The Tufts Feminist Alliance (TFA) held a discussion on pornography last night in Paige Hall's Crane Room. TFA co-heads Anna Gollub, a sophomore, and Melanie Clatanoff, a senior, prefaced the chat with an informal agenda that included defining porn, the ethics of porn and the sex industry.
Approximately 20 students, mostly members of the TFA, contemplated the variety of issues regarding pornography and the sex industry in a very candid dialogue.
One student pointed out that the general opinion on porn is that "if you're getting [sex], you shouldn't be watching [porn]."
This spurred a discussion on the dearth of pornography created for women as well as the stigma associated with female masturbation and sexuality.
Attendees also discussed the objectification of women in pornography. Some said that women in porn are "whittled down to sex objects."
Accordingly, the contentious question became the consumer's social responsibility. Students discussed whether violent or degrading porn was morally reprehensible.
One student commented if people wanted to watch "strong, confident women" then there would be porn depicting that.
But Gollub questioned whether there would be a market for such a commodity. "No one jerks off to social consciousness," she joked.
TFA leadership hopes to continue to host discussion groups like this one and maintains an online blog called the Tufts GADFLIES (Gender Awareness Discourse For Living In Equal Societies).
