I can see the argument from both sides. I'm studying to (eventually) get my doctorate in Women's Studies so I have to really study this stuff all the time. I tend to lean on the more progressive side. My girlfriend and I watch porn sometimes, she goes to strip clubs, I am a HUGE supporter of feminist porn and sex toy stores.
However it is undeniable that the whole scene has an extremely bad undercurrent and it's strong. If you have ever heard Gail Dines speak about pornography (Her lectures can be found on Google, heck here is the link
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5003155114018800220) you can't say you can still view porn in the same light. I am taking my girlfriend to see Dines speak at my college next month.
Look at any basement porn store in any major city. What selections do they sell? Who is purchasing DVDs there? In almost all those stores anyone can drop off a sex tape they made and get money for it. The main focus determines what section of the store it will be sold in, copies are made and boom soon later someone can come in and buy that very DVD. The DVD that was made at home by someone for money. It's impossible to tell if both parties making the DVD gave their concent to even the sex itself let alone the taping and selling of it. Judging by the drugged out women on the covers and the huge selection of rape and scat videos I highly doubt it. It's hideous. That is what makes me sick.
Also if you research sex trafficking in America (something we used to look at with disgust at other countries) you can find that it is alive and well in this country. In all of our cities. In many of our strip clubs. It's unbelievable. Here is a link to a little about that
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1596778&page=1.
So I can not say that I blame feminists who are anti-porn or anti-sex working. However, note I did not say anti-sex
worker. I do think all feminists strive to work towards female empowerment. If a women feels empowerment or is able to make a living doing so then fine, great even! The problem comes when women are trapped in these professions. It is made to seem like it was their own choice, but we both know that is not always the case. I believe issue can also be taken with women having little to no protection in these jobs. some are illegal, such as prostitution, and I can't recall ever hearing a case taken to court and won where a prostitute convicted someone who raped her. Some would even argue if it is even possible to rape a prostitute. Isn't she asking for it? That is what I believe some feminists find disgusting.
As for me I haven't made up my mind. I wish that we were living in a post-patriarchal society where women and men could express their sexuality openly and not have to worry about serious repercussions or being forced to do so. Until then...I guess I will still try to examine it all with an open mind and try to make the best choices I can.
Sorry to write a short novel! I was going to be brief, but as someone who is just really beginning to examine all of this I feel it can't go unspoken.
