Reevaluating Anti-Pornography Arguments: Definitions and Ramifications
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2024
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In this essay, I reexamine the anti-pornography argument put forward by feminist scholars such as Catherine MacKinnon and Rae Langton in the contemporary context from a culturally distinctive perspective. In my analysis, I take issue with two problems in the anti-pornography argument: its arbitrary distinction between pornography and erotica, and its oversight of how the regulation of pornography could potentially reinforce women’s subordination. As such, I conclude that the regulation of pornography is neither pragmatic given its prevalent digital distribution in the contemporary world, nor beneficial to its cause. As an alternative, I propose that we open to the possibility of feminist pornography, which potentially enables women to express their sexuality and regain control of their bodies.
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Wang, Junyu (2024). Reevaluating Anti-Pornography Arguments: Definitions and Ramifications. Master's thesis, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/31057.
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