Pornography Causes Desensitization, Aggression, and Alienation Essay

Pornography Causes Desensitization, Aggression, and Alienation A pair of long luscious, shapely legs extend upward until they join in perfect harmony. Colorful panties cover what seem to be the smallest area possible as a slim torso with shapely breasts and a slender neck lead to a perfect face. There she is, the perfect woman, the perfect picture of lust. Yet, she is only a picture, but what unbelievable power she possesses. Any man who looks her way will question his desires and himself. Who will resist her temptation and who will give in is the only question left without an answer. Pornography. Everyone seems to know what the word means, but does anyone know its etymology? The graphic images associated with pornography distract from any exploration of the term, but just like anything else pornography does have a history. The word "pornography" is derived from the Greek word pornographos, meaning "writing of harlots". Despite its Greek origins, the word pornography did not show up in the English language until somewhere between 1755 and 1857. Even then its meaning referred to prostitutes and prostitution. So, when did pornography switch from prostitution to materials that depict erotic behavior? Around the year 1975, pornography took on the meaning we accept today. Therefore, it is a fairly young phenomena, but it has spread like wildfire through its secrecy and silence (Kendrick 1). Many find pornography harmless, a step toward a greater sexual liberation, a way to set free the secret parts of the soul (Griffin 1). If only they knew the secret they would discover would be an addiction that has the power to last forever! Pornography grows into people's lives leading to destruction of their marriages, families, and se... ... may be sexual freedom, but they will never truly be free. They will be a slave to their desires, their own self-satisfaction, and the tragedy of it all is that they will never be satisfied. Works Cited Bush, Rosaline. "Pornography Harms Society." Pornography: Opposing View Points. Ed. Carol Wekesser. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1997. 17-27. Donnerstein, Edward, Linz, Daniel, and Penrod, Steven. The Question of Pornography. New York: The Free Press, 1987. 40-50. ""Expression." Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. 1974. Griffin, Susan. Pornography and Silence: Culture's Revenge Against Nature. New York: Harper & Row, 1981. 1-20. Kendrick, Walter. The Secret Museum: Pornography in Modern Culture. New York: Viking, 1987. 1-10. Reisman, Judith A. "Soft Porn" Plays Hard Ball.: Its Tragic Effects of Women, Children, & The Family. Louisiana