Recently, on another blog site I host, I made a comment regarding my disdain for pornography and how I feel it upsets the social-order of things... only to introduce chaos.
I received many replies and comments from people. Some good, some not very good. But there was one that stuck out. A reader made a comment that many of my readers around various websites have made: "Isn't it better for society to have pornography to use as an outlet for our sexual frustration rather other, more dangerous forms of sexual expression like forced sex [rape], pedophilia [rape], and sodomy?"
I've encountered this argument many times but I haven't addressed it directly. Partly because I never took it seriously, which is a fault of my own, but I also don't see it as valid. In my mind, I see pornography as an evil much like rape.
On the surface of the question; pornography is the preferable choice. I would prefer that a pedophile remain in his house and away from children.
But if we dive deeper into the question there is more than initially meets the eye:
1) Is there a correlation between increased viewing of pornographic material and decreased sexual assaults [rape, molestation, etc]?
-Statistically it's a hard question to answer. There are many variables and the outliers involved. But here are the facts:
The increased viewership of pornography is directly associated with a decreased percentage of rape. According to:
http://www.law.stanford.edu/display/images/dynamic/events_media/Kendall%20cover%20+%20paper.pdf
http://anthonydamato.law.northwestern.edu/Adobefiles/porn.pdf
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3791317?uid=3739768&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=47698863378177
http://www.toddkendall.net/internetcrime.pdf
But is exposure to pornography really the only factor in determining the decrease in incidents of rape over the years?
I would argue that it is not. There may be other factors such as:
1) Public exposure.
- Social media and the internet have revolutionized the way we communicate with each other and the speed in which we do so. What happens in Siberia can be nearly instantaneously transmitted and broadcasted in Wichita, Kansas.
2) Punishment.
-Is the punishment for sexual assault and rape any greater now than it was two decades ago? The answer is no.
3) Are people generally more aware of their surroundings and take greater precautions now?
- Again, no.
4) Do possible offenders feel they have more to lose now than they did in years past?
- Possibly. They might feel more connected to society and more connected in general to the people around them, thanks to social-media and the internet.
5) Are people 'easier'? I mean, is sex with another person easier to achieve today than it was in years' past?
- Yes. Sex is more common and held to greater esteem today than it was a decade, two, or even three decades ago. When women and men alike were held to higher standards and dress codes, media (TV, movies, music, advertisements, etc), and public displays of affection were much more conservative.
Statistically speaking; rape is down, porn is up. And there is indeed a correlation.
This doesn't mean that pornography should be condoned. It simply means that much of American society is without the means to control their sexual urges. Thankfully; as a society, we choose the lesser of the two evils. Unfortunately, we do not choose abstinence and restraint.
SO,
We will now return to the initial question at hand: "Isn't it better for society to have pornography to use as an outlet for our sexual frustration rather other, more dangerous forms of sexual expression like forced sex [rape], pedophilia [rape], and sodomy?"
Again, the face of the question begs the answer YES! But it is to the contrary.
America is not only the largest producer of pornography but she is also its largest consumer. And one more thing: America is also popular destination for sex-trafficking.
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cshti0810.pdf
According to the statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Justice [see link directly above], sex trafficking is on the rise. Perhaps coincidentally, there is a correlation between the consumption of pornography and the rise in sex-trafficking.
It is estimated that one in five pornographic pictures on the internet are of under-age children. Many of whom are either forced, or coerced into the industry. And with the rising popularity of cell-phones, many children ranging from the ages of 12-17 are sending naked pictures to a specific love-interest, only for those pictures to end up on the internet.
SO,
Pornography leads to an increase in sex-slaves, child-trafficking, abuse of privacy, and an increase to human-trafficking in general, including drug-trafficking. Many of perpetrators of sex-trafficking are also involved in drug and labor-trafficking, which leads to an increase in crime, an increase in government spending which in turn leads to increased taxes and fewer dollars for Americans to spend on toys, food, clothes, homes, etc.
We have only analyzed the crime statistics, and the effects pornography has with our wallets and the threats it presents. We have not scratched the surface of porn's influence on government, monetary policy, household expenditures, or even delved into the metaphysical dangers porn presents to society everyday.
Next time you feel the need to defend porn, don't! You're not only wrong, but horribly uninformed, and a supporter of human-rights abuses of people of all ages, races, genders, and religions.
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