Demand : Pornography and men’s violence againstwomen

• Pornography is a deeply polarizing issue. Its critics raise concerns of sex inequality, sexual violence and exploitation – in other words, that pornography causes harms of discrimination, in particular against women. Its defenders invoke freedom of expression and sexual freedoms, focusing on the dangers of regulation. Differences in opinion are particularly strong if we compare men and women as groups. Opinion surveys in countries such as Sweden and the United States have long shown that at least half of all women want to see stronger regulation to limit pornography – not infrequently a “total ban.” By contrast, significantly fewer men share that view, even if around 35–40% may similarly wish to see stronger regulation.Yet the reason pornography is an important issue for women’s shelters and other organizations working to prevent and combat men’s violence against women is not primarily that it gives rise to differences in opinion between men and women. Historically, pornography has often played a part in the shelters’ work with clients; their experience shows that it acts as a catalyst and inspiration that contributes to men’s sexual aggression and negative attitudes toward women. These experiences are further corroborated today by a large number of international scholarly studies and public inquiries into pornography’s link to men’s violence against women that have been conducted in various countries since the 1970s.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Statsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Political Science (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Juridik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Law (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

pornography

prostitution

violence against women

gender-based violence

gender equality

freedom of expression

freedom of speech

feminism

sexual violence

civil rights

criminal law

procuring

human trafficking

sex purchase

pornography regulation

pornography law

unlawful depiction of sexual coercion

judicial politics

legislative politics

Swedish politics

statsvetenskap

Political Science

Legal Science

rättsvetenskap

psykologi

Psychology

Publication and Content Type

pop (subject category)

kap (subject category)