Rape and Pornography - Research Paper Example

Rape and Pornography Rape and Pornography Many individuals feel insulted by pornography. Also, those who find it repulsive have every right to their judgment. However, some porn-haters proclaim that X-rated activities do not only disgust them, but also contribute to considerable social mischief – rape. In the Journal of Social Philosophy (2000), therapist Don Adams affirms that rape it is a noteworthy factor in divorce and mainly sexual irresponsibility. Andrea Dworkin, a late feminist activist, quarreled that by portraying women as men's agreeable sexual toys, pornography, in reality, contributes to rape.

Dworkin’s supporter, Robert Jensen wrote that pornography by itself does not make men rape; however, it might trigger coercive tendencies. Also, Anderson (2010), a porn critic, quarrels that porn challenges men's self-consciousness against rape and encourages some to commit the cruel act. This paper will examine the correlation between rape and pornography, arguing that porn and rape do relate, but positively. It has long been stated that there is a connection between rape and pornography and other sexual attacks and crimes (Adams, 2000).

Latest evidence confirms that there is undeniably a connection, but it is that the more pornography there is obtainable, the lower the occurrence of rape. Some scholars have argued that pornography is just a theory, but rape is the practice (Kutchinsky, 1991). Ordinary critics, with no doubt, have supported this fact arguing that pornography leads to rape. It is clear that they have not done ample research on this topic. The Internet turned into an imperative force in peoples’ daily life in the late 90s.

Prior to this period, porn was offered only in adult shops, through rentals, or on a few select newsstands. However, with the advent of the Internet, pornography accessibility exploded. Porn was now only a click away, available of a 24/7 basis for free in hundreds of millions of residences and offices. In 1997, 16% of American grown-ups used the Internet on a regular basis. By 2005, the number had quadrupled to 65%. The Internet has also made pornography much more accessible to vulnerable children.

How many children, ages 10 to 17 have watched Internet pornography? According to a current report in the academic journal, Pediatrics, the number is 42%. If pornography is a considerable donor to social mischief, people would expect to witness substantial growths in sexual irresponsibility, rape and divorce as from the late 90s when the Internet swiftly made X-rated items much more accessible to individuals who can prompt sexual chaos, overpoweringly men. Consider that following facts in order to make your judgment.

Sexual volatility has dropped ever since. Standard measures take in sexually transmitted infections and rates of abortion (Castleman, 2009). The nation's abortion rate, in line with CDC –the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as from the 90s, has fallen by 41%. The sexually transmitted infections rate has dropped 74%. Also, the syphilis and gonorrhea rate has fallen 57% (Castleman, 2009). Teenage sex has experienced a decrease ever since. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that as from 1991, the percentage of teenagers who have had sexual intercourse has dropped 7%.

Teenage condom use has gone up 16%. Also, the teenage birth rate has dropped 33%. Divorce, likewise has witnessed a positive turn. Since the inception of the internet, the divorce rate has dropped 23%. Of all these facts that were thought to be provoked by pornography, rape has also eased. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey Justice Department, as from since 1995, the sexual assault rate has dropped by 44% (Castleman, 2009). The reason why social harms have declined as porn becomes more extensively accessible nobody knows.

However, one thing that pornography, in fact, causes is masturbation. Internet pornography keeps men, children and everybody else attracted to it, at home one-handing it. Therefore, as a result, these people are not out in the world doing irresponsible or criminal acts. This paper is not in opposition that porn is entirely risk-free. Some men use it so spontaneously to the extent that it meddles with their thinking (Adams, 2000). They need rehabilitation. Some ladies become distressed when they find out that the men in their lives take pleasure in porn.

Such people can benefit from couple psychotherapy. Also, to the scope that porn is a sex educator, it coaches lovemaking all wrong, and researchers should do more research about this (Anderson, 2010). However, the evidence plainly proves that, from a social welfare viewpoint, porn causes no considerable harm. In reality, as porn watching has gone up, rates of gonorrhea, syphilis, teen sex, divorce, teen births and rape have all significantly declined. If Internet porn has any effect in the society, strangely enough, it looks positive.

Maybe mental health professionals ought to persuade men to view it. References Adams, D. (2000). Can Pornography Cause Rape? Journal of Social Philosophy, 31(1): 1-43. Anderson, K. (2010). Pornography. Suite, Texas: Probe Ministries. Castleman, M. (2009). Does pornography cause social harm? Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-about-sex/200904/does-pornography-cause-social-harm Kutchinsky, B. (1991). Pornography and rape: theory and practice? Evidence from crime data in four countries where pornography is easily available.

Int J Law Psychiatry, 14(2): 47-64.