Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This paper critically examines leading feminist philosophical arguments asserting that inegalitarian pornography inherently perpetuates the objectification and silencing of women, thereby warranting moral condemnation or legal restriction. While recognizing the seriousness of these concerns, we argue that neither objection holds, regardless of how objectification or silencing is conceptualized. Central to our position is the distinction between fictional and non-fictional pornography. As fiction, we contend, pornography does not intrinsically validate real-world beliefs or behaviors regarding women’s subordination. Even in non-fictional (“documentary”) contexts, the purported causal link between pornography and harm remains unsubstantiated. The paper deliberately sets aside ethical concerns about coercion in pornography’s production (e.g., exploitation, abuse) to focus on its alleged social effects. By interrogating the assumed mechanisms of influence—whether through fictional representation or documentary realism—we challenge the foundational premises of anti-pornography arguments and advocate for a more nuanced assessment of pornography’s role in shaping social norms.
Source: Croatian Journal of Philosophy
DOI: 10.52685/cjp.25.73.6
Authors: Carola Barbero, Alberto Voltolini
Institution: University of Turin
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4409869396