Please respond:
I am a prevention education specialist for an agency that serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Oregon – I am writing because I am deeply concerned with your article/response to a reader of your article on men viewing pornography. My view is coming from a violence prevention standpoint, as well as a professional concerned with the practices and cultural influences of the porn industry and those who consume it.
As a person views pornography for sexual gratification, over time this shapes their desires and ability to become aroused in personal interactions with partners, as well as hinders a persons ability to climax unless they experience/fantasize in the moment about the pornographic material they watch regularly. Much like drug addiction, men who regularly watch porn continue to need “more” and increasingly intense/violent forms of pornography to experience the same satisfaction. Studies show regular watching of pornography also hinders men’s happiness and satisfaction in relationships, and prevents men’s ability to be connected to their partner.
Pornography is not focused on mutual relationships, respect, consent, etc., which are integral to healthy sexual relationships – it is focused on the degradation of women. It normalizes and sexualizes violence against women. It perpetuates unhealthy and dangerous attitudes about gender, including the belief that women are sexual objects to be used by men.
The porn industry and its consumption cause many other harms including the sexualization of children; inability of men to connect meaningfully within relationships; exploitation and abuse of those who are in the porn industry as “actors”; and causes unhealthy understandings and attitudes about sexuality, relationships, and gender roles.
There are numerous documentaries and studies that I recommend watching/reading that may be helpful in further explaining the harms of pornography on those who are exploited by it, as well as those who view it:
http://www.socialcostsofpornography.com/
http://thepriceofpleasure.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_Ytffu1WrI&feature=youtu.be
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125382361
Warning – some of these may contain graphic material.
There are also many others who have studied the ways in which watching porn change beliefs, attitudes, brain chemistry etc.