Comments on: Wheelock College Feminist Anti-Porn Conference

By: Joy Caley

Joy Caley — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:38:20 +0000

As i sit here crying, wondering why if so many women feel this way, why do i still have to walk into the nearest petrol station and deal with seeing porn on the shelf directly in front of me when i walk in the door? we need to make a stand no matter how afraid we are of how it will be taken, not only by men in our lives and that we know, but also women that side with men. I’ve just made my first two stands here in Whitby North Yorkshire. I wrote to the manager of the petrol station requesting him to at least cover the porn, or move all ‘lads mags/porn’ high up and in one place. He did! I felt that i had achieved so much! today i went to my friends shop and bought all his adult card packs and told him how they made me feel as i ripped them up, then asked him not to buy more, or if he did, not display them. He agreed! I want to do more!!! How can I?

By: m Andrea

m Andrea — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:47:07 +0000

Her speech, not just her opening remarks, was uploaded to Youtube. It is an amazing video, but I am having a terrible time finding it again. Anyone have an addy?

By: charliegrrl

charliegrrl — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:43:33 +0000

Great comment Rachel, yes it is hard to understand why so many feminists, who are against capitalism, who partake in DIY anarchist activism, do not see the exploitation of porn and the sex industry. In my experience, they see consent as a very black and white issue- so if a woman ‘consents’ to working in the sex industry, and we are against the sex industry, we are oppressing women from doing what they want. I think this idea is influenced by individualism, rather than seeing women as a class, and thinking about what is liberation for women as a whole. I like the analogy of consent with sweatshops. I’ve seen images of people in Africa proudly wearing Coca Cola tshirts, aspiring to America- even though we know how badly America exploits and opresses Africa.

Yes, not ‘me-first’ feminism, nor ‘fuck me’ feminism, but women’s liberation!

By: Rachel Feminista

Rachel Feminista — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:44:17 +0000

Thanks for that it was an amazing review – I really appreciated the clear explanation of the different emphasis on collective responsibility in 3rd and 2nd ‘wave’ feminism but I don’t think this is an age thing… I do think the general concerns of ‘3rd’ wave feminism have become very influenced by hypercapitalism and post-thatcher / reagan years but I also love lots of current DIY ‘3rd wave’ activism.
I’m 36 and much of the feminism I was involved in from my teens was DIY and radical / anarcha feminist (and still is).
I had as many drop down drag out fights with pro-porn women then. I don’t know if it’s got any worse but rather the feel of the feminist scene (in Britain and US) has changed and the pro-porn arguments have mutated.
One thing I can’t get is how so many avowed anti-capitalist can object to what happens to women in sweatshops etc. but refuse to see even the economic exploitation in the porn industry – it’s often the same women being exploited all over the world… Is it bad to enjoy starbucks coffee but good to enjoy globalised porn??? Lots of anti-capitalists are totally into giving up things that bring other kinds of power / pleasure and realise collective responsibility here… but when it’s back to thinking with your dick it’s back to Dworkin’s arguments on left wing men {and women). The issue of consent is relevant here as well – women aspire to work in free trade zone t-shirt factories and poluted coffee plantations but the issue of economics and poverty is recognised.
I think we’d maybe get futher if the 3rd wave women who are middle class – educated and priviledged would give up all the lap-dance classes and Phd’s about the empowering aspects of deconstructed ironic spike heels.

Hey ho – who’s up for some women’s liberation???

love Rachel Feminista
http://www.myspace.com/feministas

By: Brenda

Brenda — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:16:34 +0000

Porn hurts a lot of women, and also hurts the people who watch it. Programming their brain to separate orgasm from intimacy, it’s a disease with symptoms all across society.

By: The HOH

The HOH — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:59:04 +0000

I almost went to that talk but I had another event to go to. Now I wish I had.

By: jennifer drew

jennifer drew — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:24:52 +0000

Me too! Gail Dines is very intelligent, funny and very articulate woman. Who said feminists don’t have a sense of humour. Come to that why so much emphasis on women ‘having a sense of humour.’ Oh yes, forgot it is one of the many party tricks women are expected to do in order to gain male approval. Silly me!

By: Burrow

Burrow — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:25:06 +0000

I love Gail Dines. Thank you thank you thank you.