Daring to Speak its Name: The Relationship of Women to Pornography

The paradox of most feminist accounts of pornography is that they are almost exclusively devoted to exploring the relationship between pornography and male sexuality. This article is an attempt to explore the relationship between pornography and female sexuality. I believe that the debate about the way women should respond to pornography is bedevilled by an ignorance of how they actzxcilly do. A discussion of this sort will therefore have implications in the wider political sphere. A great deal of feminist writing about pornography and sexuality is now very abstract. Whilst this approach avoids moralizing, it does not - to my mind - provide a sufficient analysis of a subject which arouses such intense emotions. I hope readers will observe whether this article resonates with their own feelings or experiences.