Lesbians and Pornography, Part 1
I know a lesbian couple that regularly watches pornography together. They watch straight porn, gay male porn, and lesbian porn. To them pornography is one method of foreplay.
I know several lesbians who watch porn occasionally, say, between relationships or when a partner is out of town.
I know several lesbians who find porn nauseating and loudly criticize those who watch it.
I know of one lesbian couple where one finds porn nauseating and the other secretly watches it — a lot.
I could keep going …
Is pornography exploitation? Is it simply the visual stimulation of sexual desires? Is it just downright nasty? Is it symbolic of women’s sexual freedom? Is it indicative of wanting to be more “male?” Is it silly? Is it serious? Is it liberating? Is it dangerous? Is it erotic? Is it obscene? Is it art? Is it trash?
Depending on who you ask — and depending on the material(s) in question – the answer to all the above can be “yes” or “no.”
Feminists in the 70′s and 80′s were clearly divided on this issue, with one faction strictly anti-porn and the other definitively pro-porn. Much has been written on this topic.
One problem we have — and that the US Supreme Court has had — is, first, defining what porn is and what it is not. “I can’t define it, but I know it when I see it” seems like SUCH a cop-out. it is difficult to have an intelligent or casual discussion of anything if we can’t agree on exactly what that thing is.
For the purpose of this discussion, I will present the following working definition of pornography as the visual depiction of sexual activities among consenting adults for the purpose of sexual arousal in the viewer.
If one wonders — of ANY depiction of visual sexuality — whether it is art or pornography, then it’s art.
This week we will hear from a true expert on the subject.
