The Evidential Facts Regarding the Influence of Pornography on Rape - Essay Example

Pornography and Rape Pornography and Rape Considering the existence of deep-rooted feminist viewpoints, debate on pornography, whether non-violent or violent, on sexual aggression has steamed for decades. The recent review examines the evidential facts regarding the influence of pornography on rape in experimental and correctional studies in the actual world’s sexual aggression crime data. Evidence for casual correlations between exposure or access to sexual aggression and pornography is slim and at times, has been motivated by pressure groups, politicians and social scientists (Malamuth, 2014). The debate has mainly focused on violent pornography since the perception revolves around the male tendencies to develop negative myths about rape, which is believed to emanate from the scenes depicted in violent pornography (McKee, 2007). However, the evidence of any adverse effects of pornography is inconsistent and comparatively, violent pornography is rare worldwide (Malamuth, Addison & Koss, 2000). The rate of victimization of rape demonstrates an inverse relationship between rape rates and pornography in the United States alone, a country believed to have fully addressed the rape menace. Data from other western nations have portrayed similar results. Even though these data cannot be relied on to determine whether pornography has cathartic impact on the rape conduct, with the weak evidence that support the negative causal hypothesis derived from the scientific reports, it has been challenging to relate pornography and actual rape. Most findings conclude that it is time to discard the widespread hypothesis that pornography contributes to the increased statistics of sexual assault behavior that can simplistically be termed as rape (Malamuth, 2014). Introduction One of the long-standing concerns in the social sciences involves the relationship between sexually explicit products and different asocial behaviors, which entails the propensity to commit rape. In order to make effective and informed policies toward getting solutions to the sexual assault problem, it is imperative examine the nature of the relationship between sexually explicit materials or pornography and rape. Rape, which is a severe form of sexual aggression, is a major problem for women in the global society (Seto, Maric & Barbaree, 2001). Rape is a big epidemic that affects nearly all the nations of the world. The victims of this form of sexual assault come across all ethnicities, races, ages, classes, religions and cultures. Sociologists and other concerned persons, therefore, have committed to investigating its causes and determinants in order to reduce the likelihood of its future occurrences. Many drawbacks that have challenged this course such as acceptance of rape myth, however, have implied by sexually explicit materials like aggressive pornography. Rape and pornography may cause similar adverse effects on the society, but research has little to show of any correlational or relational ties between them that can justify claims that pornography influences rape (Malamuth, Addison & Koss, 2000). Pornography is a multi-billion dollar business that thrives across the global societies (Lane, 2000). Pornography is always argued that it could possible invoke sexual assaults. Rape is a choice and once a person has the rapist character, it does not matter whether he watches pornography to commit the crime or not. Many people have large pornographic collections and never indulge in rape while on the other hand, some people would have few collections of the materials, or fail to have them at all, but still fail to commit the crime. Pornography does not influence rape. Aggressive, however, pornography induces rape-related attitude that some of its viewers put into action while when indulging in sexual intercourse. Rape, Pornography and the Law Through time, rape has acquired various definitions. Traditionally, the definition of rape did not involve the interest of women to their expectation. Forceful sexual penetration of a woman was only considered to be rape when the woman had tried to resist the act, with her utmost force and failed. Later, the definition of rape only covered the cases that involved forceful sexual intrusion outside marriage. In this case, forceful sexual intercourse that involves a man and his wife did not amount to rape. Over the years, with the rise of feminist and gender equality campaigns, policymakers have made amendments that legally define rape in a rounded manner, covering all scopes and domains of sexual aggression (Seto, Maric & Barbaree, 2001). Different countries adopt diverse definitions of rape, but the primary elements that construct the definition are forceful sexual penetration or intrusion without the consent of the victim within and without the domestic hemispheres. Pornography is the presentation of sexual subject matter intended to induce arousal. It entails then production of sexually explicit materials, which are sold to the members of the public. Male are the main gender that mostly participate in the viewing of pornographic materials (Malamuth, 2014). It has been hard for law enactment officers to come up with a proper definition of pornography. It is also hard to estimate the dangers posed by pornography. It is generally viewed in privacy, which make it challenging to collect data. The society has welcomed pornography, which has resulted in then normalization of pornographic materials and behaviors. Pornography does not entail film alone. It has been presented in other forms like writings and pictures as portrayed in the porn magazines. The law, therefore, has not been able to control the spread of pornography in the society. In fact, many arguments have been made in support of pornography. The only restriction that most sociologists and governments have agreed on is the ban of child pornography. Many nations have restricted children under certain age from accessing pornographic materials. The most illegal of all is using underage persons in the participation of pornography while producing the films (Seto, Maric & Barbaree, 2001). Some members of the society for many reasons consume pornographic materials. Whereas some people might use it to attain sexual arousal with their partners, some prefer watching the pornographic film in solitude; hence, becoming sexually aroused. Pornography and Masculinity Pornography and Femininity Given that pornography has no direct link to pornography might mislead at times when the question of its effects to sexuality is concerned (Malamuth, Addison & Koss, 2000). Pornography has some insinuations that portray the members of the female gender in a negative way. Feminists have strongly stood against how the pornographic materials depict women. To some extent, these depictions have resulted in the development of some negative attitude in men about women. This is the main reason why aggressive pornography has influenced the behavior of men during sexual engagement. Men are the main participators as far as pornography viewing is concerned. A small percentage of women engage in the act. Pornography is normally associated with the exaltation of masculinity. Femininity is undermined in the pornographic films, especially in the aggressive pornography. Women are usually mishandled and treated as animals by the way they as treated and portrayal of animalistic sexual positions. Psychologically, this has led to negative cognitive tendencies in males as far as sex and femininity is concerned. It can, therefore, be concluded that pornography has led to degradation of acceptable social norms. In a matter of curiosity, many men are charged to try pornographic tendencies or moves at home on their spouses, which demean femininity. The most remarkable point in this discussion is that pornography instills negative sexual myths in men about women (McKee, 2007). Furthermore, most pornographic presentations imply that women are men’s sexual playthings that are always ready to appease their sexual demands. Regardless of all these adverse effects pornography might have on the society, it is hard to equate it to rape (Malamuth, Addison & Koss, 2000). Incidences of rape had been rampant even in the times when pornographic presentations were in their amateur stages. Having negative impact on femininity does not entirely justify that it promotes rape-related tendencies. Pornography and Masculinity Having mentioned the effects of pornography on femininity, its effects on the society would be incomplete without mentioning it implications on masculinity (Malamuth, Addison & Koss, 2000). The debate on whether pornography is harmful to human sexuality indicates that it has negative implications on the male gender as well. Pornography is perceived to reduce sexual sensitivity in males. When men start the habit of watching pornographic films, they usually prefer soft pornography in order to attain the level of arousal they expect. However, after viewing these materials for some time, their sensitivity is reduced and such men usually require another level of pornographic activity to be sexually aroused. The masculinity and the innate urge to show superiority over women drive such men to look for more intense pornography, which directs them to aggressive pornography (Malamuth, 2014). In perspective, the habit has a system of taking men through levels of need. Veteran viewers of pornography prefer aggressive and hard pornography to attain sexual arousal. They lose sensitivity and require intense treatment during actual sex. Therefore, they tend demonstrate similar sexual vigor during intercourse. This behavior can only alter an individual’s pattern of behavior when having a sexual intercourse. Myths that strengthen masculinity and weaken femininity have been derived from pornographic illustrations. Many people believe that certain myths developed from the weak side of femininity that are usually implied in the pornographic films contribute to the rise in increased sexual assault among women, especially rape. Theoretically, it is easy to make such an assumption but when empirical research and proper analysis are conducted because of actual records, negative influences of pornography on the society can be established (Malamuth, 2014). However, nearly no evidential report can be made to link pornography and rape. Rape Myths, the Media and the Facts about Rape Due to technological advancements, many changes have occurred in economic, aesthetics, cultural and social domains. The media influences what people believe in and how they perceive reality (Dines & Jensen, 2004). Advancement in the production techniques has led to the evolution of written and illustrative pornography to audio-visual sexual presentations that deliver the explicit contents in details. The media has catapulted myths about rape based on stereotyping of women. These stereotypes are derived from the way women are depicted in the porn films. The media, on the other hand, has failed address the emanating issues properly and instead, has continued to spread the same myths. Consequently, not only the pornographic products that can be entirely argued to have caused social degradation but also other factors (Dines & Jensen, 2004). With the internet technology and the introduction of social media including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, the spread of rape myths has taken a whole new dangerous direction (Dines & Jensen, 2004). Rape myths are some of the influences of the social media that have influenced the way perpetrators of rape regard their victims. Some of the rape myths echoing through the media include: When a girl says no, she actually means yes – it is a myth that inspires men when their female counterparts object to their sexual advancements. They believe that woman needs the sex and saying no is just a lame means of ‘playing hard-to-get.’ If a woman has had sex with a man before, she has already consented to have sex with the man again – this is a case where men believe that a woman they have had sex with is already willing to have sex with them again (McKee, 2007). Rape victims evoke the act when the act sexy, dress provocatively or go a bar, someone’s house or room – the myth tends to justify a rape case where the woman has committed the three acts. It is never a rape when it happens when a woman has taken drugs or drunk – this misleading myth directs the rape blame to the victim. It tends to justify rape when the victim has indulged in either of the two acts, which makes them vulnerable to the crime (McKee, 2007). The people who are strangers to the victim commit the crime of rape. It is never rape in a case where the victim knows the perpetrator. Facts In a way, the myths that are spread by the media, especially the internet, tend to justify the act of rape (Kendall, 2006). They actually do not influence rape or drives the perpetrator towards committing the act. Instead, they interfere with the justice and deter the victim from seeking correctional measures when at the time of rape, they were caught up with one or more of the rape myths. The truth on the myths is that women are humans and are definite as well when it comes to what they really want. They realize their positions on decisions they make; they mean ‘objection’ when they say ‘no’ and ‘acceptance’ when they say ‘yes’ just like everyone else. Having sex with a man before does not justify a second chance of the same. They have the right to make as much multiple choices as they wish. Rape is never the fault of the victim in spite of how they have dressed or behave. The perpetrator who makes the choice induces the forceful act and is, therefore, liable to the blame (Dines & Jensen, 2004). This law observes the situation as rape even in the situations where the victim has taken drugs or drunk. The conduct of rape does not discriminate against the strangers neither does it support the people who are known by the victim. When the conduct is forceful, the law defines and treats the conduct as rape. Major Differences between Pornography and Rape Pornography is a business and like any other enterprise, it is controlled by the rules of demand and supply. No one is obliged to make purchases of pornography and only the interested parties can buy and consume its contents (Lane, 2000). Therefore, pornography poses as a product and consumers have specific reasons of need; seek specified utility. Some of the people who watch pornography are decent and well-grounded people of the society who follow all the precautions needed when consuming the product or bringing the product to the domestic hemispheres where children live as well. Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry that operates openly. It includes small corporations and many producers with substantial assets. The industry releases the contents in CDs and DVDs with annual sales that is estimated at more than $10 billion. Some analysts have brought up questions as to whether the women working or participating in the production of the materials are forced or coerced into action which would amount to sexual violence. Those are viewpoints that are challenging to prove given that the people participating in the production of pornography are professionals who are well paid. It is, therefore, less likely that the women are forced to participate. Initially, pornography was an underground business with extensive ties to crime. Today, it is a contemporary mainstream industry that has no difficulty in finding men and women who are ready to indulge into participation. However, there are some instances in the action that raises question as to whether women participants are abused or allowed to make decisions on how they are handled during the production of the films. Some actions such as double penetration where a woman is in sexual intercourse with two men at the same time are unexplored and are responsible to the developments of these questions (DAmato, 2006). Extrapolations from the information available about prostitution combined with anecdotal evidence imply that physical and psychological damages are common and that drug use and heavy drinking use are routine in the industry. The later reasons and the fact that the producers normally generously pay the participants of their duties support that the actors and actresses are actually drawn into participation out of free will. Therefore, it is less likely that rape and other forms of sexual assault can be attached to the production of pornography (Malamuth, 2014). Rape is an act that do not conform to the conventional standards of acceptable and proper social behavior. It must not be met with any tolerance at all costs. Rape is an act based on choice and habit. Rapists are not created by pornographic contents. Many people convicted of the crime have confessed not having watched porn prior to the action. At the same time, many people watch pornography and remain composed without any instances of rape. Rape is a choice, and rapists decide or premeditate the act before commitment. Some even plot it. Rapists are perverts that do not need to be induced by some sort of pornographic illustration or presentation that compels them into the act. To an extent, it has been argued that pornography can help reduce instances of sexual assault. Comparatively, rape and pornography should not be treated as complementary instances, where rape compliments pornography. Instead, they should be viewed as substitutes. People with very high libido are likely to demand for sex even if it entails rape. With readily available pornography, some psychologists speculate that pornography would replace rape at such instances. An individual would rather watch pornography and indulge in practices like masturbation, which would quench the sexual urge. In this case, the individual would gain the same utility that he, however, would have sought by rape or any other sexual violence. Pornography does not involve perpetration, but choice. In contrast, rape entails breach of right. From these explanations, it is vivid that rape is a criminal offence while pornography is a business – an individual makes a choice whether to watch the materials or refrain (Lane, 2000). Pornography is a contemporary phenomenon. In then earlier days, materials that were majorly considered as pornographic were written. Consumers read the written erotic words in order to attain the sexual arousal. Images or pictures that were presented accompanied by text characterized pornography that was produced in the following years. In the contemporary world, pornography has taken a universal shift that is characterized intense technology. This has led to increased utilization of pornographic materials. The internet supplies the contents worldwide and given that nearly the whole population of the world has access to pornography, the earlier implications have increased (Kendall, 2006). However, other determinants of personal behavior and character have advanced as well due to the advancements of technology. Pornography Study and Analysis The study concerning the possible effects of pornography has multiple outcomes. The main areas that are normally tackled in these researches include domestic violence, potential influences on rape, turmoil in sexual relationships sexual dysfunction and child sexual abuse. Viewers of pornographic content, with time, may become tolerant to the erotic images. This can affect sexual response as earlier discussed. Currently, there is no evidential information that pornographic films and images can become addictive. Therefore, several researches conclude that the liberation and normalization of porn in the society may be associated with the decline in sexual violence and rape rates (DAmato, 2006). On the off chance that the inquiry regarding the association between rape and pornography is constructed straightforwardly - "Does pornography influence sexual assault?" - the answer is negative. Since a few men who use pornography do not assault, and a few men who assault do not use pornography, erotic display is neither a necessary nor an adequate condition for rape. There is no way to make a persuading case that pornography is, as the lawyers quote, an "if not but for" reason - "if not but for the utilization of pornography, this individual would not have raped." However, in the event that we contemplate the inquiry past cause and end results models (which are not particularly helpful in evaluating any human conduct), we may ask, "has pornography been a factor that ever adds to rape?" That question perceives the limits of the human capacity to comprehend complex conduct while in the meantime opening up pathways for deeper comprehension within those limits. Pornography critics do not contend that it is ever the sole direct causation factor of rape. Nobody contends that if erotic entertainment declines that sexual assault would decrease. Rather, the discussion should be about the courses in which pornography may be embroiled in sexual violence. Studies comprehend that explicit or erotic display (pornography) alone does not influence men to do it, but obscenity is a piece of a world in which men do it and subsequently, the production of pornographic content and its use are essential to understand in the quest to eradicate sexual violence. Consumption and Effects - Internet Pornography and Rape With internet technology, pornography has become more rampant than before. Many countries have access to pornographic materials due to the internet technology (Kendall, 2006). Questions raised as to whether internet pornography has reduced instances of rape are not new. Various studies have identified that with the increased usage of internet technology, which has enhanced pornography with many people embracing the habit, rape cases have reduced significantly (Kendall, 2006). This is an interesting establishment given that some critics have tried to link pornography to rape. There are many online porn websites in the internet that air the materials, some are viewed free; some are purchased. Ethnographers have traced the origin of rape from the earlier periods when the internet was non-existent. The introduction of pornography took place many years later. Historical evidence indicates that the conduct of rape does not rely on pornography to inculcate. Basically all reviews gathered from the research on the possible connection between sexual violence (rape) and pornography insinuate evidence for some limited results on male consumers, but no reasonable way to obtain definite conclusions. Looking for direct connection of pornography and rape in a traditional science model is likely to be an endless assessment. One cannot possibly construct imaginations on research methods that would yield more compelling information and conclusions (DAmato, 2006). More insights on the subject are only possible researchers expand the scope of inquiry. Many studies have sought the answer to the question about the link between rape and pornography. The historical argument confirms that pornography does not totally link to rape. The rape behavior exists in the character. The only argument that can claim responsibility of rape to pornography is the case where a rapist watches a pornographic content and becomes so sexually aroused that he seeks a victim. This is to say that rape is the conduct of the person, but not an induction from an external force. Pornography is a grounded worldwide phenomenon that is in the contemporary world, treated as business. Even the governments issue licenses to the production of pornographic materials. Interestingly, it is seen as a commodity with economic power and contributes to the producing country’s GDP. Like in any other crime, rape cannot be blamed on any other external factor. It is a choice and, therefore, it comes from within the perpetrator even before the actual commitment. Many rape perpetrators premeditate the action and mainly on the people they know about. The begin contemplating the action on the people they have developed lust on. When they ever make a sexual advancement toward the victim, and the victim objects, they are likely to jump into committing the crime as a last resort. Sometimes, they do not even seek consent from the victim but resort to rape immediately their plan is set and the environment becomes conducive for the action. Remedies to the Problems of Pornography and Rape Even though it can be argued out that pornography does not influence rape, it has adverse impacts on the society. Rape is not the only vice in the society. There are more societal concerns that need to be eradicated, other sexual assaults inclusive. To eliminate rape, sociologists and other relevant expertise should research on the subject and establish the primary causes of rape, which should be the primary targets of remedial measures. Governments should implement the suggestions that have been formulated by the expertise who have conducted fieldwork on the subject and most probably, understand the incidence and prevalence of rape occurrence. Enactment of policies and laws that hinders the potential courses of rape ought to be in place. Even though pornography is perceived not to have any direct links to rape or have any conclusive reason to the increase of rape prevalence, the society should formulate initiatives of addressing its adverse effects especially those emanating from aggressive content. Some pornography should be banned in all nations, of which failure to conform to the ban should effect a severe prosecution. This includes child pornography. Child pornography should not be tolerated and only adults, who are able to responsibly process the contents of pornography, should utilize the materials. When developing informed solution to rape, the authorities should hold in mind that pornography is just, but one of the many elements that exist in the huge and diverse sex industry. The industry include other aspects like phone sex, mass-media sex, social media sex, escort services, massage parlors, strip clubs, sex tourism and street prostitution. In advertisements and marketing, the women’s sexuality is used in many explicit ways. All these areas should be put in question as far as checking the sexual sanity of the society is concerned. Conclusion Rape has existed since time immemorial. It is a major concern in the world today and many countries have taken measures against the vice and crime (McCall & Shields, 2008). Campaigns against the problem are widespread. The prevalence of rape keeps on rising in spite of the regulations, initiatives, policies that have been put in place to curb the problem. Researchers from sociological and psychological areas of study have initiated studies to look into the issue in a bid to establish causes and possible remedies. Technology has resulting in many developments that have caused sociological, economic and environmental changes. These changes can cause cultural alterations, which can change the traditional norms into socially unacceptable conducts (Sigel, 2002). At the same time, conducts that were initially perceived as asocial could be accepted in the resultant sociological course. For instance, pornography is a norm in the contemporary society, though; some societies still have hard time accepting the change whereas some accepts pornography to certain limits (Sigel, 2002). Child pornography is, however, unaccepted in almost all societies in the world. Pornography may virtually appear responsible for the increasing cases of rape, the research on the subject are always inconclusive. Rapists are mere perverts that exist in the society and pornography has no logical influence in the creation of their character and execution of their conduct (DAmato, 2006). Bibliography DAmato, A., 2006. Porn up, rape down. Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper Series Retrieved 3/03/09 from: http://anthonydamato.law.northwestern.edu/ Adobefiles/porn.pdf Dines, G. & Jensen, R. 2004. Pornography and Media: Toward A More Critical Analysis. In M.S. 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