Pornography, Capitalism and the continued Exploitation of Women

Abstract

Using Key-Informant Interviews with scholars on gender issues, economics and media communications, along with an extensive literature review, it is revealed that pornography and capitalism work hand in hand in perpetuating the exploitation of women. Within and outside the pornographic industry, women are abused and exploited. Pornography production, being an expression of male dominance/patriarchy, is catered to satisfying male fantasies and desires. Previous researches show the effects of pornography to its viewers. Through pornography, patriarchy is reinforced. Capitalism on the other hand, by creating an environment conducive to the continued production of such videos, fuels pornography production. Pornographers capitalize on the existing power relations between men and women and on men‘s desires and makes a commodity out of it – which is pornography. Huge profits accrued by capitalist pornographers offer an incentive to continue producing and ‘improving‘ pornography. Pornography maintains the power relations between men and women which capitalism takes advantage of. And as more pornography is produced because of capitalism, patriarchy is further strengthened. Therefore, pornography and capitalism create a vicious cycle and are mutually reinforcing in perpetuating the exploitation of women.