Pornography

Students express views on adult entertainment

Does the older gentleman at the counter of Uni-Mart give you funny looks when you buy the latest issue of Penthouse?

Either way, someone will be offended.

Pornography is one of those hot-button topics that generates passionate reactions from people on both sides of the issue.

Some say it exploits women and promotes violence against them. Others argue it is protected by the First Amendment's free speech clause.

"The ACLU understands the argument that pornography is degrading to women; however, we believe that the censoring of pornography sets a dangerous precedent," said Jon Feinberg, co-cordinator of the Penn State chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU would argue against any effort to censor pornography, he added.

Pornography has been a major issue around the country lately, with the release of The People vs. Larry Flynt creating a new round of debate.

The controversy has ignited over the rights of the pornography industry versus the rights of the public not to be exposed to what it may deem as indecent.

"Regardless of if it's in print or if it's in movies, it's going to have an effect," Selena Jankovitz (sophomore-secondary education) said.

But there is a distinction to be made between the two main types of pornography in films and magazines -- soft porn and hard-core.

Playboy, for example, is soft porn, as are Cinemax late-night skin flicks.

Harder-core magazines, such as Hustler and Screw, and movies such as Gimme an X--Cheerleaders in Heat stir up more emotional reactions.

"I have a problem with porn that is straight-out degrading and demeaning to women," Jankovitz said, adding, "I have a problem with, for instance, Hustler."

Vivian Pena (senior-speech communication) is a women's studies minor with another take on pornography.

"I think, to a certain extent, it's degrading to women," Pena said. "But it's a sticky situation because of freedom of speech and the First Amendment."

The relationship between the First Amendment and the portrayal of women in pornography forces some to choose which cause they feel more strongly. Others try to find a medium without risking their convictions.

"Basically, I feel that it's degrading to women and it perpetuates a lot of the stereotypes of how women are to be valued and seen," Secretary of Womyn's Concerns Jennifer Polley said. "However, I am not one to support censorship. I would rather see us work on education and reinforce family values so there is no longer a need for pornography."

If you just try to wipe out the pornography itself, it won't solve the problem, she said.

"Censorship usually causes a backlash anyhow," she added.

Another fight the pornography industry faces is dealing with accusations it supports unsafe sex.

Pena takes issue with the carelessness rampant in the industry, especially the lack of safe sex in the era of AIDS.

"It depicts the image that it's OK for people to do it unprotected," Pena said. "And teen-age boys are the biggest viewers."

Others argue that pornography puts women in positions that some may consider degrading, leading people to question why women perform in adult films.

"Women are socialized to think their sexuality is taboo," Pena said.

But some argue pornography is so popular because of the taboos associated with sexuality. In the United States, the repression of sexuality is ingrained in the culture and, as a result, many curious youngsters find themselves trying to satiate that curiosity.

Cara Caruso (sophomore-economics) has a home computer and a curious younger brother -- a combination which could lead to an early education in sexuality.

"I let my 12-year-old brother look at pornography on my computer when I was home," she said, adding, "I know he looked at naked women . . . he thought it was funny -- I think maybe he was embarrassed looking at it."

But the U.S. Supreme Court has made it quite clear that it is wholly within the law for pornography to be sold in the United States by legally defining what is considered obscene. Opponents are left with few options but to ignore it.

"Whatever people want to look at, and as long as they don't hurt me, I don't care what they do," Caruso said.