The impact of pornography on women

By: Steve Huston

Consider the following:

“…
. The number of sex scenes in US television nearly doubled between 1998 and 2005 (Kunkel et al., 2005).

. Between October 2004 and April 2005, 70 percent of the twenty television shows most commonly watched by American teens included sexual content, and 45 percent contained sexual behavior (Peter & Valkenburg, 2007).

The following comes from “The Impact of Pornography on Women: Social Science Findings and Clinical Observations by Jill C. Manning, Ph.D., LMFT July 2008]
http://tinyurl.com/n5p9to
================================

On a recent out-of-state business trip, I encountered a young teenage woman who was wearing a pink tank top that read, “Future Porn Star” across the chest. This three-worded aspiration naturally caught my attention due to my clinical work with individuals, couples and families who are grappling with the impact of pornography and sexually compulsive behavior.

A myriad of questions crossed my mind after passing the teenage woman. Questions such as,
“What motivates a young woman to advertise such a statement?”,
“What does it mean?”,
“Who is she hoping it will offend, attract or.arouse?”,
“Who is profiting from this kind of merchandise?”,
“If it is a joke, how and when did working in the sex industry become funny as opposed to desperate or oppressive?”,

and of course, the infamous
“What’s next?”.

Reflecting on this brief encounter reinforced once again that pornography has long since left the seedy back alley world of the pre-Hugh Hefner era to take a socially and economically legitimized place in mainstream popular culture and the global economy (Morais, 1999). The pink tank top symbolically underscored the fact that the impact of pornography in today’s social milieu, and on women in particular, is complex, multifaceted and unprecedented.
…

According to current Internet traffic statistics, there are approximately 246,402,574 million Internet users in North America who represent 17.5 percent of the Internet users worldwide (Internet World Stats: Usage and Population Statistics, 2008).

Since 2000, there has been a 127.9 percent increase in Internet usage, with Internet accessibility now penetrating 73.1 percent of the North American population (Internet World Stats: Usage and Population Statistics, 2008). These figures are further put into context when one considers that according to Cooper’s (2004) research, 20 to 33 percent of those using the Internet do so for sexual purposes, with more recent online measurement services indicating that approximately 42.7 percent of Internet users now view pornography online (Internet Pornography Statistics, 2008). Furthermore, when one considers the following statistics and points as they relate to the social context that American women are currently being influenced by and influencing, a picture begins to come into view that has troubling implications for the social, emotional, spiritual, physical, and intellectual lives of women and men:

. In 2006, worldwide pornography revenue was estimated to be $97.06 billion dollars, with $13.3 billion of that being generated in the United States (Internet Pornography Statistics, 2008).

. Every second, there are approximately 28,258 Internet users viewing pornography (Internet Pornography Statistics, 2008).

. Approximately one in four Internet search engine requests is related to pornography (Internet Pornography Statistics, 2008).

. Every day there are approximately 116,000 online searches for child pornography (Internet Pornography Statistics, 2008).

. Approximately 30 percent of Internet pornography consumers are female (Internet Pornography Statistics, 2008; Nielsen//NetRatings, April 2005).

. In 2005, 13,585 hardcore pornographic video/DVD titles were released in the United States. This was up from 1,300 titles in 1988 (Internet Pornography Statistics, 2008).

. At the November 2002 meeting of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 62 percent of the 350 attendees said the Internet had been a significant factor in divorces they had handled during that year. It was further revealed that 68 percent of the divorce cases involved one party meeting a new love interest over the Internet; 56 percent of the divorce cases involved one party having an obsessive interest in pornographic websites; and 33 percent of the divorce cases cited excessive time communicating in chat rooms (a commonly sexualized forum) (Dedmon, 2002).

. The number of sex scenes in US television nearly doubled between 1998 and 2005 (Kunkel et al., 2005).

. Between October 2004 and April 2005, 70 percent of the twenty television shows most commonly watched by American teens included sexual content, and 45 percent contained sexual behavior (Peter & Valkenburg, 2007).

. According to Dr. Janice Crouse, a researcher for Concerned Women for America, it is estimated that 600,000-800,000 women, men and children are trafficked internationally each year with another 2 to 4 million trafficked within countries. Women make up 80 percent of humans trafficked and 70 percent of these women are used for sexual purposes (e.g., prostitution). The U.S. government estimates that 14,500 – 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year. As Dr. Crouse states, “The Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children both recognize that pornography is an element that adds to the serious problem of sex trafficking. Many traffickers are found with filming equipment and cameras to create and sell pornography” (McGinnis, 2007).

. Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted (including rape, attempted rape and other sexually violent felonies), and every 8 minutes, someone in the U.S. is raped (RAINN, 2008).

. In the U.S., one in four adolescent females (ages 14 to 19) is infected with at least one sexually transmitted disease, and 15 percent have more than one sexually transmitted disease (Altman, 2008). There are many ways to interpret the above listed points and statistics, as well as a plethora of other points that could have been listed here. The goal in highlighting a select few was to set a tone for: (a) understanding how the sex industry and pornography are gaining greater acceptance and presence in our culture, and (b) to gain insight into the sexual and cultural climate women are currently facing. Because many of these trends are relatively new, it will take time to clarify and isolate what is impacting what (and whom), and how these factors influence female development and lived experiences.

In the meantime, my clinical work with women is teaching me that an increasing number of women are seeking out mental health practitioners for issues related to these trends and the manner in which these phenomenon affect their relationships; their home, work and school environments; sexuality; self-esteem; and their identity as women. …

Taken from “The Impact of Pornography on Women: Social Science Findings and Clinical Observations” by Jill C. Manning, Ph.D., LMFT July 2008]
http://tinyurl.com/n5p9to

==================================
Match Grant Challenge — with 21 days yet to go.

$9,371.55 (62%)have been raised through today!   $5,629.45 yet needed to reach the goal!

Many of you have been helped by our nearly daily email. We ask for your stand with us to propel us over the top on this important match challenge!

Here are the details:

1.  it must be new money–from someone who hasn’t given in 2008 or 2009.   Or, any amount given in 2009 which was more than what someone gave in 2008.  E.g. donor gives $400 in 2008 but cumulatively gives $1000 in 2009 by the end of the match period, we will match $600
2.  we will match up to $15,000
3.  the funds must be received between June 15 and September 30.

https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=donate/display9
——————————————————————-
American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
ph: 231-924-4050
https://americandecency.org
http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

---