There is a dilemma, a tragedy, and a crime going on as we calmly sip our morning cup of coffee and read this paper. This abomination is not only taking place on a national level, but on a local one as well. We are referring to the legal slavery of women. That is, the trafficking of women for profit. The images of these slaves are as close as your coffee table or perhaps under your bed. If you can't find any there, try the second floor of West Pattee, but don't forget your ID card. The women in the glossies of Playboy magazine are the slaves. The models in Penthouse are the things. The industry of pornography is the criminal. We, society, you and I, are the consumers that buy and sell women into slavery. The producers of pornography are the shrewd businessmen laughing all the way to the bank because they know they have snowed, abused, and drugged women into believing that spreading their legs for the camera is artistic expression. We, the students of Women's Studies 400, would like to shock you into a reality about this industry for which you may not be ready. However, we are close to the end of the millennium, for the 21st century is upon us, and it is time to say no to the second-class treatment and enslavement of women.

Therefore, if you have never before questioned why pornography keeps women under the power and domination of men, you should not stop reading here. If you never knew how the industry and the media feed lies to the public about the benefits of pornography, we urge you to read on. And if you think that the industry does not use calculated fronts (such as freedom of speech) to protect their own hides, you have a right to know. Finally, if you have ever questioned anything in your life that you have been told or you have read, we invite you to start now, with the issue of pornography.

First, we must address the public's ignorance about this topic. Most of us, when we hear the word pornography, think of it as controversial. However, threatening would be a better word because pornography has nothing to do with the "rights of all citizens." Instead, it has everything to do with the rights of men and the silence of women. The pornography industry, operated by men, for men, is a $12 billion dollar a year business. It exploits, degrades, objectifies, and harms all women. But somehow, it does not insult all women. Many women justify pornography by saying that it liberates us sexually. How can an industry that literally enslaves women be liberating? Contrary to popular belief, the women involved in pornography are not doing it because they like it. They are doing it because pornography is one of two professions (the other being modeling) where women consistently earn more money than men. The women involved in pornography are trapped there, usually for economic reasons, but also by abuse. They literally do not have a voice -- who listens to a woman who has been turned into an object? And women not directly involved in pornography suffer the effects of pornography as well. Pornography is directly linked to violence against women. It encourages abuse, assault and rape. As women we must question all forms of pornography. (Yes, even "respectable, tasteful" Playboy.)

People are quick to justify pornography by invoking the First Amendment. But who is the First Amendment benefiting here? The victims of pornography are silenced and the promoters are protected by the First Amendment. Freedom of speech is one thing, but when speech turns into action, we have problems. The women in the porn magazines and movies are real women. This is what the pornography industry tries to make us forget. The women are not just pretending in pornographic films and magazines -- they are really posing, really performing, and really being manipulated. The evils done to these women make it OK for men to harm women because the women are told to act as though they are enjoying it. Linda Marchiano, former porn star turned anti-porn activist, once stated in regard to her work in pornographic films, "What people remember is the smile on my face." What we need to remember is why the smile was actually there and how it was forced on her face.

If you don't believe that a woman can actually be physically violated by pornography, check this out. The most popular body parts for pornographers to focus on are the neck, breasts, vagina and anus. These body parts are also the first to be violated, mutilated and tortured in abuse cases, murders, and yes, in pornographic films and photos. Part of the fantasy of pornography which we buy into is that the woman hanging from a ceiling being whipped (with a smile on her face) is really being tortured. The drugs she has been fed before filming must be working well because they finally got her to "smile pretty" for the camera.

So what can be done to end pornography? As women, we need to resensitize ourselves to pornography. We can no longer ignore it and hope it goes away. Like the parasite that it is, it will continue to feed off of women to expand its foothold in American society if we do not work to end it. As a class, we have decided to make stickers with the slogan "This insults women" for distribution to concerned women and men. We are not going to go around town defacing pornography, but we ask our friends, neighbors, parents and families if we can place stickers on things we find offensive. We hope that people will question why we placed stickers on the materials we did and why it offends us --the stickers will give a voice to educate. The stickers will be available in the Center for Women's Studies free of charge for anyone who wants them. So take a handful and take a stand against pornography.