In today’s highly connected digital society, pornography is widely accessible and will find you even if you don’t go looking for it. This ubiquity has increased the rate of accidental exposure and lowered the age when children come into contact with it. It’s so accessible that it has become the de facto source of sex education for most people in a society in which sex is still taboo. Using pornography as a tool for sex education is far from ideal. Here are the dangers of using pornography as a learning tool.
Inaccurate or Dangerous Information
Pornography is a lot of things, one thing it is not is a reliable source of information on anything. It’s not a reliable source of information about sexual health, behaviour, or even sexual pleasure, the very thing it purports to be about. Many pornographic films and images depict acts that are unsafe or unrealistic, such as unprotected sex or aggressive behaviour. One study found that young men who frequently watched pornography were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour, such as not using condoms. This can lead to confusion or misconceptions about what is safe or appropriate in a sexual encounter and can put individuals at risk of sexually transmitted infections or unwanted pregnancies.
Objectification and Dehumanization of Partners
Pornography often depicts women (and sometimes men) as sexual objects to be used for the pleasure of others. This can lead to the dehumanization of real-life sexual partners and the belief that they exist solely for one’s own pleasure. This can also lead to the objectification and devaluation of women in general, leading to harmful attitudes and behaviours towards them. This can lead to real-world violence against women and other marginalized groups. Perhaps, the most concerning observation from the study was the vehemence with which men harboured harmful attitudes towards women, manifested as misogyny was not a factor of the type of porn men watched but that they watched it at all.
Addiction and Escalation
Pornography use can easily turn into an addiction, leading to compulsive and excessive use that interferes with daily life. It can also lead to a phenomenon called escalation, where individuals need more and more graphic or violent content to achieve the same level of excitement. This can further desensitize people to violence and exploitation and can make it more difficult for them to form healthy relationships in the future. Studies have shown that excessive consumption of pornography can lead to desensitization to violence, and lead to an increase in aggressive behaviour.
Impact on Body Image
Pornography often portrays a very specific and unrealistic body type, which can lead to body image issues, especially in youth. This can lead to a preoccupation with physical appearance and a desire to conform to unrealistic standards. One thing many women are self-conscious about is how their genitalia looks and seeing all the altered labias of porn stars does not help. One study found that girls as young as 9 years old had asked about a labiaplasty. This can lead to negative self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders. Furthermore, many porn stars have undergone plastic surgery and other forms of body modification to conform to these unrealistic standards, which can be dangerous and unhealthy.
Comprehensive sex education
Sex education can help counter and balance the negative messaging in pornography, allowing people who enjoy it to do so critically. A comprehensive sex education curriculum should include the following topics:
Human anatomy and physiology: the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty, as well as the anatomy and function of the reproductive system.
Reproductive health: contraception methods, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their prevention, and the risks associated with unprotected sex.
Consent: the importance of consent in sexual relationships and how to recognize and respect the boundaries of others.
Healthy relationships: the characteristics of healthy relationships, including communication, trust, and mutual respect, as well as strategies for dealing with conflicts and abuse.
Gender and sexual orientation: the diversity of gender identities and sexual orientations, and should be provided with accurate information about these topics in order to understand and respect the lived experiences of people who identify differently from themselves.
Media literacy: the ways in which media, including pornography, can shape perceptions of sex and relationships, and should be equipped with the critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate these messages.
Access to healthcare: how to access healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health services, and how to navigate the healthcare system.
Safety: how to stay safe while engaging in sexual activity, and how to recognize and report abuse or exploitation.
Cultural and social perspectives: how different cultures and societies view sex and sexuality and should be exposed to a variety of perspectives on these topics.
Personal values and decision making: how to make informed decisions about their sexual health and well-being, taking into account their own personal values, beliefs, and needs.
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