or other valuables (Ditmore, 2006; Edlund & Korn, 2002; Esselstyn, 1968). Yet, there are many activities that can fall into this category, and it can be argued that getting married for the purpose of having a home and livelihood qualifies as prostitution (Edlund & Korn, 2002). Some add that to differentiate prostitution from other forms of nonmarital sexual activities, it must be devoid of emotional attachment between partners (McGinn, 1998). Others, such as Edlund and Korn, argue that an element of promiscuity must also be involved. However, the notions “devoid of emotional attachment” and “promiscuity” are also vague. A young woman maintaining a long-term sexual relationship with a “sugar daddy” may not fall in this category, while others may argue that this is indeed a form of prostitution. There is also difficulty in determining the number of partners one should have to be considered promiscuous. For example, the following was noted:

A woman who had sex with more than 23,000 men should be classified as a prostitute, although 40 to 60 would also do. However, promiscuity itself does not turn a woman into a prostitute. Although a vast majority of prostitutes are promiscuous, most people would agree that sleeping around does not amount to prostitution. (Edlund & Korn, 2002, p. 183)

Discussions about pornography often begin with questioning how to define it. Pornography is difficult to define, as the constructions are politically loaded regarding censorship and given the various ideological positions on pornography. Extensive research exists on the relationships between pornography and society, with followers of each position able to cite findings to bolster their position. Sociodemographic factors also affect individuals' beliefs concerning pornography. Another factor affecting the debate is that pornography is a lucrative financial industry that generates billions of dollars in revenue despite its disreputable social standing.

Various attempts at regulation have attempted to address problems of definition regarding pornography, obscenity, erotica, and art. Some differentiate between hard-core and soft-core pornography, gay and lesbian pornography, and fetish pornography. All definitions, imbued with subjectivity, have social, political, and moral ...