Summarize Naomi Wolf's argument against pornography. How does she support her points? What are the strengths in her argument? Are there any gaps or flaws in her logic? Do you agree or disagree with her argument? Why?
The Porn Myth
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Naomi Wolf states that pornography distances men from women sexually because they have seen so much of it that real women are a letdown. She supports her points by including quotes from actual people from the younger generation. The women feel like they can't satisfy their men without doing the same things women do in pornography, and the men no longer feel like sex is special or mysterious. The one flaw in her argument is that porn can work both ways. They probably don't pick ugly guys to be in them, so maybe women have the same sort of problem too. Maybe it isn't all on the men. Even advertisements feature very attractive men that are not like real men at all, just like they do with women. I don't really agree with her argument, because I feel like if a man is connected emotionally with his girlfriend, and cares for her, he'll know that he can't do the things that happen in pornography to her. It would be disrespectful to her, not to mention probably upsetting. I'd assume that once a guy gets married, and the crazy hormones from puberty pass, this problem would have passed too. Once he learns that intimacy is different from just sex, a connection would open up again.
naomi wolf supported her argument about pornography is that men use it as visual satisfaction and women feel like they can never compete with those women. the flaw in her argument is that even though a man could have attraction and be intimate with their partner it doesn't meant that they will stop having sexual desires for other women. in this day and age women are told all the many ways to satisfy their men from advertisements to "how to please your man" in a magazine. so many expectations seems to rely on the women nowadays. if they cannot satisfy their man, then he will find satisfaction from another women or maybe porn.
Naomi Wolf argues that porn has, in recent years, begun to diminish the sexual desire and attraction that men have for women, while making women feel more and more sexually and physically inadequate. She states that the abundance of hard-core pornography available at the click of a mouse has "set the stage" in both young men's and young women's minds for what is to be expected in the bedroom (or elsewhere) these days...an act that cannot possibly be lived up to in a normal, healthy, committed, long-term relationship between two real people living in the real world. She argues that this steady stream of glorified sexual activity performed by picture perfect females has left men wanting and expecting more from their real-life mates and, in turn, has diminished their desire and acceptance toward "real women."
In some ways I can agree with Ms. Wolf's argument...especially when it comes to younger men and their expectations. Young men in their teens and early twenties who constantly expose themselves to pornography may have a hard time distinguishing between the real world and "Planet Porn." Young men often have a tendency to be extremely visual and to have a strong desire for immediate sexual gratification, the kinkier and more risque, the better. They often have little concern for their sexual futures or for their own futures in general. They fantasize constantly about sex with "plastic women" who aren't really women at all. These fantasized females are merely sexual props in these young men's minds. They don't think. They don't talk. They don't have opinions. They certainly don't have any desires, beyond the desire to please their man. Who knows if they can even walk...after all, they are always either on their knees or on their back or some other sexual position! Pornography parrelels these shallow desires perfectly for this young audience. Pornography allows these men to quench their visual appetites by watching their fantasies played out on a computer/television screen. What was once only thought about, can now be seen at any time of day with a simple click of the mouse. For these men, I can see how pornography can set unrealistic expectations in their minds about how women "should" look and act...porn may even set these young men up for a slight feeling of disappointment when faced with seeing a real life woman in the nude for the first time or experiencing sexual acts with a real woman who has insecurities and hesitations and (gasp!) imperfections. Their lofty expectations created by Planet Porn are likely to come crashing down upon them in the blink of an eye. That being said however, I believe these men still have a strong desire to be with a real woman. After all, a computer screen and bottle of hand cream can only satisfy someone for so long. I think any healthy normal man would choose real genuine, albeit, "boring" sex with an actual living breathing human being over watching porn stars having wild, kinky, crazy sex on a glaring computer screen with only his hand to keep him company.
Furthermore, I believe that over time many of these men eventually mature and come to realize that there really is more to life than just sex. The distinct difference between the real world and Planet Porn becomes more and more obvious to many as they mature and experience the real world. I dare say that many men gradually begin to desire the real woman with all her imperfections even more than the panting, sweating hard body portrayed in "Daisy does America." These men gradually grow up and start to desire companionship, conversation, love, family...a real, actual relationship with a real, actual woman who has a real, actual body and who, more than likely, will not be a kinky sex kitten always ready and willing to please her man at the drop of a hat. Call me an optimist but I think for many men porn becomes a thing of the past as they trade in their porn subscriptions for something much more meaningful...a real relationship.
the author supports her stance by comparing her experiences from decades ago to those of present day women.i disagree with her conclusion that porn deadens the libido of men in relation to real women.i know men will always be attracted to the physical expression of their sexual needs and will not live under the illusion of pornography.it is like watching an action movie and thinking that you can go around engaging the police in a 100mph car chase.the fake acting that happen in porn and the passion filled expression of sexual desire are worlds apart and men do not need to be geniuses to decipher that.
She veiws porn as taking away from the majority of men's sex drive. Through raisng the standards of attractiveness and introducing many new elements to sex that were unheard of or much less common in previous generations, male adolecents are losing their desire for anything less. She feels that this adds pressure to women who cant get laid now because of mens new concept of "hot". I think she makes some valid points which she supports with some research she did with colege kids. I dont, however completely agree with her. college kids dont make up a majority of the world first of all. Second porn is not responsible for raising standards. Porn is sposed to depict attractive people. Porn in the 30's (there was such a thing btw) depicted chubbier, hairier, women. Because thats what society found attractive than. Society dictates what is attractive and what isnt. Porn just projects that image so they can make money. standards being raised is not the fault of the porn industry. As for ruining relationships I think it can to an extent but not usually. If ur relationship is all about sex than theres a problem anyways. I dont agree that it lowers ones libido. Having sex and watching sex are two diff things. If ur gonna watch u might as well watch one that u find enjoyable, but most people dont think that they will get a girl that looks like a pornstar and will "settle" for "less" rather than share their bed with their lap top.
Naomi Watts is completely right. I have a sample group called My Friends that I shall use to prove this case. Of the sample group, the ones who have admitted to viewing pornographic media at least 14 times a week (the national average)have demonstrated far less erotic and emotional attachment to women than the ones who almost never enjoy porn. An interesting statistic indeed - maybe I should pause this porno.
(Bad joke): She is also completely right in saying that real naked women are just bad porn. Everyone knows that moving images with sound completely trump those boring images painted by the horn-dogs of primitive times.
A few thoughts: First off, Andrea Dworkin's logic was completely flawed! Access to hot erotic media could never account for more rape. These rapists (or to extreme feminists, "men") who were actually going to commit rape in order to satisfy their uncontrollable urges now finally have a less risky alternative. Am I wrong? Hey, for some of these sickos it may be the next best thing; but next to being a wanted rapist, the next best thing becomes the best thing. Now these rapists get off before the trial - hell they don't even go to trial (haha, get it?).
Next off, the author makes a point that women react badly to porno and it makes them feel like they can't do enough for their male partners sometimes. Well she is absolutely right. Real women can't do enough for us cloudy-headed men, and that's why we need Jenna Haze and Eva Angelina to show us that there are truly dedicated women in the world. Okay I was being satirical I admit. I've had an experience in which I made a girlfriend cry by suggesting we watch porno before we did our thang (you know, bake pie and watch TV.) I couldn't understand at the time why she was so upset since I was only 12. But this article puts it so well. And you know what, I do feel like women have the perfect capability to feel like they're in competition with other girls who are technically prostitutes. So don't worry all you real girls - you don't want to be like a prostitute any way. (But if you do, I can hook up a job for you). And yes, if prostitution means performing acts of sex for money, doing it on camera doesn't make it any different. Sorry to all the "actresses" I just offended.
One more thought:
SHE'S RIGHT. We, as human beings, develop stimuli that trigger different functions over time. For example, I smell pizza and I immediately get hungry. So how is it different when I, excuse me, someone feels like viewing pornography is an outlet for sexual amusement, that's called too much porn. But hey, at least he's not getting any STDs...
What Naomi Wolf is trying to say is that due to the fact that porn is so easily accessable thats to the internet that a real women is not satisfying to a rreal man anymore. She supports her arguement by telling us experiences where this was the situation. The only flaw in her arguement is that even though men like porn, i highly doubt that ever guy would pick porn over a real women. Personally, i dnt no anyone who likes porn better than a real women. That's the most f***ed up thing i have ever heard in my life. I bet if u ask any male in the class which one they like better, i bet they would say a real women. Porn is found to be entertainment but being with a real person, in my book, is a million times better. Besides that, porn is just an image in their mind. Once the show is over, thats it but with a real women you can control when it over.
What Naomi Wolf is trying to say is that due to the fact that porn is so easily accessable thats to the internet that a real women is not satisfying to a rreal man anymore. She supports her arguement by telling us experiences where this was the situation. The only flaw in her arguement is that even though men like porn, i highly doubt that ever guy would pick porn over a real women. Personally, i dnt no anyone who likes porn better than a real women. That's the most f***ed up thing i have ever heard in my life. I bet if u ask any male in the class which one they like better, i bet they would say a real women. Porn is found to be entertainment but being with a real person, in my book, is a million times better. Besides that, porn is just an image in their mind. Once the show is over, thats it but with a real women you can control when it over.
What Naomi Wolf if saying in this article is that porn has lowered the self esteem of women. Also porn has made the average woman not attractive anymore. She says with the greater access to pornography that men have become less interested in the average female but now she has to live up to the standards of the porn models. She said this has made women today feel like they do not live up to these standards. Wolf says that in her youth just the presence of a naked woman was a turn on. But with the spread of pornography on the internet the naked female form is all over the place. I have to agree with her point in this because it is very demining to women because they have to live up to impossible standards. This women in the porn movies are not what real women are and they shouldn't have to be these women. This porn movies make women have to live up to a impossible ideal that real women are not and has lead to the lower of self esteem of younger women today.
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