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• An Honest Look at the Pornography of Women and Children
  
  Pornography is all around us. To state that something is pornographic is a value judgement; it is difficult to pin a definition to it and extremely difficult to eliminate in today's society. It needs more attention. Everyone needs to understand what it is and what happens on the inside, hidden from public view, so that governments can be forced to take action to control this accepted form of exploitation.
  
  Magazines designated as 'soft porn' are on the top shelf for a reason, but what about topless girls in newspapers with no restrictions on purchase? What about the bikini or underwear clad models with legs spread, thrusting hips towards the camera? Can these be considered soft porn? The girls who pose for such photographs have been sexually objectified for profit.
  
  Critics say that pornography can be beautiful - that it's an art form and that women have the right to display their bodies. However this 'art form' reduces the value of women to their excretory and sexual organs for the sexual gratification of men. Many people believe that such women choose to engage in pornography and that they are well paid.
  
  Pornography emphasises sexual inequality. It has its roots in sexual discrimination and is the basis of sexual subordination of women. Most pornography of women comes from the US and Europe and has very strong links to human trafficking. It is a multi-billion dollar industry in which criminals profit and the women suffer. Pornography occurs when someone (usually male) has power over women.
  
  Pornography also emphasizes racial inequality. Magazines, books, film and sex shops generally portray Asian women as subservient to their sex partner and black women as animalistic with an insatiable appetite for any form of sexual activity. Some producers exacerbate this by introducing ethnic, cultural and religious hatred into the making of pornography.
  
  Technology has enabled pornography to be made anywhere, by anyone, involving anyone. Control of the illicit industry has now become impossible. This boom has made conditions unimaginably worse for women and children trafficked into the pornography industry and more profitable for organised crime. The use of children in pornography is endemic, especially in developed countries.
  
  There has been a massive increase in sex offenders producing pornography in developing countries, by simply video recording their sexual exploitation. These videos are widely available on the internet and are stockpiled in private collections. Hard-core Western-made pornography is now widely used in developing countries to train children to perform sex acts. This same video footage is often used by groups of predatory male youths to get 'into the mood', as they get high on alcohol or drugs before assaulting a pre-selected victim. Worldwide the viewing of pornography has been directly linked to instances of rape and gang rape, as men get stimulated and desire to enact what they have been watching. It is also linked to the increase in male hostility towards females, and the increase in sexual violence and rape of females – all of which demonstrate an abuse of power.
  
  Imagine someone learning about human sexual relationships from the videos available in sex shops and on the internet? They would learn that sex acts are acceptable with everyone, including members of the same family. They would learn that sex has to happen within minutes of meeting someone for the first time, that sex can involve several people simultaneously, that violence administered to the genitals is mandatory and that ejaculations have to be carefully aimed and choreographed. They would learn that all openings in the body are involved in sex acts, that any object can be inserted into any opening and that everything has to be filmed so that it can be sold around the world.
  
  Arguably the most talked about pornographic film ever made was 'Deep Throat'. To quote Linda Boreman, known as Linda Lovelace in the film: "every time someone watches that film, they are watching me being raped". Viewers watched it for the pornography and were not interested in what it took to make the film. Linda was coerced into making the film and was frequently held at gun point. She cannot have the film removed from circulation because it's protected by law. Thanks to make-up the viewer can't see the bruises on her body that were used to control her behind the scenes. During filming she was held captive, like so many victims today. Women, like Linda, are in a vulnerable position and can easily be exploited, through pornography, for money.
  
  Too many women in pornography are trapped in poverty and easy to exploit. Socio-economic conditions compound their desperation and make them more likely to take risks. Many have been trafficked for the sole purpose of making pornographic films, and there is much evidence to show that many of them have been sexually abused as children. Many victims trafficked for pornography are indeed children.
  
  Should we believe that all women and children in pornographic films and images chose to be violated by strangers and have sex with animals? No! They are there because they are victims of a heinous crime. After such exploitation most victims are coerced into prostitution, with the images and films they were forced to make subsequently used to blackmail them. Pornography is available everywhere on earth. Although some societies prefer it to remain discrete, people can find it everywhere. If it can't be bought openly, there is a thriving black market controlled by criminal syndicates. Although the law acknowledges the damage done by pornography, it continues to fail to monitor it effectively. Pornography has destroyed lives for too long. Anything that condones the rape and abuse of women and children to cater to the fantasies and sexual gratification of viewers is evil.
  
  Pornography makes sex disgusting and women dirty. It removes dignity, enforces discrimination at many levels and forces women and children to be prostituted. Normally associated with total sexual subordination, pornography can also reflect a woman's subordinated position in the workplace, at home and throughout society. Violence has also become sexualized, leading to an increase in pornography involving children, extreme violence in perverted sex and ‘snuff’ films.
  
  Proof of harm is required before restrictions can be considered, but isn't child pornography, bestiality, sexual violence and murder enough? Should every occurrence be treated on an individual basis when they are so frequent and difficult to trace? Extensive research has concluded that pornography is both physically and mentally damaging, with much evidence of coercion and exploitation. There is also evidence that pornography has a strong correlation with violent copy-cat sex crimes, substantiated by perpetrators’ confessions. To be free of all forms of discrimination, degrading treatment and violence is a fundamental human right. Pornography is totally incompatible with human rights, dignity and equality. We will never witness sexual equality as long as pornography exists, so it is vital that it is eliminated. It preys on the poor and the vulnerable and gives organised crime the opportunity to flourish and become financially powerful.
  
  People who oppose pornography need to fully understand that some of your predecessors have lost their jobs, have faced victimisation in the workplace to the point of having promotion blocked and some are literally too frightened to have their name linked with it, so they would rather remain anonymous. Opponents (especially women opponents) must appreciate that pornography is a very powerful part of patriarchal society; vilification will occur just as it did when women were fighting for their right to vote.
  
  To critics of this article, undoubtedly a small minority of 'performers' do make a substantial income from pornography and it is their choice to do so. However, this article is to inform people about the harsh reality of the vast majority of women and children engaged in pornography. It is about trying to convince people not to turn their backs on the women and children who are exploited on a daily basis and who have been victims of ruthless human traffickers.
  
  Public action and political will must be stronger if these routinely accepted crimes against humanity are to be stopped. Everyone needs to give it much more attention. Anti-pornography campaigns need a revival so that society can ensure that there are fewer victims.
  
  David McCracken.
  Anti-human trafficking activist.

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  3:23
  15 October, 2012

  davidmcc