Pornography

Press, 27 February 1986, Page 12

Pornography

Sir, — I am sure there are many others — men and women — who agree with Susan Taylor (February 21). Pornography in all its forms — from soft to hardcore material — is an expression of hatred towards women; hatred because it is anti-women. Literature and movies that depict women as sex toys to be used and violated are fuel for the prejudices towards and crimes committed against women. People must wake up to this fact instead of accepting pornography as something that has always been part of our society and so must inevitably stay. I support Susan Taylor’s views — men and women, show your concern now and write to your local member of Parliament asking for legislation against this degrading material. — Yours, etc., E. COOPER. February 21, 1986. Sir, — The group of Women Against Pornography who spoke at the Labour Women’s Policy Conference in no way suggested that the depiction of loving sexual relations encouraged rape and incest. What was suggested, and in fact supported by the personal experience of women present, was that the depiction of sexual violence inflicted on women and children could be linked with the increase of rape and incest, particularly where they were shown as accepting or enjoying the violation. I would suggest that the members of the Society for the Promotion of Individual Responsibilities have not seen some of the material available on video tapes, which can easily be viewed by children and young people, often without their parents’ knowledge. Such material gives an entirely distorted view of the true nature of sexuality. — Yours, etc., JUDY M. WATERS.

February 25, 1986. Sir,—The last Labour Party conference, which endorsed Rogemomics by a clear majority, made great play of “the danger from the Right” and the “moral majority.” Susan Taylor’s letter (February 21), however, demonstrates that the majority of Labour women are themselves part of the “danger from the Right”. As a socialist, I do not believe that pornography as an 4 ' ■

expression of alienated sexuality can be eliminated by repressive legislation. History shows that such legislation is almost impossible to enforce and invariably used to censure free-expression in other areas. A socialist approach would be to make pornography a non-profit activity, maintain a publicly-accessible list of pornography consumers, insert anti-pornographic messages in pornographic material, and wage a broad educational campaign against the sexual exploitation of women. — Yours, etc. JURRIAAN BENDIEN. February 21, 1986.