A decade ago, there was a fierce public debate about whether or not pornography was a significant contributor to sexual violence. I debated the subject on public radio and gave presentations on campuses on how pornography fueled rape culture. Every time I did, I got plenty of pushback. To claim that porn use was shaping sexual behavior, I was told – including by “porn profs” such as Dr. David Ley, a porn advocate, user, and author – was a paranoid view derived from the fulminations of the 1980s Religious Right.
The public consensus has now changed. Even leftist politicians rarely debate that ubiquitous digital porn use has burned like acid through our collective sexual economy. The discussion is no longer “Is porn bad for our society?” but “How can we best deal with this problem?” Some, like vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance, have floated the idea of banning porn; countries like Nepal have actually done so. Others, like the French attorney general, have suggested prosecuting pornographers. Most politicians seem to think that some form of age verification is the best solution, with both E.U. countries and American states taking this approach.
Most recently, UK Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi again called for the government to focus on pornography’s contribution to sexual violence, noting that there is “extensive evidence” that “pornography consumption fuels sexual violence” and warning that pornography distorts the consumer’s view of healthy sexual behavior and “serves to dehumanize and sexually objectify women.” Antoniazzi then called on government ministers to “rein in the lawless activities of pornography sites.” Note well: This is not a conservative politician. This is a Labour MP.
