On Gay Porn

Abstract

Pornography is often accused of promoting violence against women and, more generally, the subordination of women by men. It is argued that these films depict, endorse, teach, and normalize violence against women, male dominance, and female obedience, which, in turn, are said to be both cause and effect of sexism, misogyny, and patriarchy. We are, then, called upon to condemn all porn and restrict its availability. Men predominantly run the adult entertainment industry and many heterosexually oriented films do indeed manifest control, humiliation, violation, and objectification of women. Pornography, however, is not so simple. It is not a monolithic enterprise, and we must complicate what is in fact a complicated subject. What, for example, can porn do to or for gay men?