The Pornography Wars: Exploring Two Distinct Feminist Identities

Abstract

Current political debates over the legalization of gay marriage and the protection of a woman's reproductive rights rarely questions the critical reasons why our society upholds both patriarchal and homophobic values. This article explores one such way in which a patriarchy is sustained by the use of images, specifically pornographic images. Though many feminists would want to pursue a ban on pornography, such a ban would merely reinforce the idea that certain sexual desires between two consenting adults are immoral and degrading. Condemnation of images such as these has perpetuated the right for our culture to uphold homophobia for many debates, therefore, we, as a society, must be wary of such a policy.