Jay Hoss
Education about the realities of online pornography can help young people build healthier relationships and a more realistic understanding of reality.
Now more than ever the abuse of online pornography is plaguing people of all ages, everywhere. When discussing sexuality and sexual education with young people it is imperative to include education around pornography, otherwise, disregarding a crucial aspect of how young people process and learn about sex at young ages. Experts are recommending the teaching and discussion of a newly coined term “Pornography Literacy.”
In the past, many parents have attempted to ignore their children’s consumption of pornography, banned it, or simply hoped it would stop. However, experts who study adolescent online pornography use argue that this behavior is so widespread and difficult to control that a more practical approach is necessary.
When it comes to pornography, open conversation is essential, they say.
“A lot of parents still think that porn is Playboy,” Dr. Willoughby said on the pornography of yesteryear. “That was nudity, sexualized.”
Since then, pornography has been greatly extended in every aspect, from accessibility to content. This issue rising with this now is that the conversation surrounding this content must also extend with it.
“Finding and using pornography is a very unsatisfying pursuit,” Nathan Hale health teacher Devora Eisenberg said.
Free and easily available content is the most likely for people to find and use for pleasure, especially minors who are exploring sexuality and porn for the first time.
“We’ve lost such a large amount of intimacy due to all this,” Eisenberg said. “I want people to take time and get to know each other…. Pornography takes away from that.
Porn is often inappropriate for young eyes, and can be violent or unsafe. Pornography of this nature depicts sexual intercourse as men in control, perpetuating or creating a notion that sex is something that a “man does to a woman, rather than with a woman,” said New York Times journalist Matt Ritchel.
Research indicates that early exposure to pornographic content can shape viewers’ understanding of sexuality and relationships. Studies show that mainstream pornographic content often presents unrealistic scenarios and normalizes a graphic form of glorified, erotic misogyny. Society disregards and attempts to ignore that a shift in the way we discuss pornography with young people is necessary. In the past there was great stigma around topics of sex and porn and many choose to dig their heads in the sand and avoid the topic of conversation at all costs.
“There should be a place where young people can talk about it,” Eisenberg said.
But it seems that’s not effective anymore. In fact, experts suggest that avoiding educating your child around being safe online is dangerous. The use of online pornography seems almost unavoidable at this point, which is why now more than ever pornography literacy is more important than pornography abstinence .
“There’s no stigma around watching [pornography], but there’s a stigma around talking about it,” junior Ava Overby said.
While the FLASH curriculum goes in depth on the dangers of sending nude photos or texting people you don’t know, there isn’t a lot of in depth discussion on online access to pornography or how to manage it if you come across it.
“I don’t think there are enough resources for people struggling with porn addictions. It’s not talked about and it should be,” sophomore Lain Flores said.
The danger behind this notion of normalized pornography consumption is young people believing what they see is real or realistic behavior among partners.
“Young women already struggle and lose themselves in the process of growing up. Porn amplifies that,” Eisenberg said.
After viewing excessive amounts of porn or genres of violent or graphic porn, before having sex or even before having a first kiss, young people have no choice but to believe that that is what sex should look like. This is damaging for both young boys and girls, creating unnecessary insecurity around body image and sexual performance.
“Often what happens is that girls are their ‘full person’ until a certain age, and then they start…putting energy into pleasing people or looking a certain way,” Eisenberg said.
On the topic of damage pornography can cause to young people, not all pornography use is intrinsically bad or harmful. However there is value in teaching the importance of “Porn Literacy.” No young child should be exposed to excessive amounts of violent pornography.
“The notion that penetrative sex is the ‘main course’ in the bedroom, is a notion perpetuated by excessive pornography exposure,” Eisenberg said. “It’s damaging to both people engaging in the intercourse.”