TE 250: Reading Response

The article "Pornography and Men's Consciousness" by Jackson Katz discusses the issues of how pornography affects women and men with self esteem and relationship problems. Jackson begins by saying how difficult it is for people discuss pornography openly because it will offend other people, especially women. He explains how this exploitation of women can lead to men using women or taking advantage of them. This then leads to the downward spiral of women's self esteem.

Men think that the consumption of pornography will have a short term affect on them meaning they will get their pleasure for the time being and move on with their lives. What they do not realize is that their relationships may be affected by this. Most of these women in pornographies were sexually abused, raped or abused as children and have known all their lives that men have that power over them. By watching these films men can get that extra edge over women that they may have not realized they had before. These images have a more powerful affect on how men can relate to women than expected therefore they continue to watch pornography.

It is unfair for women to have to carry around these personal scars and burdens in life. The fact that women are lower than men in society makes women feel like they will never get ahead of men. Women feel that they can gain respect from men by doing these pornographies or magazines but really it is making men lose any respect they had for women in the first place.

Katz notes that men are not biologically born feeling this way about women, but pick up the fascination of pornography from the media. They see shows and ads in the media about different celebrities in pornography or hear other men celebrities saying they wactch and think that it is okay because others are doing it too.

Although celebrities are taking part in this industry it is still not okay for women's self esteem. It will all lead to women comparing themselves to famous celebrities and wanting to have that perfect body because then they will know that men will want to see them without clothing. Men need to start thinking about the younger viewers and how pornography will affect boys and girls as they are growing up.