Pornography Essay, Research Paper
Pornography
1. Introduction
My topic deals with the issue of whether or not all pornography should be illegal. I will defend the position that pornography should be kept legal by arguing, first, that pornography is beneficial to society, and secondly, that any position to make pornography illegal would go against the rights of the first amendment.
2. Argument
My argument is that pornography is beneficial to society. Pornography: aids as a sexual outlet for potential sex crime offenders, provides pleasure for people who are unable to find sexual fulfillment, helps society be more open about the topic of sex, and aids in helping couples deal with problems in their sexual relationships.
a. assumption #1
Pornography can aid as a sexual outlet for potential sex crime offenders. Many people have sexual fetishes that would go unfulfilled if pornography became illegal. Some may act on their sexual fetishes and end up hurting somebody to fulfill their desire. People with high sex drives who need to “get off” several times a day have an outlet through pornography. The number of violent sex crimes is reduced through the proper use of pornography. Even if one victim a year was saved, pornography would be useful to society.
b. assumption #2
Next, pornography can provide pleasure for those who are unable to find sexual fulfillment. There are many disabled and disfigured people who could never fill their sexual needs without pornography. Society’s standards often denies these people of sexual activity. Sexual fulfillment is a primal desire that everyone has the right to, if nobody involved gets hurt. Without pornography, many people would turn to prostitution, which already is illegal in most places.
c. assumption #3
Pornography can also help society be more open about the topic of sex. Today, we live in a country where most people consider sex a forbidden subject to talk about. People should not be ashamed of their sexual orientation or desires. Pornography can be used to start and stimulate open discussions about sex. If parents would talk to their children about the topic of sex, everyone would be sexually educated. Society can only benefit if everyone became educated about sex.
d. assumption #4
Finally, pornography can help couples deal with sexual problems in their relationships. Many couples cannot reach sexual fulfillment by themselves. Pornography is often used as therapy for couples with sex disorders, or couples who are not satisfied with their sex lives. For many, a happy sex life leads to a better relationship, which leads to better families.
3. objections to argument
My most controversial assumption is that pornography reduces the number of sex crimes committed. Pornography is not a sufficient outlet for potential sex crime offenders. It may even increase the number of violent sex crimes committed by people who view pornography. People who find the most pleasure through pornography are either rapists or potential sex crime offenders. They get the idea that all women love to engage in various sexual activities, and that it is natural to force women to have sex with you. Therefore, they force women to have sex with them. Pornography also puts new sexual fantasies inside the minds of otherwise innocent people. These people may decide to act on their fantasies and in the process, commit a violent sex crime. While some victims may be saved by the viewing of pornography, more will be hurt by the viewing of pornography.
4. response to argument
The pornography business is a billion dollar industry. Millions of people view pornography and benefit from it. If it were proved that pornography encourages rape, it would have already been illegal. There are many movies and television shows that view violence as an acceptable way of life. That does not mean that people will go out and kill others just because of a program that they had previously viewed. Also, there is no movement to make the sale of violent movies illegal. Society has the idea that seeing somebody naked is worse than seeing somebody killed. It s just that America does not
want to deal with anything involving sex.
5. objection to thesis
Pornography is far from beneficial to society. It is immoral because it degrades everyone, especially women. In pornography, women are treated as sex objects. It makes everybody think that women are good for only sex. Women have come a long way since the early part of the century, and all pornography does is set the women s rights movement back sixty years. Pornography provides its viewers with an immoral and twisted pleasure. It encourages people to engage in sexual activities outside of marriage which is morally wrong. It may lead to unwed mothers and the spread of various sexually transmitted diseases. Anybody who views pornography as moral, has no morals themselves.
6. response to objection
First of all, pornography does not make everyone view women as sexual objects. Women are not forced to be in pornography and they are paid for what they do. It is like a job for them. People who are waiters serve the needs of their customers, but are not viewed as slaves by society. The same rule should apply for women who choose pornography as their profession. Next, making pornography illegal would directly violate the rights given to us by the first amendment. Freedom of speech is the foundation of America and if pornography is made illegal, other rules will soon follow. Nobody is
forced to view pornography, and if nothing else, the right to view pornography is given to everyone by the first amendment.
7. Conclusion
Pornography is beneficial to society in many ways. Making it illegal would not only hurt society, it would violate our first amendment rights.