In the beginning of the 20th century sexuality in Western culture was considered as a taboo and especially the church acted repressive towards sexual topics.. Since the 1960s the term “sexual revolution” described a cultural change in the western society towards a more liberal view of sexuality, monogamy and sexual relationships. Reasons for that are on the one hand the availability of new methods of birth-control like “The Pill” and the lack of fear of sexual diseases in the 1960s but on the other hand also a change of thoughts and believes which came up through the students movement of 1968 and its more promiscuous and hedonistic way of live (“Sex, Drugs & Rock'n Roll”), which still influences our sexual believes today.
To understand the consequences of this development I want to explain the term “sexualization of society”, which describes the constant (or growing) presence of sexuality in public, in social perception and consciousness of the people. It also refers to the focus or emphasis on sexuality within a broader context and viewing an object under the sexual point of view or in terms of sexuality. I want to analyze if a sexualization of society as an example in the case of “mainstreaming of pornography” really has taken place and in what way this is reflected in pornography and prostitution. Therefore I will also consider the changes in the public opinion towards pornography and I will compare it to prostitution and its role in our society.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: The Sexualization of Society
2. Mainstreaming of Pornography
3. Online Prostitution
4. Clients Motivation for Prostitute Use
4.1 Market Approach According to Sex Tourism
4.2. Psychological Approach According to Honour and Gender
5. Feminist View on Pornography and Prostitution
5.1 Anti-Pornography Feminists
5.2 Sex-Positive Feminism
6. Legality of Prostitution
6.1 Human Trafficking
7. Conclusion: How to Deal with Prostitution
8. References
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper aims to analyze how new media and the Internet have influenced pornography and prostitution, leading to a broader sexualization of society. The author examines the normalization of pornographic elements in pop culture, the emergence of online prostitution, and the complex, often hidden, psychological and economic motivations of clients. Finally, the work explores diverse feminist perspectives and the varied legal approaches to prostitution, ultimately questioning whether prostitution can ever truly be a free decision.
- The mainstreaming of pornography and its impact on social behavior.
- The shift toward online prostitution and digital sexual services.
- Economic and psychological motivations of sex buyers (punters).
- The division between anti-pornography and sex-positive feminist views.
- Comparative analysis of global legal frameworks regarding sex work.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. Psychological Approach According to Honour and Gender
In this chapter I will focus more on the second market of sexual success using rather a psychological approach. The battlefield of sexual success is as hard as the economic market but the value is not money but attraction and good looks. The same ways economic successful people do not have to prostitute themselves sexual successful people do not have the need to use a prostitute.
I think most of the men who go to prostitutes are unsatisfied with their normal sex life because their sexual success is quite limited or as Davidson concludes in “British sex tourists in Thailand”: “To visit a prostitute on occasion may be a sign of machismo, but to be to be dependent of the service of prostitutes because you are unable to pull woman is a sign of failure (…) especially for men who do not conform to their society’s ideals of physical attractiveness” (Davidson, 1995, p. 51). The image of the typical sex tourist described by Davidson is quite desperate. Punters are described as being sexually and emotionally lonely and having been rejected and denied by many women in the past (mother, partner, European prostitutes). They spoke with great bitterness about white women’s power to deny them sexual access. As one punter Davidson has interviewed complains: “None of the discussions on prostitution ever gets close to looking at the causes of universal (sexual) and other loneliness” (Davidson, 1998a, p. 152). Although it is kind of hypocritical to justify his prostitute use this way I think that he really exposed one basic motivation of using prostitutes. The client suffers from rejection, emotional victimization and exclusion from care, which has created a low self-esteem.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The Sexualization of Society: The author introduces the concept of the sexualization of society and outlines the paper's focus on how new media has transformed pornography and prostitution.
2. Mainstreaming of Pornography: This chapter analyzes how pornography has moved from a marginalized activity to a normalized element of Western pop culture, influencing social habits and beauty standards.
3. Online Prostitution: The focus here is on the digital shift in the sex industry, specifically how the Internet enables anonymous access to sexual services through platforms like online auction websites.
4. Clients Motivation for Prostitute Use: This section investigates the hidden motivations of clients, exploring both biological arguments and the consumer-choice framework of the sex market.
4.1 Market Approach According to Sex Tourism: This chapter explores the link between capitalism and prostitution, interpreting sex work as a trade where economic power is used to secure sexual access.
4.2. Psychological Approach According to Honour and Gender: The author examines the psychological drivers of clients, suggesting that prostitution is often used to cope with feelings of loneliness, rejection, and the need to assert masculine identity.
5. Feminist View on Pornography and Prostitution: This chapter provides an overview of the "Feminist Sex Wars," contrasting radical anti-pornography positions with those of sex-positive feminism.
5.1 Anti-Pornography Feminists: This section explains the viewpoint that pornography and prostitution are inherently exploitative, harmful, and expressions of male dominance.
5.2 Sex-Positive Feminism: The author details the opposing feminist view that emphasizes sexual freedom and advocates for the rights and de-stigmatization of sex workers.
6. Legality of Prostitution: This overview compares the four primary legal approaches to prostitution: prohibition, abolition, regulation, and decriminalization.
6.1 Human Trafficking: The chapter differentiates between legal sex work and the criminal reality of human trafficking, highlighting the severe challenges in protecting vulnerable individuals.
7. Conclusion: How to Deal with Prostitution: The author synthesizes the findings, arguing that while prostitution is linked to economic necessity, society must strive to better the conditions of sex workers and distinguish between voluntary work and sexual slavery.
Keywords
Pornography, Prostitution, Online Prostitution, Sex Work, Sexualization of Society, Feminist Theory, Sexual Revolution, Mainstreaming of Pornography, Sex Tourism, Clients, Punters, Human Trafficking, Gender Identity, Economic Liberalism, Sexual Liberalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper primarily about?
The paper explores the impact of new media and the Internet on the mainstreaming of pornography and the changing landscape of prostitution, while analyzing the social and psychological factors involved.
What are the central themes of the work?
Key themes include the sexualization of society, the commodification of sexual services, the role of gender in the sex trade, feminist debates regarding sexuality, and global legal policies toward prostitution.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The objective is to examine how the Internet has shifted societal views on pornography and prostitution, and to critically assess whether sex work can be considered a free decision within a capitalistic economic system.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The study utilizes a qualitative literature analysis, referencing sociological studies, feminist theory, and contemporary media examples to interpret the cultural and psychological dynamics of the sex industry.
What is addressed in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the "mainstreaming" of porn, the mechanics of online prostitution, the motivations of clients through both market and psychological lenses, and a detailed comparison of feminist and legal viewpoints.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Central keywords include pornography, prostitution, sexualization, online sex work, feminist perspectives, client motivation, human trafficking, and global legal regulation.
How does the author define the "mainstreaming of pornography"?
The author defines it as the process by which sexually explicit content has breached the barrier between private, marginal activity and the mainstream public arena, becoming a normalized and often idealized cultural element.
What does the author conclude regarding the "free decision" to enter prostitution?
The author concludes that because many enter the profession due to economic necessity rather than genuine preference, the line between voluntary and involuntary work is fluid, suggesting that a truly "free" decision requires the existence of dignified, viable alternatives.
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- Carsten Glöckner (Autor:in), 2008, Sex 2.0 - Pornography and Prostitution influenced by the Internet, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/130046
