Misogyny in *

[HuckFinn1]

This is the "adult" gathering place, so hopefully this is allowed. I read this article (http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2011/11/larry_flynt_hugh_hefner_and_bob_guccione_would_modern_porn_be_less_awful_if_its_founders_hadn_t_hated_women_.html) on Slate today and was curious other people's reactions. (There's nothing graphic in the article).

I don't consider myself anti-porn, but I will say that I've been incapable of watching most of what I've seen because of the violence/degradation towards women.

I'm very interested in other opinions.

[brightasyellow]

I can honestly say I've never watched *. It never interested me, so I can't really comment on the violence level in it. I'm on the bandwagon of women choosing what they want to do, but it does sound like that these four men created * with a misogynistic intent.

[xyz]

...except when it comes to Hugh Hefner, whom he singles out as an overt woman-hater, one whose intellectual pretensions are belied by the harem of interchangeable blondes he treats like pets.

I watched a documentary about Hugh Hefner a while ago and this quote rings so true. Oh, it doesn't matter how he treats women because did you see the article on civil rights he published? Total bullcrap.

There is a lot of misogyny in pornography, absolutely. I wonder how much of it is caused by people thinking that * is supposed to be misogynistic because of points like the one brought up in this article. I also have seen lady friendly * and am glad that more woman are able to control how they are portrayed.

[LuLeeBelle]

I'll just come right out and say it - I am a total prude and I wish * didn't even exist because just the thought of it is disgusting to me and makes me feel icky.
But I've heard about a website that let's couples upload and showcase their own sex videos - which means that they're probably more realistic and done by loving couples, and I like the idea of a lot though I couldn't do it myself. I think there's maybe hope for society after all.

[HuckFinn1]

I totally understand not being into *, I'm not all that interested myself. However, I wonder if more women aren't interested because of the way women are portrayed in mainstream *. I think that's why this article got my attention; the idea that * doesn't have to be this way.

I suppose I'm ultimately interested because I'm concerned about women's welfare and our portrayal in * is a facet of this.

[brightasyellow]

I totally understand not being into *, I'm not all that interested myself. However, I wonder if more women aren't interested because of the way women are portrayed in mainstream *. I think that's why this article got my attention; the idea that * doesn't have to be this way.

I suppose I'm ultimately interested because I'm concerned about women's welfare and our portrayal in * is a facet of this.

You summed up my feelings perfectly. I couldn't quite verbalize it. I wonder how many * writers and directors are women? That would be an interesting statistic.

[Ptree82]

But I've heard about a website that let's couples upload and showcase their own sex videos - which means that they're probably more realistic and done by loving couples, and I like the idea of a lot though I couldn't do it myself. I think there's maybe hope for society after all.

This might be TMI but I've done this. I'm not a big fan of * at all because it always seems unrealistic. There's something about watching yourself and the person you love (or not) that is a huge turn on. However I don't know how I would feel about uploading my own video onto a website. That sort of thing should be kept between the two people who made the video.

[summermoon]

I will admit that I do watch some *. I, seriously, feel ashamed of it because of how the women are treated and portrayed. I try to convince myself that these women choose to do this, and maybe (probably) they do, but why do the women have to be treated so raunchy. Most of the time I'm horrified by what I see on the internet (imgfave, mostly).

[brightasyellow]

I think that we want to see * actresses as women choosing this profession because feminism is all about having the choice. But where is the line crossed when the film itself degrades women? It's confusing, you know?

[xyz]

I will admit that I do watch some *. I, seriously, feel ashamed of it because of how the women are treated and portrayed.

Google "lady friendly *". I believe it will lead you to some articles that have links to websites where content is female produced and controlled or at the very least not something that would give you the skeevies.