Pornification of Women in Mainstream Western Media

Introduction: Media, Sexuality, and the Pornification of Culture

Sexuality is a normal part of life for every male and female. Regardless of where a person lives, or what age they are, sexual desire is a recognized biological reality. However, Western media has been widely blamed for exacerbating and distorting this aspect of human life. Back in 1811, Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility mentioned the word "chaperon," reflecting a social norm in which a young woman and a young man were never left alone without a chaperone present ("Poisoned by Porn; It's," 2010, p. 14). Why was this the case? The answer lies in the historical understanding that sexual desire requires social guardrails. Women of that era were regarded as individuals deserving honor, respect, and protection. Over the course of two hundred years, as humans have advanced technologically and educationally, nearly all of those restrictions have fallen away. Far from defending a woman's honor, the media today portrays women as objects adorned with sexuality and beauty. Most women are encouraged to aspire to be sexy, hot, and beautiful rather than respected, educated, and intellectual.

The culture we live in today is being influenced by pornography to a dangerous extent. Pornified imagery has infiltrated language, fashion, advertising, film, magazines, television, and even video games. Gone are the days when boys had to go to any significant trouble to obtain pornographic material; in one form or another, it is now delivered to them (Sarracino & Scott, 2008, p. x). Pornography has become mainstream, and in fact mainstream culture itself has become thoroughly pornified. In the nineteenth century, boys were taught by their fathers and grandfathers that immoral behavior would carry consequences in this life and the next. Young girls were lectured by their mothers and aunts that sexual activity existed solely for reproduction, and that any woman who engaged in it for other reasons was considered a prostitute (Sarracino & Scott, 2008, p. xii). By contrast, in contemporary culture, any woman who appears to lack strong sexual urges is regarded as abnormal, and men who appear similarly disinterested are labeled homosexual.

American teenagers find themselves caught in a contradictory situation. While parents and health classes advise abstinence or caution, the internet and media present sex as something deeply desirable and pleasurable. This leaves adolescents confused about where to turn. They frequently turn to media as their primary guide, which then teaches them that sex and pornography are achievements to pursue, and that dressing "sexy" is both normal and desirable (Sutton, Brown, Wilson, & Klein, 2002, p. 26).

Many researchers have discussed how pornification has led to increased sexual demands from both men and women, regardless of age. A study cited by the Matrimonial Lawyers Association found that the more men viewed pornography, the more difficulty they had sustaining sexual relationships with real partners (Balan, 2010). The central concern is that pornography degrades women's role in intimate relationships. The cruelty and brutality depicted in pornographic material affects the way men conceptualize and treat women (Balan, 2010). Many women whose partners regularly consume pornography report feeling as though they are being cheated upon, and they are made to feel inadequate by partners whose expectations have been shaped by unrealistic on-screen depictions (Balan, 2010).