Commodification of sex

[blueerica]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

What he said!

I have a friend who's an erotic model. Just to be clear - she gets naked, gets in outfits, gets tied up, often tortured to some degree, and photos are taken. No sex on camera, but still, obviously these pics are for men to get off on. She loves what she does. She's bookish, intelligent, funny, and completely down to earth about her job. Her husband is a set builder and they work together. She's also finishing up business school and has had plenty of "normal" jobs.

I have no problem with her occupation. There's a need to be filled. People love porn, especially men, and there's no possible future where this won't be so. To pretend that we can have porn and not have the "objectification of women" or men for that matter is ridiculous. There's plenty of porn that includes the worship of women and the torture of men, as well.

I'll say it - I like being objectified, and I like objectifying my husband. But that's just one aspect of a multi-faceted sexual relationship. Sometimes we make love, sometimes we fck.

Bless your soul, CP!

I have a friend that has done this in the past, and does so again, on occasion, and also does movies/videos. Just like your friend, there's no sex, but the sensuality is there for someone else down the road who purchases or downloads the picture. What I find most interesting about fetish is that it's all in the eye of the beholder, so it's safe to assume that our 'differences' if not mainstream, will still be attractive to someone.

To that extent, I also agree that sex and relationships are multi-faceted and are fulfilled by complexities, as you briefly described above. IMO, it's important and natural.

Now the commodification of sex... Hmm....

[Alex]

Is the commodification of sex really that bad a thing?

I don't think so. But then I think we commodify just about everything (though not always in directly fiscal terms). As with everything else we commodify: stealing is bad.

What about the people that can't get sex?

What about it? If the commodification of sex is bad then the charitization of sex doesn't seem any better.

Is prostitution really that bad a thing if it's regulated and all parties consent?

I don't think so. Though I don't think it should be regulated either. Anybody should be able to hang out a shingle, so to speak, without seeking state permission.

Is the fact that sex sells not due largely in part to the fact that humans are sexual beings and that's what we like seeing?

I think that is obvious. If we didn't like seeing it, sex wouldn't sell. The more probing question is whether the such commodification, particularly in presenting the easier forms of sexuality (nudity, casual sex) rather than the more complex (but equally satisfying, if not more so) forms of sexuality, skews the ways in which we express our sexuality and whether this is for good or bad.

When does it become a degradation of women?

There is an important distinction. Can something be degrading to women in general without being degrading to the specific woman in charge? For example, I could argue that rape fantasy porn that suggests all women want is to be forced would not necessarily be degrading to the specific women involved (assuming they are consensual participants) but is degrading to women in general.

Can each woman choose whether or not it degrades her?

Yes, each individual woman will determine what they feels degrades them individually. But each individual woman (and man) will also make a determination as to what they feel degrades women generally. The two may not be identical (a woman may see no problem with anal sex but personally wouldn't do it; she may enjoy acting out rape fantasies but doesn't think public exhibition of them is ok).

All of this applies to men as well, as far as I'm concerned.