A new video from Shelly Lubben, of the Pink Cross Foundation has surfaced on youtube. It is footage of multiple women on multiple pornography sets breaking down because of the pain of being in pornography. In one case the men mock the woman for grimacing with pain. In another the man just keeps fucking the woman. In a third case a woman seems to be gearing up to finish her scene, as soon as she can stop crying because of the hateful shit being said and done to her. She "isn't used to" people being mean to her. The video is very graphic and difficult to watch.
Here is a link to the video.
The fact that this happens probably isn't a huge surprise to anyone who watches pornography. They might say that it is probably a minority of women, and that getting paid makes it all okay somehow. I doubt that a minority of women dislike cruelty or painful sex, but that is beside the point. I want pornography viewers to ask themselves what the final cut of those porn shoots look like; the final product sells the idea that these women "love" being in porn. Everything is edited together to give that appearance, even when it is a nightmare for the performers. The pink cross foundation is full of women who echo each others experiences in pornography; they were coerced, pimped, and usually sexually abused as children. Many had substance abuse problems that could not reasonably be financed by means other than sex work. None of them enjoyed the sex, and were more often hurt by it. The majority of performers contracted at least one sexually transmitted disease. When viewing pornography it is impossible to tell, from the product, if you are contributing to the sexual abuse of vulnerable women or watching someone who is having a "good time". People say pornography is a fantasy, but it is reality for women who usually have no other options.
This really broke my heart...
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing about this.
ReplyDeleteHi. Thanks for the info. I'd like to politely challenge your conclusion that the end product presents the fantasy of women enjoying it. The proliferation of gonzo and or extreme intentionally depicts the violent abuse of women. See Max Hardcore (jailed for obscenity) and meatholes.com ; facialabuse.com and gag factor just to name a few-all available for all to see for free on sites like youporn.com and xvideos.com. I look forward to discussing this. Please be aware that these sites are terribly disturbing. Just wanted to warn ya.
ReplyDeleteThat's absolutely horrible.
ReplyDeleteWhat's also horrible is that most men simply will not give a shit. Many will just claim that this is not the norm, and will go on consuming porn (basically a graphic depiction of rape).
Honestly, I can't even describe how much it pisses me off that so many men think that their ability to become sexually aroused overides the basic human rights of women.
this is revolting!
ReplyDeleteIF porn is going to exist, then we need to pass laws similar to those that protect animals in film. there is something seriously wrong with a country that affords more legal protection to animals than these women.
skeptifem, thank you for continuing to educate me.
Anonymous makes a good point, there is porn that is specifically about showing women in pain. I was more addressing mainstream pornography viewers who are adamant that performers aren't being coerced or harmed in the making of porn. The mainstream of porn seems to be about making it seem like women like any sex a man throws at her...
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ReplyDeleteToo bad that pink cross site is giving me the creeps with all that nutty Jesus talk. Of course I'm happy to see people out of the sex industry sharing their stories, showing that there's light at the end of the tunnel, much better to have religious people rather than abused people. Still, we should have something secular that offers the same help religion continues to provide to all these people, only without any of the religion.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit weary of the religious stuff too, jose. I read the testimonials of the women and one that didn't mention religion said that Shelly Lubben is great because she doesn't push religion onto other people. It seems like the numbers of religious pink cross women reflects the general population accurately. If nothing else pink cross provides a template and experience for other groups to do the same kind of work later, if the religious message of pink cross becomes a problem.
ReplyDeletePart of what I really respect about Pink Cross is that they have a focus on practical problems for people leaving the sex industry. Getting OSHA protection is a main focus for the group. Also, pornography leaves a huge gap in one's resume and leaves a person vulnerable to termination or discrimination later on if other people find out about their past in porn. Pink Cross has helped people get technical training and appropriate clothing for finding work. Ideological arguments about pornography are fine but they don't help women who are facing practical challenges as a result of being in the sex industry.
Short version of DavidByron:
ReplyDeleteBlahlblahblah I hate you! Blah blah blah it's not RAPE-RAPE! Blah blah blah men have it soooooo hard, you feminists are meany liars!
There, saved everybody a bunch of time.
thank you osopadmin. i read the first one, saw the second, skipped it and scrolled to see skeptifem's response. before i could go back to read part 2 of 'don't get between me and my boner', i saw your comment. thanks.
ReplyDeletesigned,
manhatingmeanyliar
Why are you letting this asshole DavidByron comment--he is not even a cogent hater. His ranting is so fragmented that I have trouble deconstructing his arguments. WHAT arguments, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteMoving on--that video was appalling.
One of my big problems with porn (aside from, you know, the vicious content) is that the industry is almost totally unregulated. People look at me like I'm nuts when I say this, but porn actors (WHAT acting, ha ha) are workers. So are other people on the set, from the makeup artists to the video crew. They are workers and they are entitled to workers' rights, just like everyone else. Among other thing, this means that they should be entitled to NO sexual harassment (yes, I am being serious) and a safe working environment. Fucking porn companies make big bucks off of these exploited performers. It's not right. The bureaucracy has an obligation to regulate it and provide protection for the workers. I understand that politicians don't want to do that because they don't want to look like they are "legitimizing" the industry. However, that is no excuse.
Dawn James is right--animal performers have more protection on the set.
Finally, about Pink Cross--I'm an atheist and I hate the godbag shit too, but it's not rational to reject all of pink cross's work or arguments just cause they're Xian. Isn't that like saying "Hitler was a vegetarian, so vegetarianism is wrong!"?
I deleted his comments, I did not realize that I had approved them. Sorry everyone!
ReplyDeletei wish you would have left mr porno's comments up. he was babbling about male rape rates.
ReplyDeletei thought i would share these domestic violence homicide rates, just in case he comes back.
scroll to the bottom of this article about an honor killing in canada.
In the province of Ontario alone, there were 230 “domestic homicide-related deaths” from 2002 to 2007 — 142 women, 23 children and 65 men. All but 13 of the men who died in those incidents committed suicide after killing their wives, girlfriends or children.
comparing gender rape and domestic violence rates is like comparing pit bull and lab attacks.