she lost!
Maynooth Debate
Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen I support the motion that " Pornography is
a Victimless Phenomenon" even though, as you may concede, that to prove a
negative is extremely difficult.
Before I begin though you may be interested to know that standing here makes
me far more nervous than taking my clothes off in front of a camera. My
invitation to be here tonight might make me a victim but that's not a good
start is it!?
I think it best to start with some definitions. One dictionary defines
pornography as "the writing of harlots". This comes from the Greek for
prostitute (porne) and write (graphos). Today 'pornography' has come to
mean any books, magazines, videos etc. that are considered by a minority of
people to be obscene. For the sake of argument I'll use the term pornography
to mean any images or words designed to stimulate erotic feelings and
sexual arousal.
The same dictionary defines 'victim' as a person injured or killed as a
result of an event or circumstance or a person or thing harmed or destroyed
in pursuit of an object or in gratification of a passion etc. Well, that
gets religion out of the way!
I have appeared in many pornographic videos and magazines and I do not
believe that this has caused myself or others harm. I am a model and
performer by choice. I have not been forced by others nor do I perform
because I need the money. I do it because I enjoy it, shocking though this
may be to some. I run my own very separate business besides appearing in
porn. I have met and communicated with many people, both men and women who
have watched and enjoyed my work and none have ever regarded themselves as
victims. I have had nothing but very positive feedback from many normal,
everyday couples who just happen to find porn enjoyable and arousing.
To stand up and support porn instantly labels me in some peoples minds as
corrupt, depraved, perverted or maybe in need of psychiatric help. Because
they see me thus they regard me as a victim. In fact I am none of these
things. I am a perfectly normal individual, or so I've been told, who just
happens to appear in porn. I certainly don't regard myself as degraded by my
work nor as a victim, indeed quite the reverse. Surely, if nudity and sex is
degrading then aren't we all in trouble, we're all born naked and all of us
have sex....ok nearly all of us. If images of nudity or sex produce
victims then maybe we should consider banning mirrors in bedrooms.
Maybe you think I'm being exploited and am therefore a victim. Sure, people
are making a profit out of what I do but so am I. Besides, car
manufacturers make a profit out of selling cars but no one argues that car
production must cease because the workers are victims.
I would most certainly concede child pornography is heinous and produces
victims but please do not make the mistake of assuming the adult porn
industry has any truck with this or any connection at all. We are as one in
condemning the production of child porn. Surely, if the argument that I
have heard voiced that watching adult material inevitably leads to a
degeneration into the need for harder material, ergo child pornography, then
all of us involved within the industry and the many people I am in touch
with as consumers would have gone down that road. Ridiculous! No, those who
have a need for graphic sexual images of children must surely have some
mental illness. A sane, reasonable, normal person is not so easily
corrupted.
Pornography has no victims but violence has. Some people talk about sex and
violence in the same breath but no two activities could be further apart.
Over the years research into pornography and its supposed link with violence
has been, to say the least, contradictory. Some studies suggest a strong
link, others the converse. Maybe this says as much about the researchers as
those studied. Think about this though, when sex offenders blame porn in
court they've got a strong motive- to transfer the blame and get a reduced
sentence. Hardly reliable witnesses. Similarly snuff movies have never been
proved to exist. This and other myths have been destroyed in Lawrence
O'Tooles 'Pornocopia'(1998)
In most societies those most at risk from violence are young males and no
one would try to argue that this is related in any way to the availability
of porn. The argument that porn influences violence against women is surely
deeply flawed. Most violence against women is committed by someone they know
and rape is an expression of power and violence not sex. Women might appear
compliant in pornography but never overpowered.
Feminists may argue that the images portrayed within porn alter the male
perception of women and make them believe that all women will be as easily
available for sex as those in the movies. I know of no case of rape or
sexual assault where this has been asserted.
Sex is the most natural human activity. At its best it is done within a
loving relationship but outside that relationship it can still be fun and
exciting. Some are not lucky enough to be in a loving relationship and
maybe for them watching a porn movie can provide a sexual release. It
certainly doesn't make them victims of porn.
Parts of society are still hung up about sex. Politicians and other note
worthies seem to devote a lot of energy into perpetuating the myth that sex
is dirty and should remain hidden from view. Why? Who are they to enforce
their so called morals on others. Perhaps their energies could be better
directed to the eradication of pollution, poverty, disease and terrorism.
Nobody has to watch my work but they do have a choice if the politicians
give them that choice. You are free to buy my videos in most of Europe, the
USA and in the UK or Eire unless heavily censored. Why? Are the Americans
and Europeans more corrupt and depraved than us , sorry I mean you, I'm
already corrupt and depraved. Surely it is fatuous to suggest that any
country with liberal porn laws is more corrupt and depraved than those with
strict censorship and that their people are victims of porn.
In conclusion, as I stated at the beginning it has been difficult to prove a
negative. However, in my experience and, to the best of my knowledge, there
are nor never have been any victims of pornography.
