3 Myths about Pornography I wish were True

In my previous blog post, “Social Media is the New Face of Porn” I discussed in detail how pornographers cleverly use social media platforms as vehicles to distribute and promote pornography to a wider audience. Social media has become an effective carrier that allows them to reach people more easily and covertly than ever before. Building on that discussion, in today’s blog post, I want to explore and debunk three common myths about pornography that pornographers frequently use to justify and rationalize their work. These myths serve as the foundation for their arguments and are often repeated to normalize the industry and its practices. The insights I am sharing today are largely drawn from my own careful observations and reflections on an interview titled “Digital Violence: Reduced to a Category” which was featured on Facebook back in the year 2020. This interview sheds light on how digital platforms are complicit in perpetuating certain harmful narratives around pornography.

Pornography can be Redeemed

The myth of “Pornography is Redeemable” stems from three deceptive approaches to the production and consumption of pornography. These approaches are known as Ethical Porn, Feminist Porn, and Erotic Literature. According to pornographers, ethical porn is content that is made with the performer’s pleasure and boundaries in mind while feminist porn is content that puts women in charge of the narrative.

These seemingly noble approaches remind me of this video of a man opening a nine-year-old Easter Egg on YouTube. The Egg looks awesome on the outside but smells so awful on the inside that he just can stand the odour. Ethical or unethical, feminist or Misogynic attempting to redeem pornography is like painting a rotten egg with beautiful colours. Here’s why?

• Pornography is all about money. “ethical porn” is nothing but a sales pitch. In the year 2019, the pornography industry had an estimated value of US$ 35.17 Billion. (Source: CISION)
• Pornography is an industry that fundamentally trades in the sexual objectification of women. Therefore, pornography can never be ethical.
• I don’t endorse erotica (a discussion for another time), but erotica is not pornography or vice versa. Calling pornography otherwise is nothing but a smokescreen used to cover its inherently evil nature.
• Pornography, whether ethical or unethical, shall not lose the physically and emotionally devastating influence it has on the individual and society.

There have also been these kinds of discussions about ‘ethical consumption’ around food and clothes, two consumer items we need. No one wants pornography, however. Hence, if you are particularly worried about the circumstances of performers, I’d recommend not using pornography.

Pornography is a necessary Evil

In the English language ‘a necessary evil’ means something profoundly immoral and wicked that someone believes must be done or accepted because it is necessary to achieve a better outcome, especially because possible alternative courses of action or inaction are expected to be worse. Defenders of pornography defend pornography on the grounds that it’s a necessary evil for exploring your sexuality, boosting sexual intimacy in marriage, and decreasing sexual crimes against women as well as children. Is it?

Pornography doesn’t help to explore your sexuality. It rather distorts the ability to become aroused by conditioning your sexual preferences to look more like pornography itself and less like your natural desires. It’s the reason why erectile dysfunctions are common among porn addicts. Therefore, pornography doesn’t boost sexual intimacy in your marriage. It rather destroys it. Pornography is also one of the reasons behind the ever-growing divorce rate in the United States of America according to research.

It is true that sexual crimes against women and children have decreased in certain regions after legalizing porn. However, this is not true everywhere in the world. In certain countries, especially in Asia, it has been observed that porn directly fuels sexual violence against women and children as porn addicts seek real-world experiences. The bottom line is pornography cannot be rationalized as a necessary evil. For, if pornography is necessary, it cannot be harmful and if it is harmful, it is not necessary.

Pornography is an innocent Crime

Last but not least people like to rationalize pornography on the grounds it is an innocent crime or no crime at all. I agree that watching pornography cannot be called a crime in the legal sense. However, it is a direct crime you commit against your own body and an indirect crime against humanity. Here’s why?

Our brain when exposed to pornography for an extended period becomes accustomed to high levels of stimulation and begins to rewire itself, becoming numb to everyday pleasures but keenly receptive to porn. Consequently, this creates a vicious cycle that leads to the erosion of willpower forming an addiction. If you disagree, I invite you to read this article titled “How Porn Changes the Brain” by Fight the New Drug Blog.

It’s an indirect crime against humanity because the demand for pornography fuels human trafficking the fastest-growing crime in the world both locally and internationally. As the demand for pornography increases so does the number of women and children trafficked into the industry. People who watch pornography believe they are engaging in a harmless act in the privacy of their homes. The truth is they are an accessory to a crime and do not even know it.

Pornography fuels human trafficking further by creating a demand for prostitution. Prolonged consumption of pornography drives men and women to fulfill their twisted sexual desires through prostitution increasing the demand for prostitutes. Pornography thus feeds prostitution, again increasing the demand for sex trafficking. Therefore, pornography isn’t an innocent crime or no crime at all.

Wrap Up

While the pleasure that pornography offers might feel intense in the moment, it is fleeting and momentary. However, the consequences that follow—emotionally, mentally, relationally, and even spiritually—can linger for years, and in some cases, a lifetime. Despite this sobering reality, society continues to justify and normalize pornography in various ways, often dismissing its long-term impact or downplaying its influence on individuals and relationships. It is my sincere hope that this blog post will equip you with the insight and discernment needed to recognize the truth about pornography and separate it from the many deceptive narratives that surround it. If you happen to be struggling with pornography addiction and are open to receiving help, please know that you are not alone. I encourage you to reach out by sending me an email. I will be more than happy to connect you with caring individuals who are both willing and qualified to support you on your journey toward healing and freedom.